Time was that F.W. Woolworth Co. was as much a part of America as baseball and hot dogs. The company was so successful that founder Frank Woolworth paid for the construction of the Woolworth Building in New York City, once the tallest building in the world, in cash. Today, the brand is largely unknown by shoppers under age 30, who may hear about Woolworth's only when they learn in school about the famous sit-in at the store's location in Greensboro, N.C., during the Civil Rights era.

Woolworth's, which ceased operating in the U.S. in 1997, used to symbolize the U.S. in other parts of the world, too, but the brand is continuing to fade. Reports from the U.K. say the Woolworths chain (the Brits don't use the apostrophe), which has been separate from the American parent for 25 years, is closing because it had been unable to find a buyer. The 815-store chain has 385 million pounds in debt, according the Independent newspaper.

Customers seemed to like the fact that Woolies -- its nickname in the U.K. -- sold a bit of everything. That's what people liked about the U.S. stores as well, from what I remember. In today's specialized retail world, though, this huge selection represents a problem. "To an analyst, that looks like a terrible lack of focus," the Independent said. Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT), which perfected Frank Woolworth's discounting strategy and drove the company he founded out of business, is one of the few that can get away with that approach today.

Continue reading Woolworths, once an American icon, disappears from U.K.

Woolworths, once an American icon, disappears from U.K. originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Dec 2008 14:19:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Foot Locker (FL) reports healthy Q2 earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 22 Aug 2008 13:35:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), operator of Payless ShoeSource and owner of the Stride Rite brand, reported Q1 earnings on Wednesday. Revenues increased 28% to $932 million. Pretty cool increase. Adjusting earnings per share for a litigation charge and an inventory issue, net income came in at $0.71 per share versus the $0.59 per share booked a year ago.

That's decent growth, but there are a couple things to consider here. First, the top line wasn't fully organic, as it includes the Stride Rite acquisition (remember that Payless ShoeSource bought out Stride Rite and became Collective Brands). Second, same-store sales did not confirm any sort of underlying healthy trend. Comps declined a nasty 6.5%. So, even though earnings expectations were beat by a wide margin according to MarketWatch (analysts seemed to think the shoe concern would do about $0.56 per share), I'm not fully impressed.

And let's go back to that litigation thing. The earnings release discusses the risk involved with an unfavorable ruling vis-a-vis the retailer's battle with Adidas. That's another strike against the company for me. From a price-action perspective, Collective Brands' stock has been rather weak as of late, and it currently sits much closer to the 52-week low than it does to the 52-week high.

Continue reading Collective Brands walks all over expectations, but I'm ignoring it

Collective Brands walks all over expectations, but I'm ignoring it originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 04 Jun 2008 17:25:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Foot Locker (FL) soars as revenues beat estimates originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 23 May 2008 14:39:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Nike (NKE) third-quarter profit surges on strong international sales

Nike (NKE) third-quarter profit surges on strong international sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 Mar 2008 12:33:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Monday, March 10

• Google Inc. (NASDAQ: GOOG) and InterActive Corp. (NASDAQ: IACI) to present at Bear Stearns Media Conference.
• Texas Instruments Inc. (NYSE: TXN) to hold mid-quarter update conference call at 5:00 pm.

Tuesday, March 11

• Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 9:00 am.
• Chevron Corp. (NYSE: CVX) to hold analyst meeting at 9:00 am.
• Kroger Co. (NYSE: KR) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 10 am.

Wednesday, March 12

• FDA Oncologic Drugs Advisory Committee Meeting on Schering-Plough Corp.'s (NYSE: SGP) sBLA for Pegintronfor treatment of melanoma at 8:00 am.
• Freddie Mac (NYSE: FRE) to host analyst/investor meeting at 8:30 am.
• Hot Topic (NASDAQ: HOTT) to report Q4 earnings; conference call at 4:30 pm.

Continue reading Market highlights for next week: Texas Instruments to hold mid-quarter update

Market highlights for next week: Texas Instruments to hold mid-quarter update originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 08 Mar 2008 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Insiders stock up on retail stocks -- the ultimate clearance?

