Financial News

MEMPHIS, Tenn. — Fred's on Thursday reported total sales of $194 million for the five weeks ended March 31, up 3% from the year-ago period. Comparable-store sales for the month were flat versus an increase of 0.7% in the same period last year.

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%.

ISSAQUAH, Wash. — Sales for the month of March increased 10% for Costco to $9.13 billion, the wholesaler reported Thursday.

For the five weeks ended Apr. 1, comparable-store sales for the month were 6%; U.S. comps were 6% and international comps were 7%. Excluding inflation of gasoline prices and foreign currencies comparable sales for these periods were 6%, including 5% for the United States and 9% for international.

DEERFIELD, Ill. — Walgreens posted March sales of $6 billion, a decrease of 4.3% compared with the same month in fiscal year 2011.

SALISBURY, N.C. — Food Lion has launched its Hunger Has a Cure campaign to support Feeding America's network of local food banks. The two-week campaign, which allows customers to donate in $1 or $3 increments at the register, runs through April 17. Customers may also donate any other amount of their choice.

IRVINGTON, N.Y. — Prestige Brands Holdings on Monday announced that it has completed the purchase of the two remaining brands of the 17 brands it agreed to acquire from GlaxoSmithKline; the purchase of Debrox ear wax remover and Gly-Oxide oral rinse completes the transaction.

For all 17 brands, Prestige paid a total of $660 million in cash plus a customary post-closing inventory adjustment under the original terms of the agreements.

NEW YORK — Forest Labs has bought rights to a drug used for high blood pressure that it had marketed with a Johnson & Johnson subsidiary, thus eliminating the need to pay future royalties.

Forest announced Monday that it had bought all U.S. and Canadian intellectual property related to Bystolic (nebivolol) for $357 million from Janssen Pharmaceutica NV on Friday.

SALT LAKE CITY — A leading provider of immune support products has become part of Schiff Nutrition.

Schiff announced that it acquired Friday the Airborne brand GF Capital Private Equity Fund LP in an all-cash transaction valued at $150 million, subject to certain adjustments. The company said the acquisition positions Schiff as a leader in the immune support segment.