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Dollar General: Buy on the Dips?

Dollar General (DG) reported earnings for the fourth quarter earlier in the week. The company, whose colleagues include Dollar Tree (DLTR) and Family Dollar Stores (FDO), saw excellent growth in its bottom line. How should we view the stock?

According to the corporate press release, adjusted profit increased 27% to 65 cents per share. The Associated Press says that expectations were set at 59 cents per share. Furthermore, same-store sales appear healthy: They expanded by 3.8%.

Continue reading Dollar General: Buy on the Dips?

Is Walgreen Headed to $50 and Beyond?

Walgreen Company (WAG), first written about here on February 17, 2009 at a price of $25.46, has pulled-back slightly, to about $41 after testing $44 in the winter, and if you haven't already, now would be a good time to consider taking some profits, if you're in at/near $25.50.

Others who can tolerate the risk can maintain their full position in WAG, as the uptrend is likely to resume after this respite.

Look for drug store chain giant Walgreen's revenue to rise about 4-6% in FY2011, boosted by the addition of about 250 net new store openings. The front-store traffic trend in this more than 8,300-store chain should receive a modest tailwind from store remodelings, and back-store (pharmacy) margins should be adequate, aided higher-margin generic drugs.

Continue reading Is Walgreen Headed to $50 and Beyond?

Closing Bell: Markets Recover Lost Ground on Better Economic News

US unemployment claims dropped to their lowest level since October 2008, with 385,000 new claims. The number of continuing claims also fell by 80,000. The headline consumer inflation index rose 0.5%, as expected, while core inflation rose 0.2%, a bit more than the 0.1% that had been forecast. Prices for WTI crude oil rose above $100/barrel again, up more than $3/barrel on fears of more unrest in Bahrain, which is seen by many as a proxy struggle between Iran and Saudi Arabia. Gold prices also rose today, up about $8/ounce to $1,404.00.

Here are the numbers for late afternoon trading today:

Dow Jones 11,774.59 +161.29 (1.39%)
S&P 500 1,273.72 +16.84 (1.34%)
Nasdaq 2,636.05 +19.23 (0.73%)

Continue reading Closing Bell: Markets Recover Lost Ground on Better Economic News

Gap -- Buy or Sell?

Gap logoI was checking out an article over at GuruFocus on companies that have recently raised their dividend payments to shareholders. The Gap, Inc. (GPS) was on the list. I decided to take a brief look at the stock's current status.

At the time of this writing, shares of the retailer were off fractionally, priced at a quote of $21.44. The 52-week low for the shares is $16.62 while the 52-week high is $26.34. Don't you hate that? The stock is basically stuck in the middle of the range. So which way is it going to go?

Continue reading Gap -- Buy or Sell?

Nordstrom: A Retail Shining Star

Retailer extraordinaire Nordstrom Inc. (JWN), first discussed in this space on May 21, 2010 at a price of $38.12, continues to head north, approaching $48 before pulling-back in the past two weeks, but investors should view the retreat as an opportunity to scoop-up shares.

Nordstrom, the standard in upscale, big-box (big-store) retail, has made it through the Great Recession in good shape. JWN will likely post FY2012 revenue growth of 5-7%, after an 8% rise in FY2011. Nordstrom will stay focused on its most effective brands and prudently deploy capital until store traffic improves as the U.S. economic recovery continues.

Continue reading Nordstrom: A Retail Shining Star

Dick's Sporting Goods Hits New 52-Week High

Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS) logoDick's Sporting Goods (DKS) issued its fourth-quarter report today. The company was rocking this afternoon: with a little more than two hours to go before the close of the session, the stock was up 6% to $39.93. Earlier during the intraday session, a new 52-week high of $40.26 was achieved. It's good to get over that psychological round-number level, right?

The volume of shares traded so far is already in the spectacular range. The 52-week low for the stock is $24.02, so the current price is more than a comfortable distance away from that point. The one-year chart is attractive even if it doesn't plot a straight-up line.

Continue reading Dick's Sporting Goods Hits New 52-Week High

Target's Pullback: View It as a Trading Opportunity?

Target (TGT) storeTarget (TGT) has not been a good stock at all since the turn of the year. Take a look at the twelve-month chart. Find where the shares were on Jan. 3. Got it? Now, do you see what happened since then? I don't think you can miss such a big drop.

The 52-week low for the retailer is $48.23; the 52-week high is $60.97. The equity finished down 0.7% to $51.30 on Monday. Volume, thankfully, was below average. That lack of conviction could be a saving grace.

Continue reading Target's Pullback: View It as a Trading Opportunity?

