Inside these posts: Electronics

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Best Buys plans smaller stores, more online sales

A Best Buy store in Alexandria, Va. (Reuters)

Best Buy Co. Inc. plans to boost its Web presence and open a greater number of small stores in the United States targeting mobile customers in an effort to win back market share from the likes of Amazon.com Inc and Wal-Mart Stores Inc .

The news came after many investors had raised concerns about the retailer’s huge overhead costs and oversized stores at a time when many shoppers go online to buy gadgets. Get the full story »

Wal-Mart shrinks electronics space, adds items

Wal-Mart is cutting the size of its electronics department as popular gadgets shrink and making room to add back dropped items like fishing poles, fabric and full-figure fashions. Get the full story »

H.H. Gregg comes to Chicago; will hire 900

Electronics retailer H.H. Gregg Inc. said it plans to enter the Chicago market for the first time this fall with 20 stores.

The Indianapolis-based company will open stores in Schaumburg, Niles and Vernon Hills, among other locations, according to spokeswoman Sari Martin.

The fast-growing retailer aims to take advantage of big-box real estate left empty in the wake of the recession, moving into stores once occupied by bankrupt retailers Circuit City, Wickes Furniture and Linens ‘n Things. Get the full story »

Littelfuse Q4 profit beats expectations

Circuit protection products maker Littelfuse Inc. posted a better-than-expected quarterly profit, mainly helped by growth in its electronics segment, and forecast 2011 sales above analysts’ expectations. Get the full story »

Anixter’s 4Q profit more than doubles

Shares of Glenview-based Anixter International Inc. jumped Tuesday after the company said its fourth-quarter profit more than doubled, easily topping Wall Street analysts’ expectations.

The stock rose $3.90, or 6.2 percent, to $67.17 in late trading. Get the full story »

Cobra Electronics CFO resigning

Cobra Electronics Corp., maker of CB radios and radar detectors, said its chief financial officer Michael Smith is resigning effective Jan. 31. Get the full story »

Molex picks up unit of chip maker Luxtera

From Crain’s Chicago Business | Molex, the electronic connector maker based in Lisle, said it is buying the optical cable business of chip maker Luxtera Inc.

Motorola unveils tablet, ‘most powerful’ phone

The world’s most powerful smart phone.

Such a claim is a bold one, but Motorola Mobility is making it at the Consumer Electronics Show, the annual industry confab where companies try to one-up each other with the newest technology and flashiest product releases. Get the full story »

Littelfuse buys Cole Hersee

Chicago-based Littelfuse Inc. has bought Cole Hersee Co. for $50 million. Get the full story »

Computer prices reverse course, start to rise

For the first time in several years, people shopping for personal computers are doing something new: paying more.

In November, the average retail price of a PC sold in the U.S. was $615, up 6 percent from last year’s $580, which marked a record low, according to research firm NPD Group. Average PC prices have now increased in six of the past eight months compared with 2009 levels, according to NPD data. Get the full story »

Best Buy shares tank 15% on weaker sales

Top consumer electronics chain Best Buy Co. Inc. reported lower-than-expected quarterly profit on a surprise drop in sales at established stores and a decline in its U.S. market share.

The lackluster report from the retailer seen as a bellwether in consumer electronics pushed its shares down 14.5 percent in morning trading and cast a shadow on the strength of the recovery in the consumer-driven U.S. economy.

Get the full story »

Best Buy jumps into free shipping fray

Best Buy has joined the free-shipping wars, offering the lure on many online orders for the holidays. Best Buy says hundreds of thousands of items are included. Some items such as Apple Inc.’s iPads, video game consoles and major appliances are not.

Littelfuse Q3 results beat the Street

Circuit protection products maker Littelfuse Inc. posted quarterly results that beat Street expectations, helped by the strong performance of its electronics unit, but said it saw sales slowing down in the fourth quarter.

The Chicago-based company expects fourth-quarter earnings of 75-85 cents a share, on revenue of $138-$145 million. Get the full story »

Molex shares sink on lower outlook

Shares of Molex Inc. were down 7 percent in early trading Wednesday, a day after the Lisle-based company reported better-than-expected earnings bur warned that its second-quarter earnings would be below estimates. Get the full story »

Molex shares fall on Q2 earnings disappointment

Electronic connector maker Molex Inc. posted a quarterly profit that beat market estimates, partly helped by new product launches and strong demand, but forecast second-quarter earnings below estimates, sending its shares down 4 percent in after-market trade. Get the full story »