Retailers Report Increased Earnings

The nation’s third-biggest retailer earned $38 million, or 8 cents per diluted share, in the three months ended Oct. 28, compared with earnings of $18 million, or 4 cents a share, a year earlier.

Third-quarter sales were $7.64 billion, up 4.5 percent from $7.31 billion a year earlier.

The earnings reported Thursday matched Wall Street’s expectations.

Gap Inc. also reported very strong third-quarter results, with earnings soaring 45 percent from a year ago thanks to surging sales at its Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy stores.