Continue reading Kenneth Fisher Strategy: A Price-to-Sales Portfolio

Kenneth Fisher Strategy: A Price-to-Sales Portfolio originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Aug 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Most investors wouldn't give a fund described as 'relatively prosaic, dull, conservative' a second glance; that, however, is exactly how John Neff described the Windsor Fund that he headed for more than three decades," notes John Reese, an advisor who models specific portfolios designed around the stated investing strategies of many of the stock market's most legendary investors.

In his Validea newsletter, Reese explains, "And, while his style may not have been flashy or eye-catching, the returns he generated for clients were dazzling -- so dazzling that Neff's track record may be the greatest ever for a mutual fund manager.

"Over his 31-year tenure (1964-1995), Windsor averaged a 13.7 percent annual return, beating the market by an average of 3.1 percent per year.

Continue reading Ten Top Value Plays: Spotlight on John Neff

Ten Top Value Plays: Spotlight on John Neff originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 17 Jun 2010 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks:

• Aeropostale Inc. (ARO) strong Q3 results topped analysts expectations, and it offered Q4 earnings guidance.
• Cascade Corp. (CASC) reported a surprise Q3 profit but lower revenue fell short of expectations.
• Collective Brands Inc. (PSS) reported strong Q3 earnings as well as same-store sales growth.
• Cost Plus Inc. (CPWM) narrowed its net loss in Q3 but revenue and same-stores sales declined.
• Del Monte Foods Co. (DLM) posted strong Q2 results and raised its earnings outlook for the full year.
• Diamond Foods Inc. (DMND) posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings, but said that revenue declined.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Aeropostale, Del Monte, Guess, Shanda, Staples, Toll Bros. ...

Earnings highlights: Aeropostale, Del Monte, Guess, Shanda, Staples, Toll Bros. ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 05 Dec 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Some people (mainly ZZ Top and corporate bigwigs) will tell you dressing well is key. Let's add JoS. A. Bank Clothiers (JOSB) to that list, as the men's fine clothing provider announced that its third-quarter profit increased by 26%.

The company raked in 63 cents per share compared to 50 cents per share a year ago. Moreover, these results handily topped the consensus estimate for 55 cents per share. Sales increased to $161.3 million from $149.3 million a year ago, besting the consensus estimate for $160.2 million.

Continue reading Solid Q3 earnings could push JoS. A. Bank through long-term resistance

Solid Q3 earnings could push JoS. A. Bank through long-term resistance originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Dec 2009 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Analyst upgrades:

• Collins Stewart upgraded General Dynamics (NYSE: GD) to Buy from Hold as it finds the valuation compelling at current levels and sees potential upside from a better economy and better-than-expected defense budgets.
• SunTrust views the sell-off in shares of Cabot Oil (NYSE: COG) as a buying opportunity and expects the Pennsylvania Department of Environmental Protection order to be resolved quickly. The firm upgraded Cabot to Buy from Neutral.
• Barclays upgraded Cisco (NASDAQ: CSCO) to Overweight from Equal Weight based on expectations for improved carrier demand, continued U.S. momentum, and an improved Europe.
• Applied Materials (NASDAQ: AMAT) was upgraded to Buy from Hold at Citigroup.
• Stericycle (NASDAQ: SRCL) was upgraded to Gradually Accumulate from Hold at Soleil.
• Grupo Televisa (NYSE: TV) was upgraded to Neutral from Sell at Goldman.

Continue reading Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMAT, CSCO, GD, HOT, LIZ, RBS ...

Analyst upgrades, downgrades and initiations: AMAT, CSCO, GD, HOT, LIZ, RBS ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from last week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Best Buy Inc. (NYSE: BBY) was downgraded by one analyst ahead of next week's Q2 earnings report.
• Campbell Soup Co. (NYSE: CPB) better-than-expected Q4 and full-year profit failed to impact the share price.
• FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) boosted its Q1 earnings guidance ahead of next week's quarterly report.
• JoS. A. Bank Clothiers Inc. (NASDAQ: JOSB) saw its Q2 earnings jump higher than expected.
• Korn/Ferry International (NYSE: KFY) swung to a Q1 net loss as revenue plunged despite cost cuts.
• lululemon athletica inc. (NASDAQ: LULU) strong Q2 numbers topped estimates and drove shares higher.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Best Buy, FedEx, Campbell, National Semiconductor, Talbots ...