Insiders stock up on retail stocks -- the ultimate clearance? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 18 Dec 2007 13:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Innovation is key for shoe sellers in tough market

Innovation is key for shoe sellers in tough market originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 03 Dec 2007 17:28:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Goldman cut AmeriCredit (NYSE: ACF) shares to Sell from Neutral to reflect the challenging rate and credit environment.

• Friedman Billings has concerns about LTX Corp's (NYSE: LTX) largest customer, Texas Instruments (TXN), losing market share in the handset baseband market, which has already impacted Texas' equipment test orders from LTX. Friedman Billings cut LTX Corp to Market Perform from Outperform.

• Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) was downgraded to Neutral from Overweight at JP Morgan, citing the disappointing Q2 results...

• Genesco (NYSE: GCO) was cut to Neutral from Positive at Susquehanna.

• Soleil downgraded Sonic Solutions (NASDAQ: SNIC) to Hold from Buy.

• Raymond James downgraded New York & Co (NYSE: NWY) to Underperform from Sell.

Analyst downgrades: ACF, GCO and NWY originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 24 Aug 2007 11:13:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Robert W. Baird initiated coverage on VMware (NYSE: VMW) with a Neutral rating citing valuation.

• Citigroup started Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) with a Hold rating, and cited the increasing competitive environment, slowing square footage growth and the weak housing market.

• Citigroup started Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM) with a Sell rating and said the company has an inventory glut that could lead to markdown risk, there is raw material price inflation, and the weak housing market remains a material risk.

• Wachovia is cautious on Landstar System's (NASDAQ: LSTR) near-term growth rates and difficult end markets, starting shares with a Market Perform rating.

• Deutsche is positive on the potential of Acadia Pharmaceutical's (NASDAQ: ACAD) ACP-103 in schizophrenia, starting shares with a Buy rating...

• Cowen initiated Theravance (NASDAQ: THRX) with an Outperform rating and Cubist Pharmaceuticals (NASDAQ: CBST) with a Neutral rating.

• Raymond James initiated Akamai (NASDAQ: AKAM) with an Outperform and resumed coverage of McAfee (NYSE: MFE) with an Outperform rating.

• Goldman reinstated Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) with a Neutral rating.

Analyst initiations: AKAM, BBBY, MFE and WSM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 21 Aug 2007 10:42:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Gap Inc. (NYSE: GPS) -- September volatility elevated into August 23 EPS and outlook. Gap, the San Francisco based parent company of 3,200 Gap, Old Navy & Banana Republic stores, is expected to report EPS of 19 cents, according to Thomson First Call. GPS September option implied volatility of 40 is above its 26-week average of 29 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) -- implied volatility elevated into EPS and outlook. FL, a footwear & apparel operator of 3,950 retail stores, closed at $15.28. FL has a market cap of $2.4 billion with $220 million in long-term debt. FL is expected to announce EPS after the close on August 22. FL over all option implied volatility of 58 is above its 26-week average of 32 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price risks.

Daily options Update is provided by Stock Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Option update: Gap September volatility elevated into EPS originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 20 Aug 2007 10:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The IRS is looking at derivatives trades of Citigroup Inc (NYSE: C) and Lehman Brothers Holdings (NYSE: LEH) to see if trades made on behalf of hedge funds and other clients, including those offshore, were to avoid paying taxes on U.S. stock dividends, reported the Wall Street Journal (subscription required).
  
• The Financial Times (subscription required) reported that Telecom Italia (NYSE: TI) is expected to sell its stake in Brasil Telecom (NYSE: BTM).

• The New York Times reported that Ford Motor Company (NYSE: F) is expected to receive opening bids today for its Jaguar and Land Rover units. A variety of companies, including private equity firms and possibly other automakers, are expected to bid for the two divisions, said people with direct knowledge of the situation.
• Retail shoe store chain Foot Locker Inc (NYSE: FL) is reportedly considering putting itself up for sale again, after disappointing sales by its U.S. shoe stores and its failed attempt to acquire rival Genesco Inc (NYSE: GCO), reported the New York Post.
• The Telegraph reported that Wal-Mart Stores Inc (NYSE: WMT) is examining a deal to invest in Beijing Hualian, one of China's biggest retail groups.

