The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) recently posted November sales of $1.8 billion, up 15% from last year’s $1.6 billion. Consolidated comparable store sales jumped 8% year-over-year.

Management said business throughout the Thanksgiving week and weekend was strong and our fourth quarter is off to a great start, adding that with the important month of December still ahead, the company is maintaining its guidance for fourth-quarter fiscal 2010 earnings per share from continuing operations to be in the range of 65 to 71 cents.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate has been upped to 73 cents since the TJX sales figures came out in early December. Last month, the forecast was 71 cents.

For the current fiscal year, analysts polled by Zacks are projecting earnings of $2.63 per share, versus last month’s $2.60.

For the following year, the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.95 was increased from last month’s $2.90.

Industry-leading Income

The company recently declared a quarterly dividend of 12 cents per share, noting that it is payable March 4 to shareholders of record on February 11.

TJX’s dividend yield of 1.3% stands high above the industry average.

Solid Earnings

The TJX Companies saw third-quarter earnings of 81 cents per share, beating the Zacks Consensus Estimate by a penny and surpassing last year’s 54 cents.

The company stated that it achieved record third quarter results, driven by significant increases in comparable store sales and customer traffic that have continued to accelerate.

Read the Nov 3 commentary on TJX.

Last Week’s Growth and Income Zacks Rank Buy Stocks

Cooper Industries plc (CBE), which recently announced the opening of a new manufacturing facility in Dammam, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, declared a quarterly dividend of 25 cents in early November. The company offers an industry-leading dividend yield of 2.3%.

Perrigo Co. (PRGO) analysts are steadily increasing estimates for the drug company, fueled by the latest earnings surprise.

Archer Daniels Midland Co. (ADM) is rebounding steadily after the commodities bubble burst last year. Estimates moving forward are showing steady growth.

Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) has posted big surprises on estimates 3 out of the last 4 quarters. Analysts are bullish on 2010, with earnings expected to grow 29%.

Alex Kolb is the Growth & Income Stock Strategist for Zacks.com. He also writes the popular daily commentary column for the ZacksElite.com service. Zacks Investment Research