Earnings highlights: Best Buy, FedEx, Campbell, National Semiconductor, Talbots ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 12 Sep 2009 14:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wednesday, Men's Wearhouse (NYSE: MW) posted solid earnings results but a disappointing forecast. Just a week ago, JoS. A. Bank (NASDAQ: JOSB) saw its second-quarter earnings increase 40% as well. The company earned 68 cents per share in the quarter, easily outpacing expectations for a profit of 54 cents per share. Unlike Men's Wearhouse, JoS. A. Bank did not issue a disappointing forecast -- so the stock has vaulted above prior resistance at the $44 level, which could now act as support.

Turning to a monthly chart for JoS. A. Bank, the stock is facing a crucial point -- as it is nearing its 2004 high in the $48 region. If the stock can topple this region, we could see it challenge the all-time highs set in September 2008. Considering the fact that the company's sales grew 10% in the latest quarter, I feel that a new all-time high may be a short jump away.

Continue reading Will JoS. A. Bank benefit from Men's Wearhouse's earnings results?

Will JoS. A. Bank benefit from Men's Wearhouse's earnings results? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Sep 2009 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

• Kiplinger's suggests: Diageo (NYSE: DEO), the seller of such brands as Johnnie Walker, Smirnoff, Guinness and José Cuervo. Diageo has held up better than most during the recession -- thanks to a balanced portfolio of products, with higher exposure to mid-price, mainstream brands and less exposure to ultra-premium brands. The shares look reasonably priced. At $56.01, Diageo trades at 15 times estimated June 2009 earnings of $3.82 a share. The stock yields 2.8%.

• Another to consider: Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP), the seller of such brands as Coors, Blue Moon, Pilsner and Rickard's. Beer, probably even more so than hard liquor is supposed to hold better during a recession given the cheaper price point. The company's recent quarterly profits more than doubled. The shares trade at 13 times forward earnings of $3.33 and yield 2.2%.

Continue reading Five stocks for Father's Day from Kiplinger's ... and five more

Five stocks for Father's Day from Kiplinger's ... and five more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 16:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Here are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage from BloggingStocks:

• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (NASDAQ: BBBY) easily topped Q4 earnings estimates but same-store sales fell.
• Brinker International Inc. (NYSE: EAT) forecast Q3 earnings that are well above analysts' estimates.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (NYSE: STZ) said it narrowed its loss in Q4 despite restructuring costs.
• Excel Maritime Carriers Ltd. (NYSE: EXM) is expected to fall short of Q4 earnings expectations.
• Family Dollar Stores Inc. (NYSE: FDO) reported strong Q2 results and and raised its outlook for Q3.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond, Alcoa, Wells Fargo and more

Earnings highlights: Family Dollar, Bed Bath & Beyond, Alcoa, Wells Fargo and more originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 11 Apr 2009 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Mens' clothing retailer JoS A. Bank Clothiers (NASDAQ: JOSB) announced its fiscal-year profit this morning -- logging rather impressive earnings of $3.17 per share. A year ago, JOSB reported earnings of $2.72 per share. This year's results were also 10 cents better than what the Street expected. Yearly net sales increased to $695.9 million, up from $604 million a year ago.

Many may find it difficult to believe that a clothing retailer could have a better year this year than last, what's the deal? One reason could be that JOSB delivers quite a bit of value for the dollar. For those not familiar with the company, men can purchase a complete "work-appropriate" outfit for less than $400 (from the suit jacket to the socks).

