Limited Brands Profit Jumps

Retail conglomerate Limited Brands(LTD Quote) posted an increase in second-quarter earnings Thursday -- easily beating the consensus estimate -- on a 10% jump in total sales.

In addition, the company backed analysts' third-quarter consensus estimate and upped its full-year forecast, given the strength in the latest quarter. But the retailer also noted that August apparel sales have been below plan and said overall same-store sales are so far weaker-than-expected in the month.

Columbus, Ohio-based Limited earned $148 million, or 31 cents a share, in the quarter ended July 31, compared with $102 million, or 19 cents a share, in the same quarter last year. On an adjusted basis, earnings in the most recent quarter were $137.3 million, or 29 cents a share, the company said. Adjusted results exclude a pre-tax gain of 2 cents a share from the company's sale of its remaining interest in Galyan's Trading(GLYN Quote). ...