Newspaper wrap-up 7-19-07: Foot Locker may put itself up for sale again originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 19 Jul 2007 09:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Chittenden Corp (NYSE: CHZ) was downgraded to Sell from Hold at AG Edwards based on the buyout news from People's United Financial (PBCT).

• Digital River (NASDAQ: DRIV) was downgraded to Hold from Buy, and its target was cut to $44, at Jeffries based on the weak Microsoft (MSFT) ramp and weakness in the Symantec (SYMC) transition.

• SMH Capital downgraded shares of Image Entertainment (NASDAQ: DISK) to Sell from Neutral and recommends investors take profits on the upside and sell shares.

• Foot Locker (NYSE: FL) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Matrix, as the firm believes fundamentals trends are turning negative; the firm sees limited upside from current levels.

• Bed Bath & Beyond (NASDAQ: BBBY) was downgraded to Market Perform from Outperform at Raymond James.

• Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ) was removed from Goldman Sachs' Americas Conviction Buy List.

• Web.com (NASDAQ: WWWW) was downgraded to Hold from Buy at Roth Capital Partners.

• Andrew Corp (NASDAQ: ANDW) was downgraded to Neutral from Buy at Oppenheimer.

• JP Morgan downgraded shares of SkyWest (NASDAQ: SKYW) to Underweight from Overweight and shares of Republic Airways Holdings (NASDAQ: RJET) to Neutral from Overweight.

Analyst downgrades 6-28-07: BBBY, DISK, DRIV and JNJ originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 28 Jun 2007 11:22:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• Banc of America downgraded shares of both Nike and Foot Locker to Neutral from Buy, as the firm believes industry pressures in the U.S. could more than offset the potential turn in Europe and benefit from the 2008 Olympics.
• Cowen downgraded shares of ADTRAN, Bookham and Tellabs to Neutral from Outperform.
• Goldman Sachs also downgraded shares of Tellabs, to Sell from Neutral, as the firm believes the stock fully discounts the expected sales and margin improvement.

• Allergan Inc (NYSE: AGN) was downgraded to Equal Weight from Overweight at Morgan Stanley citing limited upside.
• Friedman Billings removed The Cheesecake Factory Incorporated (NASDAQ: CAKE) from its Top Picks and maintained its Outperform rating.
• Lehman downgraded shares of The First American Corporation (NYSE: FAF) to Equal-Weight from Overweight on increasing risk to the company's title margin and regulatory concerns.
• Matrix USA downgraded shares of Lowe's Companies Inc (NYSE: LOW) to Buy from Strong Buy on valuation.

Analyst downgrades 6-08-07: NKE, FL, TLAB, ADTN and BKHM originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 08 Jun 2007 10:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nike Inc. (NYSE: NKE) and Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) are teaming up to launch a chain of stores called "House of Hoops by Foot Locker." The first location will open in Harlem in early 2008, and the company hopes to open up to 50 stores across the country over the next three years. The stores will offer only Nike products, which include the Converse and Jordan brands.

Basketball shoe sales have been slipping in recent years as many people are shifting away from them towards less clunky, more casual shoes. I don't know if this will help to revive the category. In fact, I doubt that it will. But it could spell disaster for Reebok and other athletic footwear companies, as the biggest specialty footwear retailer is teaming up with the biggest supplier.

One thing I don't think will help is the name. Isn't "House of Hoops" a little corny? It sounds a lot like the "House of Blues," another cynical attempt to commercialize urban culture. But hey, that's worked out pretty well, so who knows.

But this isn't even the most exciting news in the footwear sector today, as Payless ShoeSource Inc. (NYSE: PPS) agreed to acquire Stride Rite Corp. (NYSE: SRR).

Foot Locker and Nike tie together for new shoes originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 23 May 2007 16:05:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The Fed: More powerful than bare-chested young men originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 May 2007 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Foot Locker's (NYSE: FL) initial bid of $46 per share for Genesco (NYSE: GCO) was rejected by the company's board as being inadequate. Foot Locker operates over 3,400 stores in the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. The company is primarily known for selling athletic footwear, and its workers wear black and white striped shirts modeled after those worn by football referees.

