Sears Holdings Corp. reported a $748 million quarterly loss as revenue and gross margin fell, extending woes for the struggling retailer as it continues to explore ways to monetize its key brands, the Wall Street Journal reported today. Chief Executive Edward Lampert said Sears is “fully committed to restoring profitability,” an uphill effort so far that the company said could include additional expense reductions and financing transactions. Sears in May said that it was exploring opportunities for its Kenmore, Craftsman and DieHard brands, its Sears Home Services business, and the company’s real-estate portfolio. The company on Thursday said that those efforts are continuing, but it didn’t provide an update. For its fiscal third quarter, Sears reported a loss of $748 million, or $6.99 a share, compared with a loss of $454 million, or $4.26 a share, a year earlier. Revenue fell 13 percent to $5.03 billion from $5.75 billion a year earlier, dented by fewer Kmart and Sears stores in operation as well as a 7.4 percent drop in same-store sales.