Urban Outfitters Experiences Big Drop After Q4 Report

You didn't want to be a short-term shareholder in Urban Outfitters (URBN) during Monday's after-hours session. At the time I was writing this, I saw a quote of $34.10. That's a 10% drop. And that isn't good.

A fourth-quarter earnings report caused the volatility. According to TheFly, net income came in seven pennies less than expected. Also, gross margin experienced a decline.

Continue reading Urban Outfitters Experiences Big Drop After Q4 Report

Walmart Boosts Dividend; Stock Falls

Walmart (WMT) made an announcement yesterday after the bell that presumably would have excited Wall Street. The company's quarterly dividend was raised by 21%. Very nice. So why are the shares off today?

To be fair, they were in positive territory earlier in the morning. Unfortunately, as I write this, with roughly three hours to go before the conclusion of the session, they are down 0.5% to $51.74. Perhaps they will be in the green by the end of the day. When you think about it, though, a 21% jump in a metric that is supposed to be friendly to investors should have received a lot more respect, correct?

Continue reading Walmart Boosts Dividend; Stock Falls

Big Lots Earnings: Should Investors Take Profits Now?

What a difference a few months can make. Back in December, I was a bit bearish on Big Lots (BIG). That was at $29.50. Know what the stock closed at yesterday? Its final price was $41.33. And that's rather close to the 52-week high of $42.27.

To fully appreciate how dramatic the rise in the stock has been requires a look at the one-year chart. Impressive, isn't it? I guess I should have been a stronger believer in the retailer. So, what should I be thinking now?

Continue reading Big Lots Earnings: Should Investors Take Profits Now?

Staples: Buy or Sell After Q4 Release?

Staples, Inc. (SPLS) has traded in a narrow range over the last year. The 52-week low is $17.45 while the 52-week high is $25. The stock closed today at $20.90, up a mere 0.2%. Volume was very heavy.

The market had an earnings report from the office-supply retailer to evaluate this session. According to the Associated Press, fourth-quarter net profit came in at an adjusted 39 cents per share. Unfortunately, analysts wanted two more pennies for the bottom line. The top line also failed to deliver a beat.

Continue reading Staples: Buy or Sell After Q4 Release?

Costco Reports Growth in Earnings, But Is Stock a Buy?

Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST) issued its fiscal second-quarter report this morning, but it looks as if the market isn't being supportive of the numbers. At the time of this writing, shares of the warehouse club were off by 3.1% to $71.30. Volume was significant.

In one sense, the bottom-line performance was good, and in another sense, it was mediocre. Here's the good: according to the Associated Press, net profit rose twelve pennies to 79 cents per share. Here's the mediocre: that figure only succeeded in matching Wall Street's projection.

Continue reading Costco Reports Growth in Earnings, But Is Stock a Buy?

Sears Holdings Drops After Earnings Report

Sears Holdings Corporation (SHLD) is having a sale today. On its stock. Question is, do you think it's cheap enough to be a value?

I have reservations about buying the current dip. At the time of this writing, shares of the retailer were off by 5.8% to $82.19. Active volume backed the move. Granted, it's not like the stock is at the 52-week low of $59.21. Things aren't that dire. But the company isn't close to the 52-week high of of $125.42, either. And as for the one-year chart, well, I'm not sure the image is one to praise.

Continue reading Sears Holdings Drops After Earnings Report

Home Depot: Looking Good?

Home Depot (HD) logoWhat did you think of Home Depot's (HD) earnings report? I rather enjoyed it. And I think the future may be bright for the retailer and arch enemy of Lowe's (LOW).

According to TheStreet.com, net income calculated out to 36 cents per share for the fourth quarter. This was five pennies better than the overall estimate. Same-store sales experienced an increase of 3.9%. And management's forecast for the full fiscal year was upgraded.

Continue reading Home Depot: Looking Good?

Walmart's Q4 Report: Sell the Numbers?

Walmart (WMT)Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (WMT) is certainly the biggest icon in the retail industry. It doesn't seem like such a big name today, though. With a few minutes left until the closing bell sounds, I see a quote of $53.64 for the stock, a price that represents a decline of over 3%. And the volume backing this move is very high, my friends.

The major indexes were volatile today, so that obviously played into the sell-off. However, the fourth-quarter report also gave investors some cause for concern. According to the press release, adjusted income from continuing businesses came in at $1.34 per share. This compares to an adjusted $1.21 per share in the year-ago period.

Continue reading Walmart's Q4 Report: Sell the Numbers?

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Last updated: February 10, 2012: 07:22 AM

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