Retail ETF In Play As Handfuls Of Retailers Report Earnings

The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSE: XRT) saw unusually large volume on Wednesday ahead of a handful of retailers reporting earnings on Thursday. Investors bought 51,842 put options on the ETF, representing a 430 percent increase in typical volume activity of 9,775 put options.

Here is a look at retailers that reported earnings:

Sears (NASDAQ: SHLD) reported its second quarter results. The company lost $5.39 per share, more than double the loss of $2.63 per share analysts were expecting. Revenue of $8.01 billion also fell short of expectations of $8.13 billion.

Shares were seen trading lower by 7.8 percent.

The Children's Place Retail Stores (NASDAQ: PLCE) reported its second quarter results. The company lost $0.37 per share, less than the $0.44 loss per share analysts were expecting. Revenue of $384.60 million was also better than expected as analysts were projecting revenue to be $379.01 million.

Shares were trading higher by 6.9 percent.

The Buckle (NYSE: BKE) reported its second quarter results. The company earned $0.51 per share, falling short of the $0.53 analysts were expecting. Revenue of $235.70 million was better than the $235.45 million that analysts were expecting.

Shares were trading higher by 3.5 percent.

Bon-Ton Stores (NASDAQ: BONT) reported its second quarter results. The company lost $1.86 per share, worse than the loss of $1.54 per share analysts were expecting. Revenue of $563.50 million also fell short of the $577.05 million analysts were expecting.

Shares were trading higher by 13 percent.

Cato (NYSE: CATO) reported its second quarter results. The company earned $0.56 per share, coming in higher than the $0.52 per share analysts were expecting. However, revenue of $243.80 million fell short of the $246.0 million analysts were expecting.

Shares were trading lower by 0.26 percent.

Kirkland's (NASDAQ: KIRK) reported its second quarter results. The company lost $0.06 per share, worse than the $0.03 loss analysts were expecting. Revenue of $103.50 million also fell short of analyst expectations of $104.94 million.

Shares were trading lower by 7.4 percent.

Stage Stores (NYSE: SSI) reported its second quarter results. The company earned $0.36 per share, falling short of analyst expectations of $0.53 per share. Revenue of $377.0 million also fell short of the $397.57 million analysts were expecting.

Shares were trading lower by 6.4 percent.

Perry Ellis International (NASDAQ: PERY) reported its second quarter results. The company lost $0.08 per share, better than the loss of $0.12 per share analysts were expecting. However, revenue of $203.50 fell short of the $209.04 million analysts were expecting.

Shares hit new 52-week highs of $21.29 and were seen trading higher by 5.5 percent at $20.35.

Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR) reported its second quarter results. The company earned $0.61 per share, falling short of analyst expectations of $0.64. However, revenue of $2.03 billion was better than the $2.01 billion analysts were expecting.

Shares were trading lower by 1.22 percent.

Reporting after market close

The following retailers will report their quarterly results after market close on Thursday:

Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO)

The Gap (NYSE: GPS)

New York & Company (NYSE: NWY)

The Fresh Food Market (NYSE: TFM)

Tuesday Morning (NASDAQ: TUES)

ETF action

After opening at $87.68 on Thursday morning, the ETF was seen trading lower by 0.13 percent.