The apparel retailer, which is expanding aggressively online and outside the U.S., earned $234 million, up from $228 million a year earlier.

Gap Inc. reported second-quarter results Thursday that showed continued improvement at the apparel retailer, which is in the midst of an aggressive online and international expansion.
For the quarter that ended July 31, profit at the San Francisco company — parent to the Gap, Banana Republic and Old Navy brands — increased 3% to $234 million, or 36 cents a share, from $228 million, or 33 cents, in the year-earlier quarter. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters had expected 35 cents.
Total sales were $3.32 billion, up from $3.25 billion a year earlier, and sales at stores open at least a year — known as same-store sales and considered an important measure of a retailer's health — rose 1%. However, same-store sales at Gap brand stores in North America declined 4%.
Higher-end chain Banana Republic continued to see positive results from its more well-rounded mix of apparel after its merchandise became ""too serious"" in recent years, said Jack Calhoun, president of Banana Republic.
(Source: Latimes.com)