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<generator>Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/</generator><item><title><![CDATA[Retailers Lagging in Social Media Rush]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/12/retailers-lagging-in-social-media-rush/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/12/retailers-lagging-in-social-media-rush/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/12/retailers-lagging-in-social-media-rush/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/internet/" rel="tag">Internet</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/goog/" rel="tag">Google (GOOG)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/yhoo/" rel="tag">Yahoo! (YHOO)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/nws/" rel="tag">News Corp'B' (NWS)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/media-world/" rel="tag">Media World</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/technology/" rel="tag">Technology</a></p><img hspace="4" border="1" align="right" vspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2010/01/robeputer240.jpg"  alt="" />You'd think retailers would flock to any place where they could find 400 million people. With the sixth anniversary of <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/tag/Facebook/">Facebook</a> closing in, its robust user base still hasn't opened the eyes of many <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/tag/retailers/">retailers</a>. <br />
<br />
Despite all the <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/tag/BlackFriday/">Black Friday</a> social media engagement this year, a substantial 75% of the top 100 online retailers don't have a formal presence on Facebook, <a target="_blank" href="http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&amp;art_aid=122085">according to a study by ForeSee Results</a>. Another 25% haven't even hit 10,000 fans.<p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/12/retailers-lagging-in-social-media-rush/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Retailers Lagging in Social Media Rush</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/12/retailers-lagging-in-social-media-rush/">Retailers Lagging in Social Media Rush</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.mediapost.com/publications/?fa=Articles.showArticle&amp;art_aid=122085>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/12/retailers-lagging-in-social-media-rush/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/19355735/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2010/02/12/retailers-lagging-in-social-media-rush/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Black Friday</category><category>facebook</category><category>flickr</category><category>goog</category><category>google</category><category>inthenews</category><category>linkedin</category><category>myspace</category><category>news corp</category><category>NewsCorp</category><category>NWS</category><category>retail</category><category>retailer</category><category>retailers</category><category>social media</category><category>social networking</category><category>SocialMedia</category><category>SocialNetworking</category><category>twitter</category><category>Yahoo</category><category>yhoo</category><category>youtube</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom Johansmeyer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 12 Feb 2010 09:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Wal-Mart amps up hours, crowd control for Black Friday]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/12/wal-mart-amps-up-hours-crowd-control-for-black-friday/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/12/wal-mart-amps-up-hours-crowd-control-for-black-friday/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/12/wal-mart-amps-up-hours-crowd-control-for-black-friday/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/wmt/" rel="tag">Wal-Mart (WMT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/black-friday/" rel="tag">Black Friday</a></p><p><img width="200" vspace="4" hspace="4" height="64" border="1" align="right" alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/12/wmt-wal-mart-logo.jpg" /><a target="_blank" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/wal-mart-stores-inc/wmt/nys">Wal-Mart</a> (<a target="_blank" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/wal-mart-stores-inc/wmt/nys">WMT</a>) won't close Thanksgiving weekend -- not at all. The world's largest <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/tag/retailer/">retailer</a> is going to keep its stores open 24 hours <a target="_blank" href="http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2009-11-11-walmart-black-friday_N.htm">in an attempt to manage demand for entry during the busiest shopping days of the year</a>. The company has announced it will also implement other crowd-control measures. The festivities start at 5 AM on November 27, 2009. Of course, this doesn't involve any change fro the Wal-Mart Supercenters which already remain open 24 hours a day, but it does address the 800 stores that aren't. </p>
<p>The 24-hour access alone won't do much to alleviate the pressure from thrill-seekers and the bargain-crazed who will want to push through immediately. To help with this problem, Wal-Mart is allowing people to gather in different parts of the store when waiting for the deals to kick off. According to Wal-Mart spokesman David Tovar, "If you've got a 200,000-square-foot store, people will be dispersed throughout the store instead of lined up outside the store." Yeah, that makes a lot of sense.</p>
<p>As the old infomercial guys love to say ... "But wait, there's more!"</p>
<p> </p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/12/wal-mart-amps-up-hours-crowd-control-for-black-friday/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Wal-Mart amps up hours, crowd control for Black Friday</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/12/wal-mart-amps-up-hours-crowd-control-for-black-friday/">Wal-Mart amps up hours, crowd control for Black Friday</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.usatoday.com/money/industries/retail/2009-11-11-walmart-black-friday_N.htm>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/12/wal-mart-amps-up-hours-crowd-control-for-black-friday/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/19235011/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/11/12/wal-mart-amps-up-hours-crowd-control-for-black-friday/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>black friday</category><category>black friday 2009</category><category>black friday deals</category><category>black friday sales</category><category>BlackFriday</category><category>BlackFriday2009</category><category>BlackFridayDeals</category><category>BlackFridaySales</category><category>holiday</category><category>holiday