When you need to buy North Face and Columbia Sportswear, where do you go? One hot retailer that sells both is Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS). In November, the company reported better-than-expected third-quarter earnings on rising same-store sales.

Dick's attributed the rise in same-store sales to strong performance of both the North Face and Columbia Sportswear brands. The company also said the increased sales for these brands were likely due to fears of a harsh winter.

Continue reading Cold Weather Stock #5: Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS)

Cold Weather Stock #5: Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Much like VF Corp. and its North Face brand, Columbia Sportswear (COLM) is a leading cold-weather apparel maker. In October, the company raised its full-year revenue outlook after posting better-than-expected third-quarter results.

The clothing maker said it expects sales to fall 8% to 9% for the full year, which is much better than previous estimates for sales to fall in the low double digits

Continue reading Cold Weather Stock #4: Columbia Sportswear (COLM)

Cold Weather Stock #4: Columbia Sportswear (COLM) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Eventually, you have to venture outside no matter how cold it is. To stay warm, you'll need to bundle up, and what better brand to bundle up with than the North Face?

This leading cold-weather gear brand is made by VF Corp. (VFC), which also makes well-known clothing brands like Wrangler jeans, Vans shoes and JanSport luggage. The stock's been on a tear of late, climbing 33% over the past six months.

Continue reading Cold Weather Stock #3: VF Corp. (VFC)

Cold Weather Stock #3: VF Corp. (VFC) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 24 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What do you do when it's too cold to venture outside? You stay in and watch movies, and these days, most people get their movies from Netflix (NFLX).

The DVD rental pioneers were darlings of Wall Street last year, with the stock nearly doubling in 2009. But fears of an inability to meet growth expectations going forward, along with several downgrades of the stock in recent weeks, have knocked NFLX shares well off their highs.

Continue reading Cold Weather Stock #2: Netflix (NFLX)

Cold Weather Stock #2: Netflix (NFLX) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Our first cold-weather stock isn't actually a stock; it's an exchange-traded fund (ETF). It is United States Natural Gas (UNG), an ETF designed to replicate the performance, net of expenses, of natural gas

The logic for UNG is simple. The colder it is outside, the more we need to heat our homes and offices, and most of us do this via natural gas. The increased demand for natural gas should translate into higher natural gas prices. Of course, sometimes this simple logic isn't quite that simple.

Continue reading Cold Weather Stock #1: United States Natural Gas (UNG)

Cold Weather Stock #1: United States Natural Gas (UNG) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

If you live practically anywhere east of the San Andreas Fault, you know about the deep freeze biting the nation. Temperatures in many areas of the country have been way below normal this winter, especially in the Midwest and East Coast, and unfortunately, many meteorologists think the 2010 cold front will bring plenty of chilly nights before it makes its welcome departure.

According to the 2010 Farmers' Almanac, this winter will likely see many more days with below-normal average temperatures. Not just in the Midwest and East Coast, but for about three-quarters of the nation. The fallout from these cold temps is a constriction of outdoor activity, more time indoors, increased use of heaters, and when you have to go outside, the need to bundle up.

Continue reading Hot Profits from Five Cold-Weather Stocks

Hot Profits from Five Cold-Weather Stocks originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 23 Jan 2010 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

No high-priced stock list would be complete without the best known high-priced stock out there -- Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway A Shares (NYSE: BRK.A).

At over $100,000 per share, this is, by far, the most-expensive, most well-known stock on our list. With an investment in Berkshire Hathaway, you are putting your money on the success of one of the greatest investment minds the world has ever known.

Sure, a hundred grand is a lot for one share of stock, but if you want to get your money alongside one of the best track records in modern investment history, that's what you have to pay.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #10: Berkshire Hathaway A Shares (BRK.A)

Real bargain stock #10: Berkshire Hathaway A Shares (BRK.A) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Real bargain stock #9: Google (GOOG) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As an observer of financial markets, I've been stunned by the recent growth of options trading. Options and futures trading have become huge among individual investors, and the interest in the topic is only getting bigger.

So, who benefits most from the surge in options and futures trading? CME Group (NASDAQ: CME).

CME Group is the company that operates the Chicago Mercantile Exchange and the Chicago Board of Trade, the place where options and futures trades actually take place. Whenever you place an options or futures transaction, the only sure winner in the game is CME Group.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #8: CME Group (CME)

Real bargain stock #8: CME Group (CME) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

I'd venture a guess that you have at least one, if not multiple, MasterCard (NYSE: MA) credit cards in your wallet right now.

In addition to its credit card division, the company provides transaction processing services to its customers that support its credit, deposit access, electronic cash, and automated teller machine payment card programs. The goal of the company is an ambitious one: to put the use of cash out of business.

The stock has certainly been on a tear since its 2006 debut, rising to over $300 per share near the midway point of 2008. Yes, the recession and accompanying customer spending pullback took its toll on MasterCard in late-2008 and early 2009, but despite the tough economic environment, MA shares are up over 50% year to date.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #7: MasterCard (MA)

Real bargain stock #7: MasterCard (MA) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Much like Goldman Sachs, BlackRock (NYSE: BLK) is a financial company that's delivered big gains for its shareholders over the past five years. In fact, BLK shares are up 188% over the past five years. More recently, the company's shares are up over 50% in the past six months.

BlackRock is an asset management firm that provides portfolio management services to corporate and public pension plans. It also manages pension funds for insurance companies, mutual funds, endowments, and private foundations. You might say that BlackRock is the money manager of choice if you've got a really big pension fund in need of the best money managers around.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #6: BlackRock (BLK)

Real bargain stock #6: BlackRock (BLK) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 04 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) is a shining example of capitalism at its best -- and that's just one of the many reasons why Apple is an excellent stock to buy now.

