Session all about sports: JD Sports, lululemon, GIII

British retailer JD Sports Fashion reported has improved

sales growth as stronger demand for sportswear offset weak trade in its fashion outlets. The Bury-based group reported a 1.5 percent rise in like-for-like sales in the 16 weeks to November 17, compared with growth of 1.1 percent in the first half of its financial year.

In the wake of the financial release, JD Sports Fashion (LON: JD)‘s stock had its ‘buy’” rating reiterated by investment analysts at Investec in a note issued to investors on Wednesday. They currently have a 14.33 dollars (900 pence) target price on the stock.

JD Sports Fashion opened at 730.00 on Wednesday. JD Sports Fashion has a 52-week low of GBX 560.00 and a 52-week high of GBX 885.0001. The company’s market cap is 355.2 million pounds.

Meanwhile, analysts at Trefis are raising their flag on Aeropostale (NYSE:ARO), which is set to release its third quarter fiscal 2012 earnings on November 28. “Investors and analysts will have a keen eye on how the comparable store sales turn up in this quarter. The retailer’s comparable store sales growth has been flat in the previous two quarters due to shift in sales mix and reduction in store traffic,” the Trefis research team advanced Wednesday.

“Although Aeropostale’s fashion apparel has been successful in the past quarter, its main product segment, i.e. the core basic apparel has struggled. [3] This has been weighing on the retailer since the recession of 2008-2009 and we expect it to continue. Moreover, as the market remains highly promotional, the retailer’s margins will also be in focus. Although we believe that the rapid growth in the direct-to-consumer apparel industry will help Aeropostale, the positive impact on the retailer will not be significant.”

In New York, lululemon athletica canada inc., a subsidiary of lululemon athletica inc., Calvin Klein, Inc., a wholly owned subsidiary of PVH Corp. and G-III Apparel Group, Ltd. (GIII), a Calvin Klein, Inc. licensee for Calvin Klein Performance, have entered into a settlement agreement that will resolve the pending design patent litigation related to certain yoga pant designs. As per the information made public so far, the terms of the parties' settlement agreement are confidential.

Finally, The Cato Corporation (NYSE: CATO) announced that they will be advancing the dividend’s payment. On Wednesday its Board of Directors declared a regular quarterly dividend of 0.25 dollars per share. The dividend will be payable on December 28, 2012 to shareholders of record of the Corporation at the close of business on December 14, 2012. The payment date was originally scheduled for January 4, 2013. The Board of Directors chose to accelerate the payment to benefit shareholders affected by any 2013 tax increase. At the closing market price on November 20, 2012, the current dividend represents an annualized yield of 3.6 percent.