Check out retailers releasing a torrent of quarterly results headed into the Thanksgiving holiday shopping weekend.

Late on Monday, Nordstrom reported third-quarter profit above a recently lowered forecast.  The upscale department store chain said sales of designer items, accessories and men’s apparel are strong following two months of disappointing sales at established stores.

That was followed on Tuesday morning by upscale retailer Saks, which said its profit rose more than threefold, helped by strong demand for its updated merchandise and an 11.4 percent increase in same-store sales.

But on the flip side, Target surprised investors, posting a decline in quarterly profit, hurt by weak sales of higher margin goods, like clothing.

The lower results outweighed its announcement of a new $10 billion buyback program and its shares fell in early trading.

Also on Tuesday, Barnes & Noble posted a narrower-than-expected quarterly loss due to better margins and strong sales of new releases, prompting the book retailer to boost its full-year earnings outlook, while jeweler Zale reported a wider quarterly net loss, citing a change in the way it accounts for revenue from warranty plans, and voiced caution about the holiday season.

Office Depot, the world’s second-largest office supplies retailer, reported a lower quarterly profit as U.S. same-store sales fell and promotions pressured margins.  But BJ’s Wholesale, the No. 3 U.S. warehouse club operator, posted higher-than-expected third-quarter profit.

Also in the basket:

Mothers Work posts wider Q4 loss, cuts ‘08 view

Ross Stores posts higher quarterly profit

Hormel profit rises a better-than-expected 12 pct

Gamestop disappointing outlook sinks shares

(Photos: Reuters)