Content about Same-store sales

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Wednesday posted third-quarter sales of $18.3 billion, up 3.3%. Same-store sales were up 1.3%, with front-end comparable store sales up by 0.3% and pharmacy comp sales up 2%. Prescriptions filled were up 7% for the quarter. 

Sales of Walgreens' shares closed up 60 cents to $48.63 on Wednesday.

Walgreens reported that more than 72 million Walgreens faithful have signed on for the company's Balance Rewards loyalty program through May. 

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales grew 7% in April over April 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales of $7.98 billion for the four weeks that ended Sunday, compared with $7.48 billion during the same period last year. Sales for the 35-week period that ended Sunday were $69 billion, 9% higher than the $63.59 billion recorded last year.

Sales in the United States at continuously open stores since last April increased by 4%, while same-store sales for the 35 weeks that ended Sunday increased 6%.

TORONTO — Shoppers Drug Mart announced on Thursday that first quarter sales rose 3.8% thanks to strong volume in pharmacy and continued sales and market share gains at the front end. The company also indicated that it remains on the acquisition track and is "carefully" watching as Target bolsters its presence in Canada.

CAMP HILL, Pa. — Rite Aid's same-store sales for February 2013 decreased by 3.6% over the previous year, including a 1.3% decrease in front-end same-store sales and a 4.7% decrease in pharmacy same-store sales, the retail pharmacy chain said Thursday.

Front-end comps attributable to flu-related OTC products were flat, while pharmacy comps included a negative effect of 695 basis points from new generic introductions. Same-store prescription count increased 0.3%, including a 0.1% decrease attributable to flu shots and prescription flu drugs.

LAKELAND, Fla. — Publix on Friday recorded fiscal 2012 sales of $27.5 billion, up 1.9%. However, 2012 year-end sales included a 52-week period, versus 2011 year-end sales that were tracked over a 53-week period. Excluding that extra week, sales for 2012 would have been up by 3.8%. Same-store sales were up 2.2% for the year. 

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Costco Wholesale Corp.'s sales increased 7% in January compared with January 2012, the club retailer said Thursday.

Costco reported sales for the five weeks that ended Sunday of $9.35 billion, compared with $8.74 billion a year ago. The month was one day shorter than last year due to the timing of the New Year holiday, which reduced total and same-store sales by about 2%, the company said. Comps in U.S. stores were up by 6%.

MINNEAPOLIS — The sale of 877 stores to Cerberus Capital Management will help Supervalu re-energize its remaining three businesses, current Supervalu president and CEO Wayne Sales told analysts Thursday morning. "What this means … is the company is smaller," Sales said. "And we exit with a much smaller balance sheet to ensure liquidity going forward," he said. This sale will not be followed by any further divestitures, Sales said. "We're not shopping any other assets."

 DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens on Monday posted October sales of $6 billion, a drop of 2.1% as compared to October 2011. However, in only six weeks on the market, the chain's Balance Rewards loyalty program signed more than 28 million customers through Oct. 31. 

The results include the brunt of the impact from Hurricane Sandy — at the peak of the storm, approximately 750 of 1,400 stores in the impacted area were closed, Walgreens reported. Nearly all of those locations have since reopened.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta Beauty experienced an increase in second-quarter same-store sales and net income as it continues to move forward with its multiyear growth strategy.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Beauty retailer Ulta Beauty announced on Monday preliminary first-quarter fiscal 2012 results, which included an expected same-store sales increase of 10.1%.

Ulta Beauty expects to report that total net sales for the quarter were $474 million, compared with its previous guidance of $452 million to $460 million. The expected results are a 22.8% increase from total net sales of $386 million for first quarter fiscal 2011.

MINNEAPOLIS — For the second month in a row, Target’s same-store sales were nearly double the expected amount. As a result, the company increased its first-quarter guidance.

Same-store sales increased 7.3%, with half of the increase driven by growth in average transaction size combined with an increase in comparable-store transactions. Overall comparable-store sales in March 2011 decreased 5.5%.

BOLINGBROOK, Ill. — Ulta posted double-digit gains in same-store sales and net income during the fourth quarter.

Net sales for the quarter ended Jan. 28 rose 23% to $582.5 million. Same-store sales rose 11.5%, compared with an increase of 10.4% during the year-ago period.

Net income increased 53.8% to $46.3 million, or 73 cents per diluted share, compared with $30.1 million, or 49 cents per diluted share, in the year-ago period.