Retailers' Earnings On Parade: How Do Nordstrom, JCPenney Stack Up?

Earnings season for the retail group is coming to an end with a small handful of retailers including J C Penney Company Inc JCP and Nordstrom, Inc. JWN reporting their results on Friday.

Here is an earnings recap of some of the most notable names in the group.

JCPenney

• JCPenney earned $0.64 per share in the fourth quarter on revenue of $3.96 billion.
• Wall Street analysts were expecting the company to earn $0.61 per share on revenue of $3.98 billion.
• The company committed to closing around 13 percent of its entire store portfolio as part of a plan to optimize its retail operations.
• Management expects to save around $200 million in costs annually.
• Looking forward to the full-fiscal year JCPenney expects to earn $0.40 to $0.65 per share versus Wall Street's estimates of $0.56 per share.
• Marvin R. Ellison, chairman and chief executive officer commented: "As recent as 2013, JCPenney reported a net loss of nearly $1.3 billion, or ($5.13) per share, and negative EBITDA of $641 million. This year, we delivered positive net income and generated EBITDA of over $1 billion. "

Nordstrom

• Nordstrom earned $1.37 per share in the fourth quarter on revenue of $4.2 billion.
• Wall Street analysts were expecting the company to earn $1.15 per share on revenue of $4.35 billion.
• Net earnings for the quarter rose to $201 million from 180 million a year ago.
• Comparable sales for the quarter fell 0.9 percent.
• Retail gross profit, as a percentage of net sales, read 36.0 percent and rose 112 basis points last year.
• Looking forward to the full-fiscal year Nordstrom expects to earn $2.75 to $3.00 per share versus estimates of $3.05 per share.
• Also, Nordstrom sees fiscal 2017 sales rising as much as 4 percent.

Kohl's

• Kohl's Corporation KSS reported on Thursday that it earned $1.44 per share in the fourth quarter on revenue of $6.2 billion.
• Wall Street analysts were expecting the company to earn $1.33 per share on revenue of $6.22 billion.
• Comps for the quarter fell 2.2 percent while net income fell to $252 million from $296 million a year ago.
• Kevin Mansell, Kohl's chairman, chief executive officer and president, said, "Sales results were weak for the quarter in total, driven by declines in brick and mortar traffic, and offset somewhat by strength in online demand."

Related Link: Big Retail's Big Tuesday

Gap

• Gap Inc GPS reported on Thursday that it earned $0.51 per share on revenue of $4.42 billion.
• Wall Street analysts were expecting the company to earn $0.51 per share on revenue of $4.39 billion.
• Comparable sales rose 2 percent in the quarter compared with a 7 percent decline a year ago.
• By brand, the core Gap Global segment's comparable sales fell 3 percent, Old Navy rose 1 percent and Banana Republic fell 7 percent.
• Looking forward to the full-fiscal year the company expects to earn $1.95 to $2.05 per share versus expectations of $2.07 per share.
• Wedbush's Morry Brown maintains a Neutral rating on the stock with a price target lowered to $23 from a previous $27.

TJX Companies

• TJX Companies Inc TJX reported on Wednesday that it earned $1.03 per share in the fourth quarter on revenue of $9.5 billion.
• Wall Street analysts were expecting the company to earn $1.00 per share on revenue of $9.44 billion.
• Comps for the quarter rose 3 percent.
• TJX boosted its share buyback plan from $1.3 billion to $1.8 billion.
• The company also raised its quarterly dividend to $0.3125 per share from $0.26 per share.
• Management guided its full-year earnings per share to a range of $3.69 to $3.78 versus Wall Street's estimates of $3.79 per share.
• Shares of TJX were volatile after the earnings report on Wednesday.

L Brands

• L Brands Inc LB reported on Wednesday that it earned $2.03 per share in the fourth quarter on revenue of $4.48 billion.
• Wall Street analysts were expecting the company to earn $1.90 per share on revenue of $4.51 billion.
• L Brands pre-announced its fourth-quarter results in early February.
• L Brands did, however, guide its full-year earnings per share to a range of $3.05 to $3.35 versus the $3.61 per share analysts were expecting.
• Shares of L Brands were hit hard on Wednesday and hit a new 52-week low of $47.93.