What are same-store sales?
Same-store sales growth compares a period's sales with the same period a year earlier, counting only stores open in both. New and closed stores are left out, so it shows how existing stores did.[S2] Many retailers call it comparable sales.[S6]
How are same-store sales worked out?
Growth = (comparable stores' sales this period − their sales a year earlier) ÷ their sales a year earlier.[S2]
Each company decides which stores count:
- Target: stores open 13 months or more.[S2]
- Lowe's: stores open longer than 13 months.[S3]
- Home Depot: stores and websites open more than 52 weeks.[S4]
- Walmart: stores and clubs open for the previous 12 months, plus eCommerce.[S6]
- Jersey Mike's: traditional stores open at least 425 days, company-owned or franchised. Airports, colleges and kiosks are left out.[S7]
Target's page shows 3.8% (Q2 FY2026).
Where do you find same-store sales in a 10-K or 10-Q?
Look in Management's Discussion and Analysis (MD&A): Item 7 of a 10-K, or Part I, Item 2 of a 10-Q.[S8][S9] Target, Lowe's, Home Depot, Costco and Walmart define it there.[S2][S3][S4][S5][S6]
SEC guidance names same store sales as a company-specific metric. It expects a clear definition and how it is calculated.[S1]
What do same-store sales leave out?
- New and closed stores. Net sales include them, so the two figures can move apart.[S2]
- A common method. Target and Home Depot say other retailers calculate it differently.[S2][S4]
- The company's own revenue, at a franchisor. Jersey Mike's says its stores' sales are not its revenue.[S7]
How does Cityfort show same-store sales?
Each row is the company's own measure, so rows are not like for like. Each note gives the nearest GAAP figure, usually net sales growth. See non-GAAP measures.