Three retailers reported mixed earnings for the...

Three retailers reported mixed earnings for the first quarter, typically the year’s slowest selling period. Carter Hawley Hale Stores reported an increase in profits, while K mart’s earnings were flat and Wickes Cos. had a loss. K mart’s profits were flat despite a 19.3% increase in sales for the three-month period over the same quarter last year.

Carter Hawley Hale, the Los Angeles-based parent of Neiman-Marcus, The Broadway and Bergdorf Goodman, reported record earnings and sales for the three months ended May 4. Net income was up 35.4% from last year’s figure, which included $1.2 million from Waldenbooks. That chain was later sold to K mart. “We have begun the year with a strong performance from both our department and specialty-store segments,” said Philip M. Hawley, chairman and chief executive.

Citing the seasonal mix of its current businesses, Wickes said it suffered a loss both in continuing operations and in net income in the first quarter. The Santa Monica-based company, which emerged from Chapter 11 reorganization proceedings in January, said the loss from continuing operations for the three months ended April 27 was $5.39 million, compared to a loss of $7.03 million last year. The retailer, which operates Builders Emporium and Wickes Furniture, had a net loss of $5.26 million, compared to a net loss of $6.07 million a year ago. Results this year reflected interest expense on debt securities issued under the company’s plan of reorganization.

Lucky Stores reported that its earnings rose 12% during the first quarter over the like period a year earlier. Lucky Chairman S. Donley Ritchey said the figures represented record earnings from first-quarter operations. Sales were up 5%. The earnings increase was in the specialty-stores segment. Earnings of the food stores and Gemco were lower, primarily due to slowed sales gains in the California marketplace and more competition, the corporation reported.

For detailed data and results of other companies, please see accompanying tables.