On Thursday, Dillard's (DDS) announced that it plans to form a wholly-owned real estate investment trust. The company will transfer some of its properties to the REIT and then lease back the properties from the entity. The company said that the move may enhance its ability to access debt or preferred stock and improve its liquidity.

The market is currently pricing REITs at rich valuations, and the transaction will allow Dillard's to better monetize its significant real-estate assets. By transferring these holdings into a publicly traded REIT, Dillard's should be able to unlock additional shareholder value. According to Craig Johnson, an analyst at Customer Growth Partners, "the sum of the parts can be greater than the sum of the whole."

Continue reading Buy Select Retailers on Dillard's Move into REITs

Buy Select Retailers on Dillard's Move into REITs originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 21 Jan 2011 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tuesday morning, Sears Holding (SHLD) released a bit of good and a bit of bad news. Let's start with the bad news.

The retailer announced that its same-store sales dropped 1.7% during December. The company's eponymous Sears stores saw December same-store sales fall 6%, more than offsetting Kmart's 2% growth. The firm blamed the sales drop at Sears on a major decline in sales of consumer electronics, along with appliances and tools.

Continue reading Sears Same-Store Sales Slump in December, Forecasts Strong Q4 Earnings

Sears Same-Store Sales Slump in December, Forecasts Strong Q4 Earnings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 11 Jan 2011 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

It's been a strange marriage right from the start. Kmart, the discounter, joined with Sears, the department store retailer in 2005.
Both lines are in stiff competition with other brands, the USA Today reports. Kmart's competing with Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT), while Sears's competitors include Home Depot (HD) and Lowe's (LOW).

The Kmart-Sears combo has been lagging in the retail sector. On Thursday, Sears Holdings (SHLD) posted a loss of $218 million or $1.98 per share, compared with a loss of $127 million or $1.09 per share in the period last year. Revenue fell 5% to $9.68 billion. Analysts had expected $9.89 billion.

Continue reading Sears: A Retail Sector Laggard

Sears: A Retail Sector Laggard originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Nov 2010 10:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Options Update: Freeport McMoRan Volatility Flat as Shares Rally originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 22 Sep 2010 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Below are some highlights from this past week's earnings coverage on BloggingStocks. Click through to the original posts for more details.

• Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF) shares sold off after it posted a narrower Q1 net loss, but same-store sales rose.
• Applied Materials Inc. (AMAT) swung from a year-ago loss to a Q2 profit that was better than expected.
• Deere & Co. (DE) reported better-than-expected Q2 earnings and improved sales, and raised its full-year outlook.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) posted better-than-expected Q1 earnings, but the gross margin was disappointing, and shares fell.
• GameStop Corp. (GME) higher Q1 earnings beat consensus estimates but same-store sales declined.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) said its higher Q1 earnings beat expectations while revenue fell in line with estimates.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Dell, Gap, GM, Home Depot, HP, Sears, Target, Walmart ...

Earnings Highlights: Dell, Gap, GM, Home Depot, HP, Sears, Target, Walmart ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 22 May 2010 12:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Retailer Sears Holding (SHLD) announced this morning that its first-quarter profit dropped 38%. The company blamed the drop on increased discounts that it used to promote, appliances along with dropping demand for its tools and home electronics.

During the first quarter, Sears earned 14 cents per share, which is down from 21 cents per share last year. Adjusted earnings checked in at 16 cents per share, which topped the consensus estimate of 12 cents per share. Quarterly revenue fell to $10.05 billion, which is short of the consensus estimate of $10.22 billion.

Continue reading Sears' First-Quarter Profit Falls on Discounts, Lower Demand

Sears' First-Quarter Profit Falls on Discounts, Lower Demand originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 20 May 2010 11:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Three Retail ETFs Beating the Market Four Times Over

Three Retail ETFs Beating the Market Four Times Over originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 12 May 2010 09:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

The good news is, an Internet coupon offering went viral for Kmart. The bad news is that it wasn't supposed to.

Cue the face-palms as executives for Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD), parent of Kmart, decide the best method for damage control after at least one Kmart store manager allegedly accused a customer of fraud when attempting to use what appeared to be, or should have been, a legitimate store coupon.

