Retailers Totting Up Better-Than-Expected Holiday Numbers

Retailers capitalized on a surge of last-minute shopping and recently turned in a fistful of holiday sales reports showing better-than-expected results.

"December started slowly, but ended with a strong surge at the end of the month," Shelley E. Kohan, RetailNext's vice president of retail consulting said.

The exchange-traded fund SPDR S&P Retail XRT closed Thursday up more than 1 percent at $96.99.

L Brands Inc's LB December same-store sales grew 4 percent for its combined Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body chains.

Zumiez Inc. ZUMZ registered 8 percent growth in December's same-store sales.

Costco Wholesale Corporation COST posted same-store sales growth for December of 3 percent.

J C Penney Company Inc JCP said holiday season same-store grew 3.7 percent.

Rite Aid Corporation RAD same-store sales for the month increased 5.3 percent, while competitor Walgreen Co. WAG comps were up 9.2 percent.

American Eagle Outfitters AEO said same-store sales in the holiday period grew 2 percent and the company boosted its fourth-quarter earnings forecast to between $0.32 and $0.34 a share, from a previous estimate of $0.30 to $0.33 a share.

Aeropostale Inc's ARO decline in December same-store sales slowed to 9 percent, from 15 percent in the year-earlier period, while the company trimmed its prediction of fourth-quarter operating losses.

December comps for Stein Mart Inc. SMRT grew 5.8 percent while Buckle Inc BKE saw the measure for the month increase 2.5 percent.