HR Quarterly Round-Up: Kenneth Cole, Liz Caiborne, Hermès

Kenneth Cole 1Q Earnings Rise on Improved Sales (Crain's New York): Kenneth Cole Productions Inc., which makes shoes, handbags and clothes, on Wednesday reported a first-quarter profit, helped by improving demand in all segments.

Liz Claiborne 1Q Loss Narrows On Nonoperating Income Rise (WSJ): Liz Claiborne Inc.'s first-quarter loss narrowed as nonoperating income surged, while same-store sales climbed 15% at kate spade, partly offsetting declines at Mexx and Juicy Couture, the latter posting a 12% drop.
Hermes Shines With Best Q1 Sales of Luxury Sector (Reuters): Hermes posted the biggest surge in first-quarter sales of all European luxury goods companies on Thursday, pointing to a continued polarisation of the market in which well-established brands crush weaker rivals.

HR Quarterly Round-Up: Nordstrom, Macy's, Liz Claiborne

(Photo: Kyle Ericksen/WWD)

Nordstrom's 4Q Profit More Than Doubles (NY Times): Carrying less inventory helped upscale retailer Nordstrom Inc. more than double its second-quarter profit compared with a year earlier, though it tempered its sales outlook for 2010 and its profit results fell slightly short of forecasts.
Lower Costs Lead Macy's To 4Q Profit (Crain's New York Business): Macy's Inc. returned to a fourth-quarter profit Tuesday as lower expenses helped the department store operator even as sales dipped.
 
Liz Claiborne quarterly sales, forecast miss view (Reuters): Liz Claiborne Inc. reported a fourth-quarter loss that matched analysts' expectations but sales and a first-quarter forecast that fell short, hurt by weak sales at wholesale and at its Mexx store chain.