Genesco is the owner of Journeys, probably the coolest footwear store going, as well as Lids and several other brands including Johnston & Murphy. An acquisition of Genesco would be a way for Foot Locker to expand out of basketball/tennis shoes, and move toward targeting a broader market.

It's not surprising that Genesco's board unanimously rejected the offer as the stock is currently trading at over 50 dollars, indicating that investors think the company is worth more. According to Hal Pennington, CEO of Genesco, Foot Locker's CEO Matthew Serra said in a discussion "'Of course, we can go higher,."

Now I don't claim to be a negotiating expert. But when you offer someone 46 a share and say "Of course, we can go higher," how can you reasonably expect them to take the offer? If Foot Locker's CEO said they would go higher, Genesco had no choice but to reject the offer.

Foot Locker will have to step up offer for Genesco originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 24 Apr 2007 13:43:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Burlington Northern Santa Fe Corp. (NYSE: BNI) -- implied volatility low; suggests less Risk as Buffett buys. BNI, an operator of 32,000 railroad route miles, is recently up $6.05 to $88.71. Form 4 filed with the SEC.gov revealed Warren Buffett holding company BRK purchased 1,646,900 shares worth $133.967,245 on 4/4/07-4/5/07. BNI May option implied volatility of 24 is below its 52-week average of 27 according to Track Data, suggesting larger price fluctuations.

Foot Locker Inc. (NYSE: FL) -- April 25 & May 25 calls trading on renewed & unconfirmed Chatter. FL, a footwear & apparel operator of 3,950 retail stores, is recently up $.28 to $23.85 on renewed & unconfirmed takeover chatter. FL April 25 calls have traded 62 times on transaction volume of 1,716 contracts, above its open interest of 1,300 contracts. FL May option implied volatility of 31 is near its 26-week average according to Track Data, suggesting slightly higher price risks.

The Volatility Index for S&P 500 Options (VIX) is up .04 to 13.27.

Option volume leaders today are: Dow Chemical Co. (NYSE: DOW), Intel Corp. (NASDAQ: INTC), Dendreon Corp. (NASDAQ: DNDN) and Research in Motion, Ltd. (NASDAQ: RIMM).

Daily Option Update is provided by Stock Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.

Option update 4-9-07: BNI option implied volatility low into Buffett purchases originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Apr 2007 12:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MAJOR PAPERS:

• The Wall Street Journal (subscription required) reported that Kraft Foods Inc (NYSE: KFT), looking to make foreign acquisitions, is giving its international managers more power to engineer deals. Kraft is most interested in acquisitions in Russia, Ukraine, Brazil and Mexico, according to a person familiar with the matter.
• According to Barron's Online's (subscription required) "Weekday Trader" column, Corn Products International Inc's (NYSE: CPO) recent 17% drop could be a buying opportunity.
• According to the Financial Times (subscription required), Bertelsmann has joined forces with private equity partners to consider a bid for textbook publisher Thomson Corporation (NYSE: TOC). The asking price is about $5B.

• Several private equity firms, including Kohlberg Kravis Roberts, Bain Capital and Texas Pacific Group, have shown a strong interest in acquiring the beverage arm of Cadbury Schweppes ADS (NYSE: CSG) reported the U.K. Times.
• The New York Post reported that WPP Group plc ADS (NASDAQ: WPPGY) has Hollywood ambitions, taking a 6.8% stake in Media Rights Capital, partly owned by talent agency Endeavor.
• Investor's Business Daily's "New America" column mentioned shoe maker Sketchers USA Inc (NYSE: SKX) positively, noting that the company's presence has increased significantly in stores like Foot Locker Inc (NYSE: FL) and Finish Line Inc (NASDAQ: FINL).

Newspaper wrap-up 3-22-07: Kraft looking for foreign acquisitions originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 22 Mar 2007 09:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Rumor Round-up: BOBJ, USG and FL originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jan 2007 15:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.