Kroger attributed its gains in sales and earnings in the second quarter to cost control and increased customer loyalty and was confident enough to raise its earnings guidance.

Gap Inc. raised its full year guidance Thursday after reporting first quarter sales and earnings per share growth.

Despite dropping from the previous year, Kohl's said its net income for the first quarter ended April 28 was in line with its expectations.

Macy's continues to see improved financial performance, reporting fourth-quarter sales and earnings today that exceeded management’s expectations.

Ahead of its investor presentation Thursday, PetSmart announced that it is raising its third quarter guidance.

Walmart beat analysts’ second quarter earnings estimates by a penny when it reported earnings per share of $1.09.

Family Dollar disappointed its investors this week with a third-quarter earning report in which gross margin pressures caused the company to report earnings per share of 91 cents that were four cents shy of analysts’ consensus estimates. The operator of 6,900 stores also said its 4.7% same-store sales increase was short of guidance of 5% to 7% and then used the occasion to lower fourth-quarter sales and earnings forecasts.

Apparel retailers across the board experienced strong sales gains in April, thanks in large part to the inclusion of Easter in this year’s reporting period, leading many to raise their quarterly earnings guidance.

The folks in the electronics and entertainment area at Walmart had to be smiling this week at Best Buy’s admission that it lost market share to discounters during the third quarter. The share loss resulted in a 5% same-store sales decline at U.S. stores that was well below guidance that called for flat to modest growth. Earnings per share of 54 cents were well below consensus estimates of 60 cents and full-year guidance was reduced to a range of $3.20 to $3.40 from a range of $3.55 to $3.70. The sales shortfall was caused by weakness in such categories as televisions, notebook computers and gaming, according to the company.

“Much of the industry’s promotional activity on TVs this quarter was centered on third tier brands as loss leaders,” CEO Brian Dunn said during a conference call. “Our value proposition is based on the best selection of the world’s greatest brands with leading-edge technology and great prices.”

The revelation of further market share losses to unidentified discounters is noteworthy because it’s been less than a year since Best Buy ran a somewhat confrontational TV spot that disparaged the product knowledge of employees working in Walmart’s electronics department.

Macy’s Inc. reported that earnings were 2 cents per diluted share for the third quarter...