American Eagle & Pacific Sunwear cheer after-market trade

American Eagle Outfitters (AEO) shares rose in early

trading in the stock market after the US-based apparel retailer posted better-than-expected first-quarter sales and profits Wednesday before the bell.

On the back of the figures release, the stock rose more than 2 percent in early trading. The stock moved 0.49 percent higher, at 20.31 dollars. Its performance over the last month stands at 9.08 percent.

American Eagle's adjusted earnings from continuing operations slipped 18 percent to 18 cents a share, 1 cent ahead of forecasts by analysts polled by Thomson Reuters. Sales fell 4 percent to 679 million dollars, slightly ahead of consensus forecast of 677.93 million. Same-store sales, including its online business, fell 5 percent, compared to a 17 percent increase last year.

Also rising strongly but just for different reasons, Pacific Sunwear of California Inc.'s shares soared 18 percent in after-hours trading Wednesday after the teen retailer's fiscal first-quarter revenue came in ahead of expectations and it issued a solid forecast for the second quarter.

"After a slower than expected start to the spring selling season, we are pleased with our overall first quarter performance which was led by strength in our women's business," said CEO Gary H. Schoenfeld on Wednesday, adding that the results validate the company's turnaround strategies.

After the close of trading on Wall Street, Pacific Sunwear reported a loss of 24.2 million dollars, or 35 cents per share, for the quarter that ended May 4. This compares to a loss 15.6 million dollars, or 23 cents per share, in the same quarter last year. But this news seemed not but to boost the shares trade.

After adjusting for items including store closure costs and a derivative liability, the company lost 14 cents per share from continuing operations versus 20 cents per share last year.

Revenue for the period increased to 169.8 million dollar from 162.3 million. Analysts polled by FactSet were anticipating an adjusted loss of 18 cents per share on revenue of 166.5 million dollars.

For the on-going quarter, the company expects its bottom line to range between a loss of 5 cents a share and a profit of 2 cents a share. Pacific Sunwear now expects revenue to come at somewhere between 209 and 219 million dollars, while analysts were expecting a per-share loss of 4 cents a share on revenue of 198 million dollars.

In a separate note, Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) Wednesday announced that its Board of Directors authorised a quarterly dividend of 0.15 dollar per share payable on or after July 31, 2013 to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 10, 2013. The stock closed Wednesday at 41.67, a 1.49 percent increase on the previous day. Around 3.56 million shares were traded, down from an-average trading volume of 3.85 million shares. The company is now valued at around 19.39 million dollars. Finally, Urban Outfitters, Inc. (NASDAQ:URBN) ended lower, as it dropped 2.74 percent and closed at 43.27 a share. After opening at 43.65 dollars, the stock hit as high as 44.35 dollars.