Continue reading Eddie Lampert Might Want to Choke Someone

Eddie Lampert Might Want to Choke Someone originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 21 Mar 2010 10:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• American International Group Inc. (AIG) posted a big loss and warned it may require additional assistance.
• Athenahealth (ATHN) shares sank after it delayed earnings and its annual report, and warned of restatements.
• Barnes & Noble Inc. (BKS) Q3 sales jumped on popularity of the Nook reader but same-store sales declined.
• Brocade Communications Systems Inc. (BRCD) disappointing report and guidance caused a sell-off in shares.
• Dell Inc. (DELL) acquisitions and better-than-expected earnings may not be enough to stop shrinking market share.
• Gap Inc. (GPS) rose after it beat earnings estimates, raised its dividend and announced stock buybacks.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ...

Earnings Highlights: AIG, Dell, Gap, Heinz, Macy's, RadioShack, Sears ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 27 Feb 2010 09:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Tuesday morning was a big one for retail earnings, with Home Depot, Macy's, Sears and Target reporting good news.

Barnes & Noble (BKS) total sales came to $2.2 billion in fiscal third quarter, a 33% increase year over year. Earnings were $80.2 million, or $1.38 per share. However, same-store sales slipped 4.7% from a year ago to $1.4 billion, despite strength from BN.com due to demand for the Nook. The company expects comps to decline in the fourth quarter, and forecast full-year earnings below consensus estimates.

Continue reading Retail Earnings Roundup: BKS, HD, M, SHLD, TGT

Retail Earnings Roundup: BKS, HD, M, SHLD, TGT originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 23 Feb 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:

• Ark Restaurants Corp. (ARKR) shares declined after Q4 earnings fell short of consensus expectations.
• Azz Inc. (AZZ) Q3 net income fell more than expected but the company reaffirmed its earnings outlook.
• Bed Bath & Beyond Inc. (BBBY) reported strong Q3 results, sending shares to a new 52-week high.
• Best Buy Inc. (BBY) declined to lift its earnings forecast despite strong December sales, send shares lower.
• Constellation Brands Inc. (STZ) lower Q3 earnings topped expectations and revenue declined as well.

Continue reading Earnings Highlights: Bed Bath & Beyond, Constellation Brands, Family Dollar, Lennar, Sonic ...

Earnings Highlights: Bed Bath & Beyond, Constellation Brands, Family Dollar, Lennar, Sonic ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Jan 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Closing Bell: Actually Better Than It Looks (LEN, GE, GME, BBBY, SHLD, QCOM, BA, BAC)

Closing Bell: Actually Better Than It Looks (LEN, GE, GME, BBBY, SHLD, QCOM, BA, BAC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Watch for some action out of mega-retailer Sears Holdings (SHLD), as the company placed its fiscal fourth-quarter earnings estimate "well above" expectations. Sears believes earnings for the current quarter will come in between $3.36 and $4.06 per share, far better than the Street's expected $2.65 per share.

The reason for the forecasting bravado is the fact that the company saw same-store sales growth during the past month thanks to strong performance from Kmart. As a matter of fact, Kmart outperformed Sears' stores in the past quarter, which it continued in the past month. Same-store sales at Kmart saw a 5.3% increase in December while Sears saw same-store sales drop 4.3%.

Continue reading Kmart Gives Sears Confidence to Lift Its Quarterly Earnings Estimate

Kmart Gives Sears Confidence to Lift Its Quarterly Earnings Estimate originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 07 Jan 2010 11:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Well, the trade has gone horribly wrong this bleak Monday session. In case you didn't hear the news, the video-game chain sold off in a big way. As I write this, shares are off by a buck, and are priced at $24.32. The low on the day is $23.75. Volume, while not in panic-mode, is above average, and I expect it to possibly accelerate toward the end of the day.

Continue reading Trade update: GameStop down today -- sell out?