shopping</category><category>holidays</category><category>HolidayShopping</category><category>inthenews</category><category>new york</category><category>NewYork</category><category>retail</category><category>retail stocks</category><category>retailer</category><category>retailers</category><category>RetailStocks</category><category>wal-mart</category><category>walmart</category><category>wmt</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom Johansmeyer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Nov 2009 14:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[M&amp;S celebrates not-so-bad result]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/mands-celebrates-not-so-bad-result/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/mands-celebrates-not-so-bad-result/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/mands-celebrates-not-so-bad-result/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/international-markets/" rel="tag">International Markets</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/industry/" rel="tag">Industry</a></p><p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2009/07/marksspencer.jpg" alt="" />Recession or not, people can't walk around naked ... especially not in the <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/tag/UnitedKingdom/">United Kingdom</a>. (Iceland in summer? Fair game.) <a target="_blank" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/marks-and-spencer-group-p-l-c/mks/ise">Marks &amp; Spencer Group Plc</a> (London: <a target="_blank" href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/marks-and-spencer-group-p-l-c/mks/ise">MKS:UK</a>), the largest clothing retailer in the country, just sustained its smallest drop in sales in nearly two years thanks to some savvy deals (offered to consumers) and warm weather. After making their <strike>dollars</strike> pounds stretch for so long, shoppers were finally ready for a bit of style. </p>
<p>Revenue declined a modest 1.4% for the year so far, much better than the 2.5% average estimate offered by 16 analysts. This was <a target="_blank" href="http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&amp;sid=aR0O2CdACMTc">good enough to push M&amp;S shares up 4%</a>. If all goes well, same store sales may start to increase soon, which means that a full recovery will be right around the corner. Same store sales have fallen for the past seven quarters, and company cut its dividend for the first time in almost a decade. </p>
<p>The discounts that helped lead to the recent M&amp;S sales performance are responsible for 18% of the company's food sales (which are down 0.5% on for same store) - much better than the 2.4% estimate. General merchandise fell only 2.4%, beating the 3.5% projection handily. </p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/mands-celebrates-not-so-bad-result/">M&amp;S celebrates not-so-bad result</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://www.bloomberg.com/apps/news?pid=20601087&amp;sid=aR0O2CdACMTc>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/mands-celebrates-not-so-bad-result/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/19083507/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/01/mands-celebrates-not-so-bad-result/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>england</category><category>great britain</category><category>GreatBritain</category><category>inthenews</category><category>marks and spencer</category><category>marks and spencers</category><category>MarksAndSpencer</category><category>MarksAndSpencers</category><category>retail</category><category>retail sales</category><category>retail stocks</category><category>retailer</category><category>retailers</category><category>RetailSales</category><category>RetailStocks</category><category>united kingdom</category><category>UnitedKingdom</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Tom Johansmeyer]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 01 Jul 2009 12:40:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Target beat masks problems]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/20/target-beat-masks-problems/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/20/target-beat-masks-problems/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/20/target-beat-masks-problems/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/tgt/" rel="tag">Target Corp. (TGT)</a></p><img border="1" hspace="4" alt="" vspace="4" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/08/nick-target-200cs080708.jpg" />The cheap chic retailer <a href="http://www.stockhouse.com/News/FinancialNewsDetailFeeds.aspx?n=12517588&amp;src=cp">beat the Street handily in its latest earnings numbers</a>. That's no surprise, considering the dismal performance of <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/target-corporation/tgt/nys">Target</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/target-corporation/tgt/nys">TGT</a>) as compared to peers over the past year. The drugstore that stocks everything nearly destroyed a hedge fund run by legendary investor Bill Ackman designed solely to bet on Target shares. I think Target's rebirth may not be long-lived. <a href="http://www.piqqem.com/equities/TGT#takes">Piqqem Sentiment for Target </a>is neutral. Investors may be giddy today but they should consider the obstacles to a full-blown revival.<br /><br />Here's why. The company's growth in groceries just means more reliance in a notoriously low-margin and fickle consumer environment where they compete with brutal sharks such as Costco and Wal-Mart. Getting into the food biz is nothing to crow about, but that's just what the Target CEO Greg Steinhafel did on the conference call when he said the chain was seeing real gains in food shopping at Target stores.<p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/20/target-beat-masks-problems/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Target beat masks problems</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/20/target-beat-masks-problems/">Target beat masks problems</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Wed, 20 May 2009 15:40:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/20/target-beat-masks-problems/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1551757/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/05/20/target-beat-masks-problems/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>consumer spending</category><category>ConsumerSpending</category><category>inthenews</category><category>retail</category><category>retailer</category><category>retailers</category><category>spending habits</category><category>spendinghabits</category><category>Target</category><category>TGT</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Alex Salkever]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 20 May 2009 15:40:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Coach no longer first class]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/24/coach-no-longer-first-class/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/24/coach-no-longer-first-class/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/24/coach-no-longer-first-class/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/coh/" rel="tag">Coach Inc (COH)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/recession/" rel="tag">Recession</a></p><p><img alt="" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/08/coach.jpg" align="right" vspace="4" border="1" />Investors in luxury leather goods maker <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/coach-inc/coh/nys">Coach Inc.</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/coach-inc/coh/nys">COH</a>) saw their shares tumble earlier this week when the company announced that profit fell 14% in its second fiscal quarter.</p>