Continue reading JoS A. Bank Clothier logs an impressive fiscal year

JoS A. Bank Clothier logs an impressive fiscal year originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 08 Apr 2009 10:50:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In his Validea newsletter and his just published book Guru Strategies, stock advisor John Reese assesses companies based on the investment strategies of "legendary investors" such as Ben Graham and Warren Buffett.

Recently, the advisor has highlighted two retailers that pass his guru screens: Gildan Activewear (NYSE: GIL) and Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (NASDAQ: JOSB). Here's his contrarian look at the two out-of-favor firms.

"You might never have heard Gildan Activewear, a Montreal-based clothing manufacturer, but you may well have worn its products. Gildan sells T-shirts, sport shirts and fleece to wholesale distributors as 'blanks' -- that is, without logos or decorating. Screen printers then decorate the items with various designs and logos.

Continue reading Guru strategies pick apparel retailers

Guru strategies pick apparel retailers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Mar 2009 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

"Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc. (NASDAQ: JOSB) matches the value criteria used by our Benjamin Graham stock screening model by 100%," suggests John Reese.

In his Validea newsletter, he assesses stocks based on the strategies of numerous "legendary" stock market investors. Here's his review of the apparel retailing chain.

"Jos. A. Bank is a designer, retailer and direct marketer of men's tailored and casual clothing and accessories through stores, catalog and Internet.

"The company sells substantially all of its products exclusively under the Jos. A. Bank label through its 422 retail stores, as well as through the company's nationwide catalog and Internet operations.

"Our Ben Graham stock selection model requires that the current ratio must be greater than or equal to 2. Companies that meet this criterion are typically financially secure and defensive. JOSB's current ratio of 2.81 passes the test.

Continue reading Jos. A Bank (JOSB): Shopping for value

Jos. A Bank (JOSB): Shopping for value originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 15 Dec 2008 14:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• First Albany upgraded shares of Joseph A. Bank Clothiers (NASDAQ: JOSB) to Neutral from Sell, following the Q1 upside and indications that Q2 is off to a strong start.

• Kaufman Brothers raised Take-Two Interactive Software (NASDAQ: TTWO) to Hold from Sell with an $18 target following the release of Q2 results, saying they see evidence the company is stabilizing. JP Morgan also upgraded TTWO shares to Overweight from Neutral, as the company considers shares attractive ahead of the Grand Theft Auto IV launch in October.

• Goldman added McDonald's Corp (NYSE: MCD) to their Americas Conviction Buy List citing expectations for upward earnings revisions.

• ThinkEquity upgraded shares of RF Micro Devices (NASDAQ: RFMD) to Buy from Source of Funds based on valuation.

• Goldman Sachs raised Berry Petroleum Co (NYSE: BRY) and Pier 1 Imports, Inc (NYSE: PIR) to Buy from Neutral.

• JDS Uniphase Corp (NASDAQ: JDSU) was raised to Outperform from Market Perform at Bernstein.

• Matrix USA upgraded shares of Tetra Technologies, Inc (NYSE: TTI) to Buy from Hold.

Analyst upgrades 6-12-07: JDSU, MCD, PIR and TTWO originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 12 Jun 2007 10:52:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In retailing, quality and unconditional guarantees rarely combine to produce low prices. There is a men's clothing outfit in Hampstead, Maryland that aims to balance the equation by working directly with the best factories.

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers (NASDAQ: JOSB) is one of the nation's leading retailers of men's classically-styled tailored clothing, footwear and accessories. The firm added casual wear to the mix, when corporate America began recognizing dress-down days. It also debuted the David Leadbetter line of golf wear. The company sells its full product line through 382 stores in 42 states, a nationwide catalog and an e-commerce website. Competitors include Men's Wearhouse (NYSE:MW) and Federated Department Stores (NYSE:FD).

