A parade of retailers reported their January same-store sales figures on Thursday morning, and the results were actually much better than expected. The aggregate 4.2% rise in monthly sales easily surpassed analysts' expectations, leading to a solidly bullish session for the SPDR S&P Retail (XRT) exchange-traded fund (ETF).

However, not everyone was won over by January's stronger-than-forecast sales data. Around midday on Thursday, one skeptical options trader initiated a long put spread on the XRT, in an attempt to capitalize on expected weakness in the retail-based fund.

Blue-chip burger baron McDonald's (MCD) was in focus Monday morning after the company unveiled its fourth-quarter earnings. The fast-food chain reported net income of $1.24 billion, or $1.16 per share, slightly improved from its year-ago profit of $1.22 billion, or $1.11 per share. Revenue for the quarter climbed 4% to $6.21 billion.

The fourth-quarter results were more or less in line with Wall Street's expectations, but the same can't be said of its December sales. Global same-store sales rose 3.7% across the board, led by an 8.9% gain in the Asia-Pacific, Middle East and Africa (APMEA). U.S. same-store sales increased 2.6% in December, while sales at restaurants open at least 13 months declined 0.5% in Europe.

Tuesday morning, Sears Holding (SHLD) released a bit of good and a bit of bad news. Let's start with the bad news.

The retailer announced that its same-store sales dropped 1.7% during December. The company's eponymous Sears stores saw December same-store sales fall 6%, more than offsetting Kmart's 2% growth. The firm blamed the sales drop at Sears on a major decline in sales of consumer electronics, along with appliances and tools.

A parade of retailers have stepped up Thursday morning to unveil their December sales results, including The Gap Inc. (GPS). The jeans giant confessed to an unexpected 3% decline in same-store sales for the month, falling well short of analysts' expectations for an increase of 2.6%.

Gap North America was hit hardest, with same-store sales tumbling 8% for the month. The only business segment to record a gain for December was Banana Republic North America, as same-store sales improved 1%.

Domino's Pizza (DPZ) rallied about 5% right out of the gate Tuesday morning, as Wall Street cheered the food firm's latest earnings report.

For the third quarter, DPZ earned $16.6 million, or 27 cents per share, while revenue climbed 14.8% to $347.4 million. Both figures topped analysts' consensus estimates, which called for a profit of 25 cents per share on $335.9 million in revenue.

Retailer Kohl's (KSS) has announced that its September same-store sales increased 3%. While this is generally good news, the increase was short of the expected increase of 3.3%. On the other hand, the company's total sales increased a respectable 5.3%.

The company also announced Thursday that it believes it will hire more than 40,000 associates during the holiday season. This estimate is a 20% increase over last year's holiday hiring (33,000 employees). These employees will work at stores, distribution centers, and credit operations, averaging 20 hours per week. Perhaps this means that the company expects to do a bit more selling this year.

Nordstrom (JWN - option chain) shares are rising today after the company said its August same-store sales rose 6.3%, topping analysts' forecasts of 5.9% growth. If you think that the stock won't fall by too much in the coming months, then now could be a good time to look at a bullish hedged trade on JWN.

JWN opened this morning at $31.79. So far today the stock has hit a low of $31.38 and a high of $32.92. As of 12:30, JWN is trading at $32.29 up $1.97 (6.5%). The chart for JWN looks neutral and S&P gives JWN a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Trendy retailer Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) has announced that net sales during the four weeks ending July 31 increased 17% to $270.9 million. Same-store sales during the period increased 7%, with direct-to-consumer net merchandise sales increasing 51% to $23.6 million.

Net sales for the fiscal quarter increased 17% compared to a year ago to $745.8 million, with store-sales up 5%. On a year-to-date basis, company sales increased to $1.434 billion from $1.239 billion a year ago, an increase of 16%. Same-store sales increased 3% on the same basis. Turning to the retailer's earnings report on August 17, the company expects to earn 15 cents per share.

Family Dollar (FDO - option chain) stock is trading lower today after the company announced this morning that it expects third-quarter earnings near the upper end of its original forecast of 71 to 76 cents per share, which would still be below analysts' forecasts of 77 cents per share. If you think this stock won't be rising too far in the coming months, then it could be a good time to look at a bearish hedged play on FDO.

This morning, FDO opened at $38.19. So far today the stock has hit a high of $42.07 and a low of $38.00. As of 1:10, FDO is trading at $38.49, down $1.60 (-4.0%). The chart for FDO looks neutral and S&P gives FDO a neutral 3 STARS (out of 5) hold ranking.

Target (TGT) announced Thursday that same-store sales for April dropped 5.9%, far more than the expected drop of 2.3%. TGT's total sales for April totaled $4.29 billion, 3.5% lower than a year ago.

The company also announced that it expects its first-quarter earnings to either meet or exceed the consensus estimate of 86 cents per share. The reason, as the discount retailer noted, is that sales in its higher-margin categories were "particularly strong" and that both its business segments are outperforming their respective profit plans for the quarter.

Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) announced an increase in sales for the five-week period ending April 3.

Abercrombie net sales increased 19% compared to the same five-week period a year ago. And though comparable sales results for March increased 5%, they missed the 6.6% sales growth expected by the Street.

According to Abercrombie, total domestic net sales, including direct-to-consumer net sales, increased 10%. International sales for the company increased an impressive 112%.

McDonald's (MCD) announced Monday that global comparable sales increased 4.8% in February. In a statement, the company said that worldwide results for February "show that we're satisfying the needs of our customers around the world by giving them more choice and variety, unbeatable value and the convenience they're looking for given today's busy lifestyles."

The eatery attributed the increase to "strong consumer demand for core favorites," including Chicken McNuggets (which received a boost from an Olympic promotion), the Breakfast Dollar Menu, and McCafe coffees.

Early Wednesday morning, BJ's Wholesale (BJ) announced that its February same-store sales increased 7.5%. Taking gasoline sales out of the equation, the retailer's sales increased 3.9%. Analysts expected the company to report a sales increase of 6.3% including gasoline and 2.6% excluding bubbling crude.

The company attributed the stronger-than-expected results to s shift of the Super Bowl to February this year, compared to January a year ago. The firm's total sales increased 13% to $755.2 million.

Drugstore chain Rite Aid (RAD) reported Monday that its same-store sales fell 1.8% in December, marking the seventh consecutive month of declines. Same-store front-end sales dropped 2.3% for the period ended Dec. 26, while pharmacy sales contracted by 1.5%. Total sales pulled back 3% to $2.09 billion.

Pharmacy sales had been fairly resilient of late, but the decline in the most recent month was attributed to the introduction of a growing number of generic drugs. Additionally, the number of prescriptions filled on a same-store basis dropped by 0.2%.

On Tuesday, McDonald's (MCD) announced that November same-store sales increased 0.7%. Great news, right? Well, the fast-food pioneer's sales dropped 0.6% in America, but increased 2.5% in Europe. MCD blames the drop in the United States on the sluggish economy, although the house of Ronald managed to outperform a majority of its American competitors.

Here is my question, hasn't the economic situation gotten better in America? Why would McDonald's sales suddenly slump just as it seems the economy is in recovery mode? Are we as Americans now more accustomed to eating at home thanks to tightening purse strings? Now that the economy is recovering, do we have a taste for better fast-food options? Are we finally tired of McDonald's?