<p>Coach earned 67 cents per share for the quarter compared to <a href="http://www.optionszone.com/trading-ideas/gallery/12-keys-to-trading-earnings.html">earnings</a> of 69 cents per share in the year-ago quarter, and sales fell 1.8% to $960.3 million. Gross margin narrowed to 72.1% from 75.4% last year.</p>
<p>Like many other companies, Coach did not provide guidance for the balance of the fiscal year, signifying its lack of visibility going forward. But the company did try to assure investors by pointing to its nearly debt-free balance sheet and large cash position. Shares fell by as much as 15% during trading on Wednesday, but rallied to halve that loss later in the day.</p>
<p>In order to "protect our brand identity," CEO Lew Frankfort said the company resisted discounting during the holiday season. It paid a steep price to do so, because other retailers' heavy discounts hurt traffic at Coach's stores and in department stores. </p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/24/coach-no-longer-first-class/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Coach no longer first class</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/24/coach-no-longer-first-class/">Coach no longer first class</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:40:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/24/coach-no-longer-first-class/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1438856/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/24/coach-no-longer-first-class/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>coach bag</category><category>coach bags</category><category>COH</category><category>consumer spending</category><category>dlugosch</category><category>holiday sales</category><category>holiday shopping</category><category>retail</category><category>retail sales</category><category>retail stocks</category><category>retailer</category><category>retailers</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jamie Dlugosch]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Sat, 24 Jan 2009 13:40:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Supervalu (SVU) still super]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/09/supervalu-svu-still-super/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/09/supervalu-svu-still-super/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/09/supervalu-svu-still-super/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/wmt/" rel="tag">Wal-Mart (WMT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/stocks-to-buy/" rel="tag">Stocks to Buy</a></p><p>It doesn't take <a href="http://www.optionszone.com/trading-ideas/gallery/top_10__financial_geniuses__who_got_it_wrong_in_2008.html">a genius</a> to project that earnings reports will reflect <a href="http://www.optionszone.com/trading-ideas/2008/12/dont-buy-into-the-retail-hype.html">slow retail sales</a> activity in the last quarter of 2008. </p>
<p>In fact, reports in the last few days have, for the most part, reflected lower results than had been projected by the companies and the analysts following them.</p>
<p>The first read of the third-quarter results for <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/Supervalu-incorporated/svu/nys">Supervalu</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/Supervalu-incorporated/svu/nys">SVU</a>) appeared to confirm that the company was performing consistent with the trends. SVU reported a loss of $13.95 per share, mostly resulting from a $3.3 billion charge for the writedown of goodwill and other intangible assets.</p>
<p>The reality is, however, that Supervalu is performing better than many of their competitors, such as <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/wal-mart-stores-inc/wmt/nys">Wal-Mart</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/wal-mart-stores-inc/wmt/nys">WMT</a>), which reported sales and earnings well below expectations. </p>
<p>In its report to investors, SVU lowered its guidance for the full fiscal 2009 year to reflect the impact of higher commodity prices and <a href="http://www.optionszone.com/trading-ideas/2008/12/worst-consumer-spending-outlook-on-record.html">cautious consumer spending</a>.</p><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/09/supervalu-svu-still-super/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Supervalu (SVU) still super</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/09/supervalu-svu-still-super/">Supervalu (SVU) still super</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/09/supervalu-svu-still-super/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1423867/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/01/09/supervalu-svu-still-super/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>consumer spending</category><category>ConsumerSpending</category><category>dlugosch</category><category>groceries</category><category>grocery store</category><category>GroceryStore</category><category>retail</category><category>retail sales</category><category>retail stocks</category><category>retailer</category><category>retailers</category><category>RetailSales</category><category>RetailStocks</category><category>supervalu</category><category>supervalue</category><category>svu</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Jamie Dlugosch]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 09 Jan 2009 13:00:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Nordstrom plans to open new store at Santa Monica Place]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/nordstrom-plans-to-open-new-store-at-santa-monica-place/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/nordstrom-plans-to-open-new-store-at-santa-monica-place/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/nordstrom-plans-to-open-new-store-at-santa-monica-place/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/deals/" rel="tag">Deals</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/consumer-experience/" rel="tag">Consumer Experience</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/competitive-strategy/" rel="tag">Competitive Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/jwn/" rel="tag">Nordstrom, Inc (JWN)</a></p><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/pintong/85045912/"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/07/jwn.jpg" alt="" /></a><span class="article">If you are addicted to fashion, then I have good news that should brighten your shopping days. <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-macerich-company/mac/nys">Macerich Co</a>. (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-macerich-company/mac/nys">MAC</a>) announced Tuesday that retailer <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nordstrom-inc/jwn/nys">Nordstrom Inc</a>. (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/nordstrom-inc/jwn/nys">JWN</a>) will become <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/nordstrom-open-new-store-macerichs/story.aspx?guid=%7BE00168D3-BFF1-4912-8B99-3D15A932A157%7D&amp;dist=hppr">the anchor at Santa Monica Place</a> after the mall reopens. </span><span class="article"><br /><br />The mall itself, which is scheduled to reopen in the fall of 2009, is seeing </span>a major renovation<span class="article"> from an enclosed shopping center to a three-level, 550,000-square-foot open-air retail plaza </span>linking to the <span class="article"> Third Street Promenade.<br /><br /></span>Leading fashion specialty retailer Nordstrom has signed a letter of intent to open a<span class="article"> three-level, 122,000-square-foot store </span>in the fall of 2010. "The extraordinary appeal of Nordstrom is a great match for this exceptional market, and for what we believe will be a one-of-a-kind retail project two blocks from the beach in downtown Santa Monica," Randy Brant, executive vice president, real estate, for Macerich stated.<p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/nordstrom-plans-to-open-new-store-at-santa-monica-place/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Nordstrom plans to open new store at Santa Monica Place</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/nordstrom-plans-to-open-new-store-at-santa-monica-place/">Nordstrom plans to open new store at Santa Monica Place</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:59:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/nordstrom-plans-to-open-new-store-at-santa-monica-place/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1257519/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/16/nordstrom-plans-to-open-new-store-at-santa-monica-place/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>fashion</category><category>jwn</category><category>mac</category><category>Macerich</category><category>mall</category><category>Nordstrom</category><category>retailer</category><category>Santa Monica Place</category><category>SantaMonicaPlace</category><category>shopping</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliza Popescu]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 16 Jul 2008 17:59:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Back-to-school shopping season has started]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/09/back-to-school-shopping-season-has-started/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/09/back-to-school-shopping-season-has-started/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/09/back-to-school-shopping-season-has-started/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/consumer-experience/" rel="tag">Consumer Experience</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/marketing-and-advertising/" rel="tag">Marketing and Advertising</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/spls/" rel="tag">Staples Inc (SPLS)</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/08/staples_store.jpg" alt="" />They say it's never too early to start getting ready for the upcoming school year, and Tuesday, <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/staples-inc/spls/nas">Staples Inc</a>. (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/staples-inc/spls/nas">SPLS</a>) announced it was<a href="http://www.boston.com/business/ticker/2008/07/staples_its_ope.html"> officially kicking off the back-to-school shopping season</a>. This came as a reaction to a survey showing that parents would indeed like to know when they could start finding school supplies on store shelves. <br /><br />And what can be easier than establishing an official start to the back-to-school shopping season? Based on the example of Black Friday, which announces the start of the winter holiday shopping season, Staples followed the same logic and decided to declare July 8 as the official opening day of the <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/qp/pr/_a/staples-declares-july-8-as-the-official/rfid119628520" target="_blank">2008 back-to-school shopping season</a>. Staples is serious about setting an official precedent, and celebrated it by ringing the bell to open the NASDAQ Tuesday.<br /><br />"Staples is giving parents a clear road map of where and when to the find the best products and deals this season," the company stated. But the more apparent reality is that the current economic environment has consumers more closely watching their spending, while at the same time stores are trying to do anything they can to get shoppers through the doors.<p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/09/back-to-school-shopping-season-has-started/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Back-to-school shopping season has started</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/09/back-to-school-shopping-season-has-started/">Back-to-school shopping season has started</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/09/back-to-school-shopping-season-has-started/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1250068/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/07/09/back-to-school-shopping-season-has-started/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>back-to-school shopping season</category><category>Back-to-schoolShoppingSeason</category><category>retailer</category><category>SPLS</category><category>Staples</category><category>students</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliza Popescu]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 09 Jul 2008 15:58:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Family Dollar Stores (FDO) reports weak profit amid economic slowdown]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/04/family-dollar-stores-fdo-reports-weak-profit-amid-economic-slo/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/04/family-dollar-stores-fdo-reports-weak-profit-amid-economic-slo/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/04/family-dollar-stores-fdo-reports-weak-profit-amid-economic-slo/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/forecasts/" rel="tag">Forecasts</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/bad-news/" rel="tag">Bad News</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/consumer-experience/" rel="tag">Consumer