The Street Beat

Sears Holdings (Nasdaq: SHLD) announced on Thursday that it would spin off part of its Canadian unit, a poor performer that has weighed down the struggling retailer.

Every time you go shopping, you share intimate details about your consumption patterns with retailers. And many of those retailers are studying those details to figure out what you like, what you need, and which coupons are most likely to make you happy. Target (NYSE: TGT), for example, has figured out how to data-mine its way into your womb, to figure out whether you have a baby on the way long before you need to start buying diapers.

With U.S. discount rival Target Corp. (NYSE:TGT) slated to commence major initiatives to develop a presence in Canada, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) is planning to spend more than $750 million this fiscal year in expansions in the country itself.

TreeHouse Foods (NYSE: THS) said its adjusted fourth-quarter adjusted earnings took a hit because of unseasonably warm weather this year, which drove down sales volumes in December. Its shares took a hit in premarket trading, too, falling 8 percent.

It looks like Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL) may be extending its retail reach soon. The company is reportedly planning on latching onto the 2nd largest discount retail chain in America, Target (NYSE: TGT), and will be opening up mini-Apple stores within select Target locations.

J.C. Penney Co. (NYSE:JCP) acquired a 17 percent stake in Martha Stewart Living Omnimedia Inc. (NYSE:MSO) for $38.5 million as the U.S. department-store chain seeks to revive sales with new mini stores dedicated to the brand.

AT&T is considering an offer to divest a significantly larger portion of assets than it had initially expected to salvage its $39 billion merger with T-Mobile USA, according to a Bloomberg report. The exact size of the disposals hasn't been determined, said a person familiar with the plan, but they could be as much as 40% of T-Mobile USA's assets, Bloomberg reported.

Children's Place Retail Stores Inc (Nasdaq: PLCE) is eyeing a strong end to the year as it expects to keep a tight leash on its merchandise, helping it ride through a highly promotional holiday season with improved margins.