I remember six years ago when the Beastie Boys released their newest album. It dealt with New York City and what it meant to the group -- hence the title, "To the 5 Boroughs." It seems that athletic shoe and apparel giant Nike (NKE) also will attempt to capitalize on the pride generated in each of the city's five boroughs, as it will release a limited edition line of shoes celebrating each of the boroughs.

These shoes will only be sold in New York, with select stores in each borough receiving the corresponding shoe. These shoes were produced for the inaugural World Basketball Festival that will take place from August 12 through August 15. The selected stores in Brooklyn will receive shoes with a black, plum, and white color scheme; a logo for the borough; and laces that identify the shoes as the Brooklyn edition.

Continue reading JockStocks: The Secret to Nike's Success

JockStocks: The Secret to Nike's Success originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 30 Jul 2010 12:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Collective Brands Down After Q1 Release

Collective Brands Down After Q1 Release originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 02 Jun 2010 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Are Nike's Storm Clouds Clearing

Are Nike's Storm Clouds Clearing originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 May 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Nike Inc.

Continue reading Nike Q1 earnings preview

Nike Q1 earnings preview originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 28 Sep 2009 17:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Nike: For now, hold shares

Nike: For now, hold shares originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Sep 2009 17:20:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), which owns the Payless shoe store, issued its Q2 release after the bell on Wednesday. Earnings per share took a significant dive once you made some adjustments for last year's results. They came in at 29 cents per share, a decrease of over 40%. Net sales went down over 8%.

On the surface, the news isn't good -- and it gets worse. As we all know, every investor has to play the earnings game with Wall Street. Collective Brands lost the good fight. The market was looking for 33 cents per share, according to Earnings.com. Coming in four pennies short is about as comfortable as wearing sneakers two sizes too small. Shares of Collective Brands were punished in the after-hours' session, with investors bidding the stock down by close to 7% at one point, though it later recovered.

Continue reading Collective Brands comes up short in the second quarter

Collective Brands comes up short in the second quarter originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 03 Sep 2009 11:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Following up on my Nike (NYSE: NKE) post from last week, you just knew I would have to comment on Nike's earnings report, right? Bottom line, it was a rough report and the short-term outlook is bleak as far as future orders go -- but all is not lost for Nike.

Here are the reasons to be optimistic. First, this is Nike, ladies and gentlemen. This is the company that has the biggest of the big names in its stable of athletes: Michael Jordan, Lance Armstrong, Tiger Woods, Kobe Bryant, and LeBron James, to name just a few. This ensures that Nike will continue to be in the discussion as long as these athletes are at the top of their game.

Continue reading JockStocks: Can Nike rebound from its disappointing earnings report?

JockStocks: Can Nike rebound from its disappointing earnings report? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 26 Jun 2009 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading JockStocks: A look at Eddie Van Halen's frivolous lawsuit against Nike

JockStocks: A look at Eddie Van Halen's frivolous lawsuit against Nike originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 19 Jun 2009 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), a footwear retailer that competes with companies such as Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) and Kohl's (NYSE: KSS), issued Q1 results on Wednesday after the bell. The business earned 59 cents per diluted share. That represented a decline over last year's results which, on an adjusted basis, calculated out to 66 cents per share.

That's not the only disappointing news. You also have a sales decline, impacted by currency effects (of course), as well as the expiration of a license related to the Tommy Hilfiger brand. Also, same-store sales dipped by 4.8% on a reported basis, and 3.2% after the exclusion of currency translation. As can be seen, you can look at same-store sales any way you'd like, but in the end, they went down, and that is never healthy for a retailer. A retailer always wants to see rising comps.

Continue reading Collective Brands sees earnings and sales decline, but beats expectations

Collective Brands sees earnings and sales decline, but beats expectations originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 04 Jun 2009 08:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading JockStocks: Does a recall reveal a chink in Under Armour's armor?

JockStocks: Does a recall reveal a chink in Under Armour's armor? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 30 Apr 2009 13:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

What would St. Patrick's Day be without finding a way to help my readers wear a little bit o' the green?

Turns out that Adidas (OTC: ADDYY) is combining two of my favorite things: the classic Campus 80 gym shoes and Irish Rap pioneers The House of Pain. Yes, you read that right.