Experience</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/fdo/" rel="tag">Family Dollar Stores (FDO)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/recession/" rel="tag">Recession</a></p>Shares of <font color="#000000" size="2"><font color="#000000" size="2">retailer <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/family-dollar-stores-inc/fdo/nys">Family Dollar Stores Inc</a></font><a href="http://www.flickr.com/photos/mishbradley/1325147871/"><img alt="" hspace="4" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2008/04/1325147871_f9bbf179f1_m.jpg" align="right" vspace="4" border="0" /></a><font color="#000000" size="2">. (NYSE:<a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/family-dollar-stores-inc/fdo/nys">FDO</a>) have been taking a hit in early trading as the company slashed </font><font color="#000000" size="2">its full-year earnings outlook amid tumbling market conditions.The retailer was able to post <a href="http://www.forbes.com/afxnewslimited/feeds/afx/2008/04/04/afx4854405.html">better-than-expected earnings numbers</a> but this was not enough to reassure investors who pushed the stock down over 1%.<br /><br /></font><font color="#000000" size="2">Family Dollar Stores</font> announced that its second quarter profit had dropped 30% to $63.3 million, down from $90.5 million reported in the same period a year ago when the company benefited from an extra week of holiday sales. <font color="#000000" size="2">The retailer posted quarterly earnings of </font>45 cents a share, slightly higher the 42 cents a share that analysts expected. <br /><br />The company posted a drop of 6% in its second-quarter revenue to $1.83 billion, down from $1.95 billion a year earlier. Analysts forecast revenue of $1.84 billion in the quarter, according to Thomson Financial. The drop in revenue came as the retailer had to face a difficult consumer environment brought by the U.S. housing market slowdown, high gas prices and credit crisis.</font><p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/04/family-dollar-stores-fdo-reports-weak-profit-amid-economic-slo/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Family Dollar Stores (FDO) reports weak profit amid economic slowdown</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/04/family-dollar-stores-fdo-reports-weak-profit-amid-economic-slo/">Family Dollar Stores (FDO) reports weak profit amid economic slowdown</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:58:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/04/family-dollar-stores-fdo-reports-weak-profit-amid-economic-slo/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1158565/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/04/04/family-dollar-stores-fdo-reports-weak-profit-amid-economic-slo/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>consumer spending</category><category>ConsumerSpending</category><category>earnings</category><category>Family Dollar Stores</category><category>FamilyDollarStores</category><category>fdo</category><category>forecast</category><category>inthenews</category><category>retailer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliza Popescu]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 04 Apr 2008 11:58:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sales rise at Staples, but do you want to own the stock?]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/05/sales-rise-at-staples-but-do-you-want-to-own-the-stock/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/05/sales-rise-at-staples-but-do-you-want-to-own-the-stock/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/05/sales-rise-at-staples-but-do-you-want-to-own-the-stock/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/spls/" rel="tag">Staples Inc (SPLS)</a></p><p><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/staples-inc/spls/nas">Staples Inc.</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/staples-inc/spls/nas">SPLS</a>), a supplier of office products and a fierce competitor of both <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/officemax-incorporated/omx/nys?tabs=quotesandnews">OfficeMax</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/officemax-incorporated/omx/nys?tabs=quotesandnews">OMX</a>) and <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/office-depot-inc/odp/nys?tabs=quotesandnews">Office Depot</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/office-depot-inc/odp/nys?tabs=quotesandnews">ODP</a>), <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/staples-inc-announces-fourth-quarter-and/n20080304070709990055">reported earnings</a> for the fourth quarter yesterday. Excluding an extra calendar week, Staples saw its net sales rise by 8% to $5.3 billion and its diluted earnings per share rise by 15% to $0.47. For the full year, again excluding the extra week, net sales increased 9%; adjusted diluted earnings per share rose by 15%, coming in at $1.42. The full-year results included various adjustments related to tax issues, litigation, and stock compensation.</p>
<p>The numbers are okay, I suppose, but they don't necessarily make me want to jump into the stock. For one thing, same-store sales for North America declined 3% for the year (they did rise a modest 2% in Europe, however). For another, the stock is only yielding about 1.5% right now -- I'd wait for a bigger yield before thinking about Staples. Yes, it's true that the company <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/staples-announces-a-14-percent-increase/n20080304071109990010">increased its annual dividend</a> by 14%, but I'll tell you something about that -- I am not a fan of annual dividends. I'd rather get my payout spread throughout the year. </p>
<p>Staples is a major brand in office supplies, and I do shop there. But nothing about this earnings report makes me want to check the retailer out any further, at least at this time. I'll have to see a few more quarters to see how the company handles the current economic malaise; for now, there are better ideas out there for one's investment dollars.</p>
