Other results

* Barnes & Noble Inc. boosted its earnings outlook and recorded strong third-quarter profit on sales of new releases. The New York-based bookstore chain posted a profit of $4.38 million, or 7 cents a share, compared with a loss of $2.77 million, or 4 cents, a year earlier. The company recorded a 5.7% increase in sales to $1.2 billion.

* Pacific Sunwear of California Inc. said it swung to a loss in the third quarter after booking impairment charges at its Demo unit. The Anaheim-based retailer reported a loss of $20 million, or 29 cents a share, after earning $9 million, or 13 cents, a year earlier. Excluding one-time charges, earnings were $11.1 million, or 16 cents a share, 2 cents better than analyst estimates. Sales slipped 1% to $373.1 million. The company expects fourth-quarter earnings of 26 cents to 29 cents a share -- below the current estimate of 33 cents a share on Wall Street.

* Hot Topic Inc. said third-quarter profit fell 5.6% to $6.7 million, or 15 cents a share, compared with $7.1 million, or 16 cents, a year earlier. Sales fell 4.2% to $188.5 million. Sales at stores open at least a year fell 4.2% and included a 6.4% drop at Hot Topic stores, to $155.3 million, and a 7.7% increase at the City of Industry-based company’s Torrid brand stores, to $33.2 million.

* Children’s apparel retailer Gymboree Corp. said third-quarter profit climbed 9% as discounts and promotions drove sales. Gymboree, based in San Francisco, earned $26.9 million, or 91 cents a share, compared with $24.6 million, or 75 cents, a year earlier. Sales jumped 18% to $247.6 million.