If you're a member of the Apple cult like I am, you already know the near-religious commitment we have to anything Steve Jobs and company bring to market. Sure, the company makes the most expensive computers out there, as well as the costly iPhone -- but to us addicts, money is really no object.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #5: Apple (AAPL)

Real bargain stock #5: Apple (AAPL) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 14:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What can you say about this crown jewel of brokerage and investment banks that hasn't already been said?

Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is, by far, the most prestigious, as well as the most politically-connected, bank on Wall Street. Its success over both the fat years and the lean years has been difficult to ignore.

So it's no wonder then that shares of this iconic financial giant are up nearly 100% over the past five years, while stocks that comprise the Dow Jones Financial Services index were down 11% over those same five years.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #4: Goldman Sachs (GS)

Real bargain stock #4: Goldman Sachs (GS) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 13:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Leading online travel site Priceline.com (NASDAQ: PCLN) is perhaps best known for its pitchman, pop culture icon William Shatner. But to in-the-know investors, this stock is more known for booking big profits.

Now you might think that with the country in a recession, online travel stocks wouldn't be doing very well. But actually, the opposite is true.

According to a recent article in Investor's Business Daily, many corporate travel managers have been forced to cut the cost of basic travel expenses due to the recession. "Firms are telling execs to move their seats from the front to the back of the plane -- and to find budget-class hotel rooms." Bingo!

Continue reading Real bargain stock #3: Priceline.com (PCLN)

Real bargain stock #3: Priceline.com (PCLN) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 12:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Arizona-based First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) is hot.

The company reported a blowout quarter in July, with net income more than doubling in the second quarter and easily beating consensus Street estimates. In Q2, net income was $180.6 million, or $2.11 per share, compared with $69.7 million, or 85 cents per share, a year ago. The word on the Street was for earnings of just $1.65 per share.

Impressively, the company also beat top line estimates, coming in with Q2 revenue of $525.9 million. Analysts had expected a revenue of just $458.1 million.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #2: First Solar (FSLR)

Real bargain stock #2: First Solar (FSLR) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) is a specialty retailer and distributor of automotive replacement parts and accessories. Its stores offer the do-it-yourself car tech tremendous value on parts and accessories. The company stocks all kinds of parts and has a great sales staff. In my experience, their parts personnel have always been very knowledgeable and extremely helpful.

On Sept. 23, the company reported a 3% decline in its fiscal fourth-quarter profit. This decline in earnings could have been the result of the government's "cash for clunkers" plan, which saw many older vehicle owners turn in their cars for a credit toward the purchase of a new vehicle.

Continue reading Real bargain stock #1: AutoZone (AZO)

Real bargain stock #1: AutoZone (AZO) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

As many shoppers have realized in this recession, just because something is cheap doesn't mean it's a bargain.

This is especially true in the stock market, where you definitely get what you pay for.

There have been plenty of low-priced deals on stocks lately, as plenty of good companies watched their shares take a beating in our economic crisis. But that doesn't mean all cheap stocks are worth buying. Unless that bargain goes up in value, it's not a bargain.

Continue reading Ten high-priced bargain stocks worth the price tag

Ten high-priced bargain stocks worth the price tag originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 03 Oct 2009 09:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

In auto racing, drivers try to hit their apexes, meaning they try to drive their cars with such precision that they can hit the exact spot -- within inches -- on the racetrack each lap.

By consistently hitting their apexes, drivers are able to achieve their fastest possible lap times, and being able to turn the fastest lap times puts the driver in the best position to win.

Today, the premier racing company in the country, International Speedway Corp. (NASDAQ: ISCA), hit its Q2 earnings apex.

On the surface, the news didn't look good. The company posted a $31.7 million loss for the second quarter. But it was not just falling revenue that affected International Speedway, which is to be expected from an entertainment company in a soft economy.

Continue reading Hitting the apex: International Speedway meets estimates

Hitting the apex: International Speedway meets estimates originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 07 Jul 2009 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

3M (NYSE: MMM) had a not-that-great first quarter. The declines were significant and ugly. First, net sales plunged over 20%. Second, net income on an adjusted basis likewise spiraled out of control, declining over 40% to $0.81 per share. And no, that didn't meet expectations. Wall Street was looking for $0.86 per share. Sorry, gang.

You've got the dollar and the global recession to blame. Currency translations affected sales, and declines in economic activity didn't help much, either. Many people look to 3M as a staunch dividend play. As such, cash flow is important. Unfortunately, the statement of cash flows this quarter was hard to read. Net cash from operations decreased 30%, and free cash flow lost 35% of its value when compared to the year-ago period. Thankfully, there was enough free cash to cover the dividend.

Continue reading 3M misses Wall Street's mark -- sell the stock?

3M misses Wall Street's mark -- sell the stock? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 25 Apr 2009 13:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What single company is most represented by the sheer number of its products in your home right now?

I bet that company is Proctor & Gamble (NYSE: PG).

Beauty products, household care products, health care products, pet products, toothpaste, toilet paper, batteries, laundry detergent -- even the diapers on Junior's behind are likely to be made by Procter & Gamble.

Like the value of the other stocks in this love list, Procter & Gamble shares have been hit by the wider sell-off.

Corporate earnings are likely to be hurt by the economic slowdown, but companies with diverse revenue streams such as Procter & Gamble will be best able to come out of the current recession with the least amount of collateral damage.

Take a look at all ten stocks to fall in love with again.

Jim Woods is a Senior Editor for OptionsZone.com.

Ten stocks to fall in love with again: #10 Procter & Gamble (PG) originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 14 Feb 2009 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.