<p> </p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/05/sales-rise-at-staples-but-do-you-want-to-own-the-stock/">Sales rise at Staples, but do you want to own the stock?</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:22:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/staples-announces-a-14-percent-increase/n20080304071109990010>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href=http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/staples-inc-announces-fourth-quarter-and/n20080304070709990055>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/05/sales-rise-at-staples-but-do-you-want-to-own-the-stock/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1131781/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/03/05/sales-rise-at-staples-but-do-you-want-to-own-the-stock/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Office Depot</category><category>office supplies</category><category>OfficeDepot</category><category>OfficeMax</category><category>OfficeSupplies</category><category>retailer</category><category>SPLS</category><category>Staples</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Steven Mallas]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 05 Mar 2008 11:22:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Sears (SHLD) quarterly profit plunges 47.5% on weak sales]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/28/sears-shld-quarterly-profit-plunges-47-5-on-weak-sales/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/28/sears-shld-quarterly-profit-plunges-47-5-on-weak-sales/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/28/sears-shld-quarterly-profit-plunges-47-5-on-weak-sales/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/forecasts/" rel="tag">Forecasts</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/products-and-services/" rel="tag">Products and Services</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/management/" rel="tag">Management</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/wmt/" rel="tag">Wal-Mart (WMT)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/shld/" rel="tag">Sears Holdings (SHLD)</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/10/shld-sears-holdings-logo1.jpg" alt="" />Shares of department store retailer <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sears-holdings-corporation/shld/nas">Sears Holdings Corp</a>. (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/sears-holdings-corporation/shld/nas">SHLD</a>) have moved higher this morning, despite the fact that the company <a href="http://www.marketwatch.com/news/story/sears-holdings-fourth-quarter-profit-plunges/story.aspx?guid=%7BF49655A6%2D8FA1%2D417D%2D86C2%2DB707A0B0CE59%7D&amp;siteid=yhoof">posted a 47.5% decline in fourth-quarter profit,</a> hurt by increased markdowns and weak sales of its products. <br /><br />The retailer announced that its quarterly profit dropped to $426 million, or $3.17 a share on declining margins as sales at its Kmart and Sears stores slipped due to the weak U.S. economy and increased competition. These numbers are down from $811 million, or $5.27 per share reported in the same period a year ago.<br /><br />Included in the company's earnings numbers was a one-time gain related to the sale of some assets. Excluding that, Sears earnings numbers would have come at $3.04 per share. Analyst estimates (which typically exclude one time items) was for $3.10 per share in the quarter.<p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/28/sears-shld-quarterly-profit-plunges-47-5-on-weak-sales/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Sears (SHLD) quarterly profit plunges 47.5% on weak sales</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/28/sears-shld-quarterly-profit-plunges-47-5-on-weak-sales/">Sears (SHLD) quarterly profit plunges 47.5% on weak sales</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:34:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/28/sears-shld-quarterly-profit-plunges-47-5-on-weak-sales/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1126949/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/28/sears-shld-quarterly-profit-plunges-47-5-on-weak-sales/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>consumers spending</category><category>ConsumersSpending</category><category>earnings</category><category>inthenews</category><category>J.C. Penney</category><category>J.c.Penney</category><category>JCP</category><category>recession</category><category>retailer</category><category>Sears Holdings</category><category>SearsHoldings</category><category>SHLD</category><category>Wal-Mart Stores</category><category>Wal-martStores</category><category>WMT</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliza Popescu]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 28 Feb 2008 11:34:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Home Depot (HD) profit slips in fourth-quarter]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/26/home-depot-hd-profit-slips-in-fourth-quarter/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/26/home-depot-hd-profit-slips-in-fourth-quarter/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/26/home-depot-hd-profit-slips-in-fourth-quarter/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/consumer-experience/" rel="tag">Consumer Experience</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/competitive-strategy/" rel="tag">Competitive Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/hd/" rel="tag">Home Depot (HD)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/low/" rel="tag">Lowe's Cos (LOW)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/housing/" rel="tag">Housing</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/08/homedepot.jpg" alt="" />After home improvement retailer <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/lowe-s-companies-inc/low/nys">Lowe's Cos</a>. (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/lowe-s-companies-inc/low/nys">LOW</a>) posted a <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/25/lowes-low-profit-drops-in-fourth-quarter/">33.4% decline</a> in its fourth-quarter profit yesterday, it was its main competitor <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-home-depot-inc/hd/nys">Home Depot Inc</a>. (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-home-depot-inc/hd/nys">HD</a>)'s turn to step up to the plate and impress Wall Street. As Trey Thoelcke <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/24/earnings-previews-lowes-and-home-depot/">discussed</a>, the world's largest home improvement store chain managed to top estimates only once in the past six quarters, and current earnings numbers were not too encouraging either. <br /><br />Home Depot reported that its <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/home-depot-has-first-annual-sales-dip/n20080226105109990074">quarterly profit slipped</a> more than 27% to $671 million as the slumping U.S. housing market brought the first annual decline for the company's sales. The retailer posted earnings of 40 cents a share, falling short of analyst estimates for a profit of 43 cents a share.<br /><br />Looking at revenue, Home Depot saw an increase of 1.5% to $17.66 billion, up from $17.4 billion a year earlier, as the largest U.S. home-improvement retailer benefited from an extra week during the quarter. Excluding that, sales would have dropped 4.7%. Analysts forecast revenues of $18 billion for the quarter, according to Thomson Financial.