Some retailing analysts said K Mart's earnings exceeded their predictions and showed the strength of discounters during the economic slump.

Most retailing analysts are predicting sales gains during the holiday season of 5 to 6.5 percent.

"I think they're going to have to bring in someone from the outside," Thomas Courtney, a retailing analyst at Montgomery Securities, said.

"They just weren't prepared," said Thomas Courtney, a retailing analyst at Montgomery Securities.

Many retailing analysts and consultants are saying no emphatically.

Today's Columns Sears's stores are likely to remain mired in a sales slump, many retailing analysts and consultants say.

Some retailing analysts have speculated that the company needs the money to buy merchandise for the Christmas season and to pay taxes.

Some retailing analysts were doubtful the company would survive.

But for most of these stores, "if they are making money, it is not much," said Howard Davidowitz, a longtime retailing analyst.

Many retailing analysts and consultants say they think Sears's stores will remain mired in a sales slump for many quarters.