For the normal investor, it's hard to see Sears Holdings (NASDAQ:SHLD) being the next super-stock to own like Berkshire Hathaway. But to many market experts, that is precisely what Sears is now -- less of a retailer and more of a long-term investment vehicle with as many prongs and sprouts as a Chia Pet.Jon Ogg reports on Mad Money's Jim Cramer, who says that Sears Holdings will be the largest beneficiary of the upcoming IPO of Fortress Investment Group -- the hedge fund that wanted to go public. Sorry, could not resist that. Anyway, when hedge funds start going public, it'd be a good idea to watch the equities wrapped up in those funds, yes?
Although there are no comparable funds to judge Fortress on -- yet -- shares of Sears, at roughly $180, may be a bargain, with highs of even $370 possible according to Cramer. Will Sears Holdings really be the stock that performs as Berkshire Hathaway has in recent decades? Place your high-stakes bets now, if you dare. SHLD is trading at $184.86 as I write this -- a new all-time high.











Reader Comments (Page 1 of 1)
2-10-2007 @ 9:27AM
Bruce said...
I don't think Lampert is capable of effectively dismantling Sears. Its just too big a project. If you are looking for the next Berkshire Hathaway, take a look at Enstar Group (ESGR $101.00) and do some reading on it and its new chairman Chris Flowers. Truly fascinating insight into the creation of a financial Giant.
Happy reading cuzn's
2-10-2007 @ 6:24PM
Dave said...
Strip away what Sears Holding has done in the past few years and everything is the same. Sure you can close underperforming stores and sell the valuble real estate. As retailers, Sears and K-Mart have been second rate for a long time. The stores still open are the same as they were 5 and 10 years ago. While I personally like Sears for the product line, service has plumetted. K-Mart has never had either. K-Mart seems to be trying to emulate Wal-Mart in their desire to hire uneducated clerks that can't get a job anywhere else and pay them low wages at part-time hours without bennies.
2-11-2007 @ 3:34PM
tony hicks said...
You have got to be kidding me. What disrespect to Mr. Buffett. Sears Holdings should never be spoken in the same breath.
If this is the best company you can mention, you need a new job.
In 5 years Sears will be worth less! As KMART drags it back where it belongs. KMART is the worst manage retail company in history.
2-11-2007 @ 10:56PM
Dave Turnbull said...
Returning a drill to Sears, Home Center Stores,(K Mart) because I thought it was faulty they never looked at it, marked it clearence,and gave me a new drill. I later found how to work the automatic chuck and realized there was nothing wrong with the first one. Had they of had knowleadable personnel to explain the working of the drill I would of kept it.. Maybe they thought it good customer relations or thinking I knew more than they did and it was faulty. I think its a good way to go in the hole financially and disagree that Sears especially at the price of the stock, degrading of their Craftsman and other product lines along with the sales people they are hiring Sears is not a good buy.
2-13-2007 @ 9:03AM
Harry T. Rutherford said...
I would like to say from what I have read and heard about Mr. Lambert business dealing is he steps on anyone he can to make money. People that have worked for Sears and K-mart for many years are being fired or let go for stupid reasons. i went to a Sears the other day and norhing but kids working in the Appliances. Now how in the world does a 16 year old know about how to do laundry? Told me he isn't on commission $6.50 an hour WOW that is just not right. My friend works for Sears selling Appliances he told me he averaged $30 an hour. Of course he was let go for parking in the wrong parking lot...What a joke that is. I ask this young lad 3 questions had to get a manager to answer all three of them. So I know that is I dumped all my stock at $175 and took the sure thing hang on to it if you really think it will hit $285 then your as dumb as that $16 year old. Sears is the next Montgomery Ward...Going down slowly but will sink like the Titanic...save your self now before it is to late....
2-13-2007 @ 3:12AM
todd shriber said...
The reason to buy SHLD isn't because of the stores' performance, it's the value of the real estate they own. Lampert knows this! - Todd Shriber
2-16-2007 @ 10:35AM
syd s. said...
I DO NOT SEE HOW SEARS HOLDING CAN BECOME ANOTHER BERKSHIRE HATHAWAY BECAUSE OF THE WAY THEY ARE RUNNING THE STORES. THEY KEEP THE SALES PEOPLE IN A DOWN MOOD THE. THEY ARE FOREVER CUTTING THE COMMISSION RATE AND FLOODING THE SALES FLOOR AND AMKING IT VERY DIFFICULT FOR A ASSOCIATE TO MAKE A LIVING, BECAUSE EVERY ONE HAS TO FIGHT FOR THE FEW CUSTOMERS THAT HAVE BEEN COMING INTO THE STORE. I BELEIVE THAT MR. LAMPERT ONLY WANTS SEARS ANSD K MART FOR THE REAL ESTATE. EVER SINCE K MART TOOK OVER SEARS THE COMPANY HAS BEEN ON THE BOTOM OF THE SHOPPERS LIST TO GO TO TO BUY APPLAINCES. EVER SINCE THEY PUT APPLIANCES IN THE KMART STORES THEY HAVE HURT THEM SELVERS. THE SALES PEOPLE IN KMART ARE NOT TRAINED TO SELL APPLIANCES. I HOPE PEOPLE WILL WAKE UP AT THE HIGHER UPS TO PUT SEARS BACK ON THE MAP.
2-20-2007 @ 5:18PM
Thomas Jowers said...
I am currently a sales associate at Sear's in Abilene Tx, I agree with many points mentioned and disagree with just as many. I am 22 years old and work in the fitness, paint, and sometimes tool department. I am constantly pushed to learn more about the products that I sell, I take weekly courses online about my products. I am a commission salesman and average about $20 an hour, but my season is ending and I will be back to the base pay of $6 (it was $4.50 until last week we got a pay raise but they also cut our commission rate)
I agree that Kmart is pullion down sears and have sold all of my sears stock when they started selling craftsman tools at kmart, that was one of the key product lines.
About the drill that was returned, we are told that if a drill is brought back, take the return, it is smarter to give a new drill to a customer and make them happy =repeat customer, than to humiliate them about not being able to read instructions and lose a customer, this happens alot with our treadmills, we can only do our best when we go through our selling speech, we can not make a customer listen or no matter how many times we tell them to read the manual before using the product, some customers dont listen, i am not personally attacking anyone, but that is just kind of the motto, even though the drill was marked down, we are still able to clear a profit on it.
Another thing that erks me is that k-mart sells a few of the same products as sears, but they sell them at a lower price than sears, can we not cummunicate with each other to at least get the same price on everything, I dont know how many times people have walked in with a raincheck from our local super K and we honored them, i was glad to make a new customer relationship but i also lost on the potential commission.
p.s. most salespeople are very gracious of every purchase, my sears in Abilene, provides me with thank you cards, envelopes, and postage to send to all of my customers, that is something i enjoy doing every week,
hopefully i can purchase more sears stock in the future, at abuot $150 range and i see it going up to over $300 per share and splitting within 5 years, that is my un-professional prediction.
Have a Great Day
Thomas Jowers
owner of www.Mega-Bids.com