<p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/26/home-depot-hd-profit-slips-in-fourth-quarter/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Home Depot (HD) profit slips in fourth-quarter</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/26/home-depot-hd-profit-slips-in-fourth-quarter/">Home Depot (HD) profit slips in fourth-quarter</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:11:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/26/home-depot-hd-profit-slips-in-fourth-quarter/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/1124791/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/02/26/home-depot-hd-profit-slips-in-fourth-quarter/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>earnings</category><category>forecast</category><category>HD</category><category>Home Depot</category><category>HomeDepot</category><category>inthenews</category><category>LOW</category><category>Lowe's Cos</category><category>Lowe'sCos</category><category>retailer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eliza Popescu]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Tue, 26 Feb 2008 11:11:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (ANF) posts solid second quarter numbers]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/22/abercrombie-and-fitch-anf-posts-solid-second-quarter-numbers/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/22/abercrombie-and-fitch-anf-posts-solid-second-quarter-numbers/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/22/abercrombie-and-fitch-anf-posts-solid-second-quarter-numbers/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/after-the-bell/" rel="tag">After the Bell</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/good-news/" rel="tag">Good news</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/consumer-experience/" rel="tag">Consumer Experience</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/competitive-strategy/" rel="tag">Competitive Strategy</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/anf/" rel="tag">Abercrombie and Fitch (ANF)</a></p><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="0" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/08/aflogo.gif" alt="" />This afternoon after the market closed, retailer <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/abercrombie-and-38-fitch-co/anf/nys">Abercrombie &amp; Fitch</a> (NYSE: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/abercrombie-and-38-fitch-co/anf/nys">ANF</a>) posted <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/abercrombie-earnings-rise-in-2q/n20070822162109990007">its second quarter numbers</a>, and the teen retailer came in above analyst estimates for the quarter.<br /><br />Shares of the company have moved 1.4% higher in after hours trading as a result of the company showing earnings of 88 cents per share, a penny above the 87 cents a share that Wall Street was expecting. Total net income in the quarter was $83.1 million, up from $65.7 million during the same period last year.<p><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/22/abercrombie-and-fitch-anf-posts-solid-second-quarter-numbers/" rel="bookmark">Continue reading <em>Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (ANF) posts solid second quarter numbers</em></a></p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/22/abercrombie-and-fitch-anf-posts-solid-second-quarter-numbers/">Abercrombie &amp; Fitch (ANF) posts solid second quarter numbers</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:28:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/abercrombie-earnings-rise-in-2q/n20070822162109990007>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/22/abercrombie-and-fitch-anf-posts-solid-second-quarter-numbers/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/971601/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/08/22/abercrombie-and-fitch-anf-posts-solid-second-quarter-numbers/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Abercrombie</category><category>ANF</category><category>inthenews</category><category>retailer</category><category>teen retailer</category><category>TeenRetailer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Michael Fowlkes]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 22 Aug 2007 17:28:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Amazing results from Amazon]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/amazing-results-from-amazon/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/amazing-results-from-amazon/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/amazing-results-from-amazon/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/earnings-reports/" rel="tag">Earnings Reports</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/dell/" rel="tag">Dell (DELL)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/amzn/" rel="tag">Amazon.com (AMZN)</a></p><a href="http://www.theflyonthewall.com/splashPage.php?source=AOL"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/07/flywall_final_logo_mini.gif" alt="" /></a><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/amazon-com-inc/amzn/nas">Amazon.com</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/amazon-com-inc/amzn/nas">AMZN</a>), the global internet on-line retailer, <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/amazoncom-announces-second-quarter-sales/n20070724161209990031">reported amazing results</a> once again. Some highlights include:<br />
<ul>
    <li>Free cash flow for the quarter was $700 million, up from $375 million last year, or up 86%</li>
    <li>Return on invested capital (ROIC) jumped from 23% to 39%, with the on-line retailer forecasting it to jump triple digits</li>
    <li>Revenue growth was 35%, with operating profit growth up 149%</li>
</ul>
What is also interesting, from a company that is reaching its high-growth phase perspective, is that Amazon's shares outstanding for the past year are down 2%. WOW! Typically, the opposite is true and shares outstanding goes up to reward employees with stock options.<br /><br />Another interesting point is Amazon's forecast for triple digit ROIC, which is a very similar path <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/dell-inc/dell/nas">Dell Inc</a> (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/dell-inc/dell/nas">DELL</a>) followed in the late 1990s. During this period as Dell's ROIC ramped, the stock went through the roof for a good three or four years.<br /><br />I'd stay with Amazon as it enters its hyper growth phase.