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Increased sales of women's sportswear have allowed most department store chains to improve same-store sales in 1997 and 1998, and overall net share is expected to advance through 2001-2003 for a variety of factors. Discount store market share and earnings are also expected to increase, especially at Wal-Mart Stores Inc. Retail industry stocks have outperformed the market since 1995, but they are not attractive for the next three to five years.

Department stores are expected to have mixed financial results in 1998 due to increased competition and the lack of store-opening opportunities with the lessened consolidation within the industry. On the other hand, Wal-Mart and other discount store chains are forecast to have gains in both market share and earnings. Investors need to evaluate these stocks on an individual basis as their growth potential through the years 2001-2003 is limited.

Most department store chains in the US had lower same-store sales than what was expected for the 4th qtr of fiscal 1997, with lower women's clothing sales as one of the primary factors. However, discount store chains, such as Family Dollar Stores Inc and Dollar General Corp, expanded their relative shares of the market. Investors need to consider individual stocks as this industry does not have attractive potential through the years 2000-2002.

Specialty niche marketing, lower prices for apparel, and expansion are leading to year-to-year declines or slower earnings growth for retailers in 1995. Same-store sales have been weak throughout the year with competition for consumer spending from computers, automobiles, and other large items. Consolidation in the retail industry is also increasing. Few stocks in this industry are of interest to investors in 1995 and 1996.

NEW YORK -- With May Department Stores Co.'s profits falling a penny shy of Wall Street estimates, and Mercantile Stores Co. just matching analysts' projections, third-quarter results for retailers are [...]

May Department Stores Co's fiscal second quarter results failed to meet Wall Street analysts' estimates, but Mercantile Stores Co's results easily exceeded analysts' estimates. For the quarter ended Aug 3, 1996, May's earnings from continuing operations increased just 2.8%, reaching $110 million. Mercantile, benefiting from its in-house credit card business, saw its income jump to $14.4 million, more than twice that of the year-earlier quarter., NEW YORK - Two department store chains, May Department Stores Co. and Mercantile Stores Co., reported contrasting results for the second quarter. May Co. earnings lagged slightly behind Wall Street [...]

NEW YORK (FNS) - May Department Stores Inc. reported earnings from continuing operations rose 5.6 percent in the fourth quarter and 7.7 percent in the year. Earnings from continuing operations [...]

May Department Stores Co. and Mercantile Stores Company Inc. improved their 1995 first-quarter earnings with help from sales of men's wear. May improved its earnings 1.8% to $114 million from $112 million in the previous quarter. Sales grew 6.8% to $2.7 billion. The improvement was due to cost controls and strong sales of men's collections. Mercantile earned $10 million in the quarter, up from $7.9 million, on sales of $602.9 million. Young men's clothing sales were up 25% for April at Mercantile stores., NEW YORK (FNS) - Men's wear was a strong performer and less promotional than women's wear at both May Department Stores Co. and Mercantile Stores in the first quarter. Overall, [...]

Still struggling to emerge from bankruptcy, the Caldor Corp. cut its losses from operations by 12.8 percent, from $19.7 million, to $14.3 million for its first quarter ended May 2. [...]

NEW YORK -- The May Department Stores Co.'s first-quarter earnings rose 17 percent to $110 million, or 44 cents a share, from $94 million, or 38 cents, a year ago, [...]

NEW YORK -- May Department Stores Inc., powered by a combination of solid sales gains and disciplined margin controls, reported earnings nudged up 6.5 percent in the fourth quarter, easily [...]

ST. LOUIS -- Coming in about as expected, May Department Stores Co. reported second-quarter earnings up 5.5 percent to $116 million, or 46 cents a share, from $110 million, or [...]

NEW YORK -- Although margins were squeezed and inventory was up at yearend, May Department Stores' fourth-quarter earnings rose 15.4 percent to $418 million, or $1.61 a share, from $362 [...]

NEW YORK -- Although margins were squeezed and inventory was up at yearend, May Department Stores' fourth-quarter earnings rose 15.4 percent to $418 million, or $1.61 a share, from $362 [...]

May Department Stores had income increase to $98 million in 1st qtr 1996 when compared to $87 million in 1st qtr 1995. This represents a growth of 12.5% when both quarters are evaluated. Mercantile Stores had income increase to $20.5 million in 1st qtr 1996 when compared to $10 million in 1st qtr 1995. This growth was twice what the earnings were the previous year., NEW YORK (FNS) -- May Department Stores Co. and Mercantile Stores Co. Monday both posted strong gains in profits for the first quarter ended May 4, another sign of an [...]

NEW YORK (FNS) - Stymied by soft sales, May Department Stores Co. reported earnings sagged 7 percent in the third quarter before a special charge a year earlier. It marked [...]

NEW YORK -- Cost controls and stronger sales of women's apparel and shoes in July lifted second-quarter earnings higher than Wall Street estimates at May Department Stores Co. and Mercantile [...]