store-closings

U.S. department stores steady profitability boat even as sales slide

U.S. department store chains, hit by slowing sales for more than two years, have used layoffs, store closings and cutbacks to maintain one aspect of stability: profit margins. An analysis of two important indicators of retail profitability, gross margins and operating margins, shows retailers like Kohl's Corp , JC Penney Co Inc , Macy's Inc and Target Corp have done a better job at delivering on profitability than maintaining sales growth.

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U.S. department stores steady profitability boat even as sales slide