UPDATE: Retailers Generally Posting Strong May Same-Store Sales

Retailers recovered nicely from April's post-Easter slump, delivering solid same-store sales for May, with Target Corp. (TGT), Limited Brands Inc. (LTD) and Macy's Inc. (M) standing out, while Kohl's Corp. (KSS) slumped.

Mother's Day falling in the middle of the month instead of its start like last year helped May sales, as did a sequential decline in gasoline prices month-over-month. Retailers are also showing resiliency, since many are up against significant comparable-store sales gains from last year.

The general tenor of the reports "shows an underlying strength of the U.S. consumer," said Joel Bines, managing director of AlixPartners. "We are back to a bit normal in retail where consumption is at a relatively strong pace."

Target Corp. (TGT) reported 4.4% growth, which was at the high end of the company's expected range. Analysts were looking for 3.5%. Target said larger average transaction sizes helped fuel the gain, with food and apparel strong, while the retailer saw weakness in its home department.

Limited Brands Inc. (LTD) posted a 6% rise in same-store sales, when 4.7% was projected. The owner of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works has marked a string of analyst-topping results.

Macy's Inc. (M) reported that same-store sales rose 4.2% in May, topping analysts' expectations for a 4% gain. "The momentum in our business continued in May, and came on top of a very strong month last year," Chief Executive Terry Lundgren said, noting that growth came from stores, online, and all geographic areas and categories.

Fellow department store Kohl's Corp. (KSS) reported a 4.2% drop in same-store sales when a 1.2% decline was projected, and said it expected second-quarter same-store sales to be "modestly" down. "We made some progress in building our inventory levels, but continue to expect lower units to hinder our sales until the back-to-school season," Chief Executive Kevin Mansell said.

Gap Inc. (GPS) also disappointed, reporting comparable-store rose 2%, when analyst were looking for 3.1%. Nonetheless, Chief Executive Glenn Murphy said he was "pleased with overall customer response to summer products in May which helped us deliver positive comparable sales for the company."

Nordstrom Inc. (JWN) posted a 5.3% rise in same-store sales, when 4.7% was expected. Fellow luxury retailer Saks Inc. (SKS) said comparable-store sales increased 4% when analysts were looking for 2.5%. Strong categories during the month at Saks included women's contemporary apparel, women's shoes, fashion and fine jewelry, cosmetics and fragrances and men's contemporary apparel.

Off-price retailer TJX Cos. (TJX) reported an 8% rise in same-store sales when Wall Street expected 5.3%, and said it now sees second-quarter earnings per share at the high end of its prior range. Zumiez Inc. (ZUMZ) knocked it out of the park, posting a 13.7% jump in May same-store sales when analysts expected a 6.6% rise. The seller of skateboarding, surfing and snowboarding related apparel for young people said an increase in spending per transaction played a key role in the rise as customers paid higher prices.

The 18 retailers tracked by Thomson Reuters are expected to post a 3.6% rise in same-store sales, according to analysts it polled. The figure compares with a 5.8% rise last year and a 2.2% gain in April. Retailers closed their books for May on Saturday, with subsequent sales for the month to be folded into their June same-store sales. Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) reported same-store U.S. sales excluding gasoline rose 5%, beating expectations for 4.4%.

Stage Stores Inc. (SSI), which operates chains in generally smaller locales in the U.S., saw its same-store sales jump 8%, nearly quadruple what was expected, after no growth a year earlier. The gain was the best for the month at Stage Stores in a decade.

Some misses included Wet Seal Inc. (WTSLA), which marked an 8.8% decline in comparable-store sales when an 8.3% drop was expected. Softness in knit tops and screened tee shirts overshadowed growth in several other categories, said Chief Executive Susan McGalla.

"Through the remainder of the quarter, we will continue to shift our assortment toward strong performing categories, including woven tops, jeans, dresses and shoes, to better position Wet Seal for the back-to-school season," McGalla said.

Fellow teen retailer Buckle Inc. (BKE), a heavy seller of jeans, said comparable-store sales rose 0.2%. Analysts were expecting a 3.3% gain, making this the third month in a row the company has missed analysts' projections.

-By Karen Talley, Dow Jones Newswires; 212-416-2196; [e-mail]