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/amazing-results-from-amazon/">Amazing results from Amazon</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href=http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/amazoncom-announces-second-quarter-sales/n20070724161209990031>Read</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/amazing-results-from-amazon/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/948867/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/25/amazing-results-from-amazon/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>amazon</category><category>amazon.com</category><category>amzn</category><category>dell</category><category>earnings</category><category>growth</category><category>internet</category><category>retailer</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eric Buscemi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Wed, 25 Jul 2007 12:30:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Hot Topic's sales better than expected]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/12/hot-topics-sales-better-than-expected/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/12/hot-topics-sales-better-than-expected/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/12/hot-topics-sales-better-than-expected/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/good-news/" rel="tag">Good news</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/bargain-stocks/" rel="tag">Bargain Stocks</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/stocks-to-buy/" rel="tag">Stocks to Buy</a></p><a href="http://www.theflyonthewall.com/splashPage.php?source=AOL"><img vspace="4" hspace="4" border="1" align="right" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/07/fly-logo-(aol).gif" alt="" /></a><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/hot-topic-inc/hott/nas">Hot Topic Inc</a>. (NASDAQ: <a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/hot-topic-inc/hott/nas">HOTT</a>) reported <a href="http://money.aol.com/news/articles/_a/premarket-movers-retailers-rise/n20070712091809990002">better than expected same store sales</a> last night, down only 4% versus a consensus decline of 6.7%.<br /><br />The company, which sells alternative music and pop culture apparel and merchandise to teens, has cut back on promotional activity with inventories becoming more lean, a positive for future quarter performance. Further, its new story formats continue to do well and trends at Torrid remain solid.<br /><br />We <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/10/hot-topic-could-be-primed-for-turnaround/">blogged earlier in the week</a> that Hot Topic may be setting the foundation for a meaningful turnaround later this year and going into 2008. The stock is way off from its $30 high and is now at $11. SAC Capital has accumulated 5.1% of Hot Topic stock, or 2.3 million shares, up from the 245K shares it had disclosed at the end of the first quarter.<br /><br />Hot Topic, with movies like the Transformers and a new generation of video game consoles and games coming to market, will have ample supply of trendy new products to sell and support a nice turnaround. The stock is up 49 cents in trading today.<p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/12/hot-topics-sales-better-than-expected/">Hot Topic's sales better than expected</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:33:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/12/hot-topics-sales-better-than-expected/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/939016/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/07/12/hot-topics-sales-better-than-expected/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>better than expected</category><category>BetterThanExpected</category><category>hot topic</category><category>hott</category><category>HotTopic</category><category>retail</category><category>retailer</category><category>same store sales</category><category>SameStoreSales</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Eric Buscemi]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Thu, 12 Jul 2007 12:33:00 EST</pubDate></item><item><title><![CDATA[Option update 4-6-07: KR implied volatility low prior to Wall Street Journal Report]]></title><link>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/06/option-update-4-6-07-kr-implied-volatility-low-prior-to-wall-st/</link><guid isPermaLink="true">http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/06/option-update-4-6-07-kr-implied-volatility-low-prior-to-wall-st/</guid><comments>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/06/option-update-4-6-07-kr-implied-volatility-low-prior-to-wall-st/#comments</comments><description><![CDATA[<p>Filed under: <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/before-the-bell/" rel="tag">Before the Bell</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/newspapers/" rel="tag">Newspapers</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/kr/" rel="tag">Kroger Co (KR)</a>, <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/category/options/" rel="tag">Options</a></p><p><a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-kroger-co/kr/nys"><strong><img alt="" src="http://www.blogcdn.com/www.bloggingstocks.com/media/2007/04/flywall_final_logo_mini.gif" align="right" /></strong><strong>Kroger</strong></a>-(NYSE-<a href="http://finance.aol.com/quotes/the-kroger-co/kr/nys">KR</a>) volatility suggested low Risk prior to WSJ "Private-Equity eyeing". KR closed at $29.11. The Wall Street Journal said "People familiar with the matter say a number of firms across the Street have been eyeing KR." KR has a market cap of $20 billion with long term debt of $6 billion. KR reported total 2007 revenue of $66 billion. KR over all option implied volatility of 21 is below its 26-week average of 23 according to Track Data, suggesting decreasing price risk.</p>
<p>Volatility Index S&amp;P 500 Options-VIX closed at 13.23.</p>
<p>Daily Option Update is provided by Stock Options Specialist Paul Foster of theflyonthewall.com.</p><p style="padding:5px;background:#ddd;border:1px solid #ccc;clear:both;"><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/06/option-update-4-6-07-kr-implied-volatility-low-prior-to-wall-st/">Option update 4-6-07: KR implied volatility low prior to Wall Street Journal Report</a> originally appeared on <a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com">BloggingStocks</a> on Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:20:00 EST.  Please see our <a href="http://www.weblogsinc.com/feed-terms/">terms for use of feeds</a>.</p><h6 style="clear: both; padding: 8px 0 0 0; height: 2px; font-size: 1px; border: 0; margin: 0; padding: 0;"></h6><a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/06/option-update-4-6-07-kr-implied-volatility-low-prior-to-wall-st/" rel="bookmark" title="Permanent link to this entry">Permalink</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/forward/868661/" title="Send this entry to a friend via email">Email this</a>&nbsp;|&nbsp;<a href="http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/04/06/option-update-4-6-07-kr-implied-volatility-low-prior-to-wall-st/#comments" title="View reader comments on this entry">Comments</a>]]></description><category>Grocery story</category><category>GroceryStory</category><category>KR</category><category>Kroger</category><category>option implied volatility</category><category>OptionImpliedVolatility</category><category>retailer</category><category>Wall Street Journal</category><category>WallStreetJournal</category><dc:creator><![CDATA[Paul Foster]]></dc:creator><pubDate>Fri, 06 Apr 2007 08:20:00 EST</pubDate></item></channel></rss>
