Bob's Stores, a division of TJX Cos., reported a segment loss of $6.94 million in the first quarter, slightly more  than the $6.57 million loss the chain endured a year earlier. Sales slid 3% to $60.57 million from $64 million. Comps fell 1%.

 

Overall, TJX, the owner of the T.J. Maxx and Marshalls chains, said first-quarter profit rose 20 percent to $193.8 million, or 43 cents a share, in the three months ended April 26, TJX said. Excluding a tax benefit, earnings were 41 cents, meeting analysts' estimates.

Sales in the first quarter rose 6.2 percent to $4.36 billion, Framingham-based TJX said. The T.K. Maxx chain in Britain and Winners and HomeSense in Canada posted the fastest revenue growth among TJX's divisions, helped by the dollar's decline.