Content about Company Earnings Guidance

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway shares dropped dramatically Thursday morning as the company reported $10 billion in sales for its first quarter 2013 ended March 23, which is essentially flat as compared with the first quarter of 2012. An identical-store sales increase of 1.5% (excluding fuel) was offset primarily by the disposition of Genuardi's stores in 2012 and lower fuel sales in 2013. 

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — The consumer's wallet isn't the only headwind blowing out of a still-struggling economy. Higher operating costs have also helped to undercut Fred's Super Dollar performance in the past year, Fred's CEO Bruce Efird explained to analysts Thursday morning.

PLEASANTON, Calif. — Safeway on Thursday reported a sales increase of 1.3% to $44.2 billion in 2012 for its fiscal year ended Dec. 29, driven by increased fuel sales and a same-store sales increase of 0.5% (excluding fuel), the grocer reported. Safeway chairman and CEO Steve Burd projected identical sales as high as 2% in the first quarter of 2013, in part because of the success Safeway has had with its loyalty program Just 4 U. 

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta Beauty announced on Thursday that Chuck Rubin will step down as president, CEO and director, effective Feb. 21, to become CEO at Michaels Stores, a specialty retailer of arts and crafts.

The board of directors has appointed Dennis K. Eck, current non-executive chairman of the board of directors, as interim CEO. Rubin has agreed to assist the company during the transition period.

NEW YORK — Leading private-label supplier Perrigo has acquired pet health company Velcera for $160 million.

The deal follows last fall’s acquisition of Sergeants and signals Perrigo’s intent to accelerate growth in areas beyond its traditional businesses of consumer health care, nutrition products and prescriptions. Velcera is a pet health company best known for its PetArmor brand of flea and tick products that are widely available at retailers nationwide, much to the chagrin of veterinarians. PetArmor had sales of $60 million last year.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Thursday reported revenue of $21.5 billion, up 5.7%, for the first quarter ended Dec. 31. “We are off to a solid start in our fiscal year 2013, with December quarter results in line with our expectations,” said Steven Collis, ABC president and CEO. “During the quarter, we successfully implemented our previously announced new contract with our largest customer, and we continued to make progress on the integration of World Courier.

HOFFMAN ESTATES, Ill. — The CEO of Sears Holdings is stepping down due to unspecified family health reasons, the company said.

Sears, the parent company of Kmart, said Lou D'Ambrosio would step down on Feb. 2, the end of the company's fiscal year. Edward Lampert will assume the role of CEO and chairman, while D'Ambrosio will remain on the board until the company's next annual meeting, in May 2013.

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's on Thursday reported a 1% sales decline to $209.9 million for the five-week fiscal month ended Dec. 29. Comparable store sales for the month decreased 4.2% compared with a decline of 0.4% in the same period last year.

VALLEY FORGE, Pa. — AmerisourceBergen on Thursday reported revenue dropped 0.6% to $79.5 billion for its fiscal 2012 ended Sept. 30. Diluted earnings per share were a record $2.76, up 10% over the prior fiscal year diluted earnings per share from continuing operations. Gross profit was up 6.7% to $2.7 billion.

CINCINNATI — Procter & Gamble announced on Thursday a decrease in both first-quarter net sales and diluted earnings per share from continuing operations, as core earnings per share rose 5%.

For the July-September period, net sales totaled $20.7 billion, a decrease of 4% compared with the year-ago period — including a negative 6% impact from foreign exchange.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — With the dispute between Walgreens and Express Scripts over, one of the biggest challenges for Rite Aid will be retaining the customers it won over during the impasse.

That was the biggest message during a conference call between Rite Aid executives and Wall Street analysts Thursday morning as the company announced its second quarter 2013 results.

MINNEAPOLIS — Target's second-quarter sales increased 3.5% to $16.5 billion and the company’s profits grew 2.9% to $1.06 per share, 5 cents higher than analysts expected.