Retailers Post Mixed News

Wal-Mart warns on November sales, while Toys R Us narrows its loss.

Author:: Meredith Derby
Publish date:: Nov 18, 2002 10:51 AM EST

The retail sector posted mixed data Monday, with

Wal-Mart

(WMT) - Get Report

warning on sales and

Toys R Us

(TOY)

narrowing its loss.

Wal-Mart said its November sales growth will be at the lower end of its previous 2% to 4% guidance. Recently, shares were down 1% to $54.90 on the

New York Stock Exchange

Meanwhile,

Federated

(FD)

said sales were "disappointing" in the second week of November. The company still expects to see same-store sales for the November to December period to be flat to down 2.5%, in line with its previous guidance. Shares were trading down 2% at $32.11 recently.

Separately, toy retailer Toys R Us said it narrowed its third-quarter loss to $28 million, or 13 cents a share, compared with last year's loss of $44 million, or 22 cents a share. Analysts had expected the company to lose 15 cents a share. Shares were up 6% to $11.07 recently on the news.