The firm pleased investors earlier in the week, when it reported fiscal Q4 EPS of $1.36 and revenues of $194.1 million. Analysts had been expecting $1.25 and $190.2 million. Net income for the fiscal year climbed to $2.36 per share ($2.24 consensus) and revenues came in at $546.4 million ($544.3M consensus). JOSB shares popped through 30-day moving average resistance on the news and are now forming a bullish "pennant" consolidation pattern. Prices frequently exit pennants moving in the same direction they were traveling when they entered them. In this case, that would be to the upside.

Brokers recommend the stock with two "strong buys" and five "holds." Analysts see a 15% average annual growth rate, through the next five years. The JOSB P/E ratio (16.27), PEG ratio (1.08), Price to Sales ratio (1.27), Price to Book ratio (3.32), Price to Cash Flow ratio (11.73), Price to Free Cash Flow ratio (23.26), Sales Growth rate (18.48%), EPS Growth rate (33.33%), Return on Assets (12.84%), Return on Investment (19.08%) and Return on Equity (23.88%) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

The stock is one of those used to calculate the S&P 600 SmallCap Index. Over the past 52 weeks, it has traded between $22.14 and $43.62. A stop-loss of $33.75 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.

Jos. A. Bank Clothiers: Quality menswear from coast to coast originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 20 Apr 2007 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

MOST NOTEWORTHY:

• IBM Corp (NYSE: IBM) was cut to Neutral from Buy at Goldman to reflect the slowdown in domestic technology spending. Credit Suisse downgraded shares of IBM Corp to Neutral from Outperform and ThinkEquity cut IBM to Accumulate from Buy on the same rationale.

• Wendy's International (NYSE: WEN) was downgraded to Underperform from Market Perform at Wachovia, citing valuation.

• Needham downgraded Yahoo! (NASDAQ: YHOO) to Hold from Buy on valuation and the firm's belief that the 2H07 acceleration implied in consensus revenue forecasts could be difficult to exceed given the recent slowdown in display ad growth.

• WR Hambrecht downgraded shares of Western Digital (NYSE: WDC) to Hold from Buy as the firm believes there could be more downside to forward estimates given the aggressive pricing and softer demand environment. The firm sees too many industry risks following Seagate Technology's (STX) earnings conference call.

• Keefe Bruyette cut TD AmeriTrade (NASDAQ: AMTD) to Market Perform from Outperform.

• Raymond James and BMO Capital downgraded U.S. Bancorp (NYSE: USB) to Market Perform from Outperform following its Q1 report.

• First Albany downgraded Jos. A. Bank Clothiers, Inc (NASDAQ: JOSB) to Sell from Neutral.

• ThinkEquity cut Evergreen Solar, Inc (NASDAQ: ESLR) to Source of Funds from Accumulate on valuation.

• Matrix USA downgraded SI International, Inc (NASDAQ: SINT) to Sell from Neutral.

• Goldman Sachs cut Intervac, Inc (NASDAQ: IVAC) to Sell from Neutral.

Analyst downgrades 4-18-07: AMTD, IBM, WEN & YHOO downgraded today originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 18 Apr 2007 11:24:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Yesterday the U.S. government reported a decline in domestic stockpiles. The decline was larger than expected and oil prices rose, and continued to do so today. While tensions with Iran have subsided somewhat, the situation still lends support to oil prices. I seems that oil production is also the lowest in over two years.

• Costco Wholesale Corp. (NASDAQ: COST) surpassed Wall Street expectations of 4.7% rise in same-store sales, those from stores open at least a year, rising 6% in March.
• Claire's Stores Inc. (NYSE: CLE) said same-store sales rose 8%, beat the 3.1% expectations
• JoS A. Bank Clothiers Inc. (NASDAQ: JOSB) posted a 1.4% rise in sales that missed projections of 2.7%.
• Pier 1 Imports Inc. (NYSE: PIR) reported a larger quarterly loss and lower sales during the first quarter. The company also reported same-store sales tumbled 11% during the fourth quarter.

Before the bell 4-12-07: Stock futures lower as retail sales roll in originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Apr 2007 07:44:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Cramer likes panties: says 'Buy' Hanesbrands spin-off originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 11 Oct 2006 18:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.