Pioneer (PXD) (GKSR) (MO) (SYY) (SSI) (CATO) (RGS) (MOCO) Declare Dividends

The Board of Directors of Pioneer Natural Resources Co. (NYSE:PXD) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.04 per share payable 10/14/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/30/11.

The Board of Directors of G & K Services (NASDAQ:GKSR) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.13 per share payable 9/29/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/22/11.

The Board of Directors of Altria Group Inc. (NYSE:MO) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.41 per share payable 10/11/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/15/11.

The Board of Directors of Sysco Corp. (NYSE:SYY) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.26 per share payable 10/28/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 10/7/11.

The Board of Directors of Stage Stores Inc (NYSE:SSI) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.09 per share payable 9/21/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/6/11.

The Board of Directors of Cato Corp. (NYSE:CATO) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.23 per share payable 9/26/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/12/11.

The Board of Directors of Regis Corp. (NYSE:RGS) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.06 per share payable 9/22/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 9/8/11.

The Board of Directors of MOCON Inc. (NASDAQ:MOCO) declared a quarterly common stock dividend of $0.10 per share payable 11/18/11 to shareholders of record at the close of business on 11/4/11.

Jitters Over (TGT) (BJ) (COST) (KSS) (JCP) (SKS) (JWN) (M) (SSI) March Sales Report

With Macy's (NYSE:M), Target (NYSE:TGT), BJ's Wholesale Club (NYSE:BJ), Costco (Nasdaq:COST), Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI), J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), Saks (NYSE:SKS) and Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) all reporting March sales today, shareholders and investors have jitters over the narrative that will probably emerge; one that most won't like for some of these companies.

On the positive side, Costco and BJ's Wholesale Club should generate improvements in same-store sales, based on getting more benefits from higher gas prices. Macy's and Nordstrom may also turn in a good quarter.

Barclays said, "Ahead of these results, we are raising our Barclays Capital Broadlines/Dept. Stores Same Store-Sales Index estimate for March to (0.8)% from (2.1)% compared with an 11.3% increase last year. The increase in our index is attributable to our expectations for higher comps for Costco and BJ's Wholesale Club, due to a larger benefit from gas prices, as well as our expectations for continued solid momentum at Macy's and Nordstrom, despite the Easter shift. We are raising our estimate for Costco to 6%-8% from 3%-5%, our estimate for BJ's to 0%-2% from (1)%-1%, our estimate for Macy's to (1)%-(3)% from (2)%-(4)%, and our estimate for Nordstrom to 1%-3% from (2)%-(4)%."

Concerning April, the optimism fades though. "We believe overall sales were solid in March; however, we expect the shift of Easter into April out of March, as well as tough comparisons last year, to have a negative impact on this month's results...We are maintaining our estimate for an 11.8% increase in our index in April," Barclays concluded.

It seems the reports will be a mixed bag, as Bed Bath & Beyond may have stolen some business from Target, and there could be some other surprises in there.

Target (NYSE:TGT), Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), Saks (NYSE:SKS), Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN), Macy's (NYSE:M), BJ's (NYSE:BJ), Costco (NYSE:COST), Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI) Reporting December Sales Today

Target (NYSE:TGT), Kohl's (NYSE:KSS), J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP), Saks (NYSE:SKS), Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN), Macy's (NYSE:M), BJ's (NYSE:BJ), Costco (NYSE:COST) and Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI) are all going to report December sales today, following in the footsteps of recent practices of retailers in the past years.

Barclays said, "Ahead of Thursday's results, we are slightly raising our Barclays Capital Broadlines/Dept. Stores Same Store-Sales Index estimate for November to 4.7% from 4.5% compared with a 3.7% increase last year. The increase in our index is attributable to Nordstrom, which we raised to 5%-7% from 0%-2%. In addition, we are expecting a positive comp result this quarter from Wal-Mart, and we expect Sears comps to decline (3.5)% in 4Q10. Finally, we expect that Tiffany sales increased in-line with our 4Q10 comp estimate of 2%."

"We believe that strength seen in November continued through December and the remainder of the holiday season, and now expect our Barclays Capital Broadlines/Dept. Stores Same Store-Sales Index for the combined November/December period to post the largest increase since 2003. Calendar shifts and Christmas timing appeared to be a non-event. However, the after-Christmas snow storms on the East Coast may have had a slightly negative impact on December sales."

"We believe that inventory levels are largely in good condition and promotional activity remained mostly at planned and reasonable levels. January should enable retailers to handle existing clearance merchandise and set the floors for spring."

Tiffany (NYSE:TIF) will be issue a press release concerning holiday sales next Tuesday.

Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI) Earnings Outlook Improved on Share Buyback, Holidays

Saying the holiday season looks optimistic for Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI), and coupled with the share repurchase by the company, Barclays raised their earnings on the company for 2011, while maintaining an "Equalweight" on them.

Barclays said, "The balance sheet remains solid: The quarterly dividend increased by 50% effective in September and 1.7 million shares of stock were repurchased for a total of $20.4 million...Given the share repurchase and a more optimistic holiday outlook, we are increasing our 2010 and 2011 EPS estimates to $0.92 and $1.05 from $0.90 and $1.00, respectively: We are also establishing our 2012 EPS estimate of $1.15."

Andy Hall, President and Chief Executive Officer, also said in the quarterly report he sees same-store sales rising from 1 percent to 3 percent in the fourth quarter.

Stage Stores closed Friday at $14.15, falling $0.22, or 1.53 percent. Barclays has a price target of $14 on them.