Just over a week after Limited Brands Inc. said it would sell its remaining apparel divisions, the retailer reported Wednesday that its earnings were hurt by lower-than-anticipated sales and margins across all its brands, particularly Victoria's Secret. The company also cut its full-year earnings outlook.

But even as the nation's retailers reported their worst same-store sales performance on record in April, blaming economic woes along with an early Easter and cold weather, apparel retailer Abercrombie & Fitch Co. reported 7 percent earnings growth in the first quarter, and discount retailer Target Corp.'s profits jumped 18 percent.

Limited Brands, based in Columbus, announced last week that it would sell 67 percent of its interest in its underperforming Express apparel brand to affiliates of private equity firm Golden Gate Capital for $548 million by July. Limited, which operates stores including Bath & Body Works, Express, and White Barn Candle Co., has been selling its apparel divisions over the past six years to focus on its more profitable lingerie and personal care product operations.

The company said it made $52.9 million, or 13 cents per share, for the quarter ended May 5, compared with profits of $99.4 million, or 25 cents a share, a year ago. Sales totaled $2.3 billion compared with $2.1 billion a year ago.

The retailer said sales at stores opened at least a year - considered a key indicator of a retailer's strength - rose 4 percent, but it expects May's same-store sales will be in the negative low single digit range instead of its previous forecast of low-single-digit growth.

Limited Brands said it now expects to make 20 cents to 24 cents a share in the second quarter, compared with 28 cents a year ago, and that earnings for the full year would be between $1.55 and $1.65 per share, compared with its initial guidance of $1.75 per share.

The company reported the results after markets closed, and its shares fell $1.06, or 4 percent, to $25.40 in extended trading after gaining 48 cents in the regular session. The shares have traded between $23.54 and $32.60 in the past year.

Abercrombie, based in suburban New Albany, said it made $60.1 million, or 65 cents per share, in the first quarter, compared with profits of $56.2 million, or 62 cents a share, a year ago. Sales rose 13 percent to $742.4 million from $657.3 million a year ago. Same-store sales fell 4 percent.

Abercrombie's shares rose $1.38, or 1.7 percent, to $82.18 in extended trading after its report, close to their record high of $84.92.

Target, the nation's second-largest discount retailer behind Wal-Mart Stores Inc., announced Wednesday morning that it earned $651 million, or 75 cents per share, during the period ended May 5, up from $554 million, or 63 cents per share, during the quarter that ended April 29 last year. Revenue of $14.04 billion was up 9 percent from $12.86 billion a year ago. Sales at stores open at least a year rose 4.3 percent.

Target warned that growth would not be as fast during the rest of the year, but for the moment, it appears its higher-income customers are still spending in a way that other retailers are not seeing.

The average Wal-Mart customer makes $40,000 a year, while Target shoppers have incomes that are closer to $60,000 and higher education levels, said Howard Davidowitz, chairman of New York-based retail consulting and investment banking firm Davidowitz & Associates Inc.