Trade update: GameStop down today -- sell out? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 30 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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

• Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) declining same-store sales offset better-than-expected Q3 earnings.
• Canadian Solar Inc. (CSIQ) reached a new 52-week high after Q3 results handily exceeded expectations.
• Dillard's Inc. (DDS) said that it swung to a Q3 profit due to cost cutting as revenue declined year over year.
• GameStop Corp. (GME) reported uninspiring Q3 numbers that included a slump in same-store sales.
• Home Depot Inc. (HD) lower Q3 earnings and revenue beat analysts' estimates, but shares still declined.

Continue reading Earnings highlights: Ann Taylor, GameStop, Home Depot, Sears, TJX ...

Earnings highlights: Ann Taylor, GameStop, Home Depot, Sears, TJX ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 21 Nov 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

On the heels of last week's better-than-expected earnings results from retailers Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF), Kohl's Corp. (KSS), Macy's Inc. (M), Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN) and Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT) -- as well as disappointing numbers from Blockbuster Inc. (BBI) and JCPenney Co. Inc. (JCP) -- the coming week will bring results from more shopping- and strip-mall favorites.

TJX Companies Inc. (TJX), which operates T.J. Maxx and Marshalls stores in the U.S., settled a class action, announced share buybacks and raised its guidance in the third quarter. For the three months that ended in October, analysts surveyed by Thomson Reuters expect TJX to report earnings of $0.80 per share, up from $0.57 in the same period of last year. Revenue is expected to total $5.3 billion, or 10.2% higher than a year ago. So far, the full-year forecast is for a profit of $2.59 per share (+22.3%) on $20.0 billion (+5.5%) in sales.

Continue reading The week in preview: More retail earnings: Gap, Home Depot, Sears, Target ...

The week in preview: More retail earnings: Gap, Home Depot, Sears, Target ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 15 Nov 2009 12:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Net sales went up only 1%. They were inhibited by the currency environment. But total sales aren't as relevant as same-store sales when it comes to this sector. If I were a shareholder of Wal-Mart, I would be very disappointed by the comps number, since it is the older locations which indicate how well a retailer is truly doing.

Continue reading Wal-Mart grows profit and cash flow in Q3, but comps still ailing

Wal-Mart grows profit and cash flow in Q3, but comps still ailing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 15:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Back in June, there was a report on WalletPop that Sears (NASDAQ: SHLD) and Kmart spied on customers who participated in an online marketing study. The company paid participants in the study $10 if they would download and retain software for "My SHC Community."

The participants were told that the software would help them "participate in exciting, engaging, and on-going interactions" on their own terms. Sears noted that the software would only monitor the participants' online browsing. Not so, according to the Federal Trade Commission (FTC), which reported that the software captured secured sessions from participants -- including online banking. The FTC and Sears came to a settlement and the company was less than apologetic for its maneuver.

Continue reading Sears receives light punishment for spying on consumers

Sears receives light punishment for spying on consumers originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 15 Sep 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Well, last night I was checking out some articles at Brandweek.com, and lo and behold, I came across this one discussing the holiday card. You know how Christmas Clubs work at banks, correct? Same principle applies here. In a simple nutshell, you get the plastic, you store funds on it, and then you can access those funds later on in the season to acquire presents. It's basically like a gift card that you use for budgeting purposes. Not only is Sears involved in this, but so is Kmart. And there's a promotion going on that's mentioned in the article where you can earn a nominal amount of bonus money on it. I don't know the details; I would suggest checking with Sears/Kmart for further information.

Continue reading Interesting holiday campaign from Sears Holdings

Interesting holiday campaign from Sears Holdings originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Sep 2009 16:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Durable goods are products that should last more than 3 years. That usually includes things like appliances, furnishings, and heavy equipment. The Commerce Department tracks this data and the number of orders for these things popped up an extra 4.9% in July, which was a nice surprise.

Why do I care whether North Americans are buying a new fridge? This is actually a metric you should watch for insight into potential corporate profits. If durable goods (which tend to cost a lot) are being purchased at an increasing rate, it bodes well for the companies that produce and sell those products.

Continue reading Durable goods numbers may bode well for some stocks (SHLD, HD, AAPL)

Durable goods numbers may bode well for some stocks (SHLD, HD, AAPL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 26 Aug 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.