This afternoon in Cambridge, Massachusetts, Concepts will be releasing The House of Pain X Adidas Campus 80 to celebrate St. Patrick's Day.

Continue reading Can Adidas help your portfolio wear a little green?

Can Adidas help your portfolio wear a little green? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 17 Mar 2009 11:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

One stock that I think has traded irrationally is Deckers Outdoor Corp. (NASDAQ: DECK).

Shares of the UGG and Teva footwear company had fallen to $80 per share in late October, but lost nearly 50% of its value from there in November.

Considering that the company increased guidance on Oct. 23, this move made little sense.

When I last wrote about DECK in July, shares were trading for more than $100, but well off their highs above $160. At that time, I suggested that investors resist the urge to buy the beaten-down stock, no matter how tempting.

It wasn't that I didn't believe in the potential of the company. Instead, the macro picture being as it was at that time suggested waiting for a better entry point. I thought below $80 would make sense.

I was right about waiting, although I did not think the stock would sink to less than $50 as it did in late November. Obviously something was amiss given that DECK's performance was quite stellar.

Continue reading UGG, Teva maker bucking the recession?

UGG, Teva maker bucking the recession? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 07 Jan 2009 19:10:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Skechers and Heelys exchange words on takeover offer originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 21 Aug 2008 14:49:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

This post is one in a series on prominent company nicknames. See all 25, and share your thoughts and memories about Needless Markup below in the comments.

Neiman Marcus may be the most successful upscale retail department chain that selected shoppers love to hold a grudge against.

The chain caters to primarily female, upper-income and upper-middle shoppers, and features designer lines that rival boutique (and beyond) price levels.

Further, while some of the products are decidedly exclusive, some are not or appear to not be, according to shoppers, but the prices of these items remain in the stratosphere, and it is for this reason that the store was tagged with the nickname "Needless Markup."

Here's a classic example. About a year ago Marie Lang, sister of yours truly, was searching for a leather shoulder bag. She found a medium brown, designer bag she liked for $1,200 at Neiman Marcus. However, being a discerning/critical comparison shopper, Marie of course took a few days to scout the competition.

The result? She found a comparable shoulder bag at Bloomingdale's for $595. Had she been willing to take a slightly smaller bag, she could have secured one for $395.

Continue reading Company nicknames: Neiman Marcus -- If you have to ask about price ...

Company nicknames: Neiman Marcus -- If you have to ask about price ... originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 09 Aug 2008 15:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Wolverine (WWW) stepping out originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Jul 2008 11:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Timberland Co. (NYSE: TBL), manufacturer of outdoor apparel and footwear, reported a 33% drop in revenue back in February, due mainly to a decline in its sales of boots and children's footwear. Seacoastonline.com reported, excluding restructuring costs, the company stated that it earned 52 cents per share in its fourth quarter. That earnings report came in one cent higher than the results expected by analysts polled by Thomson Financial. The company is currently in the process of dual share buy-back plans, initially involving over 12 million shares of it's Class A Common Stock.

While the company has experienced tough times in the marketing of outdoor shoes and boots, the manufacturer reported an increase of approximately 3% in its sales of accessories and apparel, which includes its strong SmartWool socks line. While the company has weathered a drop in domestic same-store sales of more than 9%, Seacoastonline.com reported that sales for the company declined only 5.5% globally in the fourth quarter. Careful watch on the economy might expose this stock as a nice quick pick in the event of a retail turnaround. Timberland is working to revitalize sales by applying additional new focus on footwear aimed at the food service, health care and hospitality industries.

Timberland is currently trading at approximately 50% off its 52-week high of $27.76 per share.

Gary Sattler is a freelance blogger and does not knowingly hold positions in the companies he blogs about.

Timberland Co. sees 14% drop in shoe sales and buys back shares originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Apr 2008 13:02:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Nike (NKE) gearing up for summer Olympics

Nike (NKE) gearing up for summer Olympics originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 08 Apr 2008 12:15:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Continue reading Skechers has outlined a plan for profit growth

Skechers has outlined a plan for profit growth originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 27 Mar 2008 17:58:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Crocs not selling to Costco -- but its customers are? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 06 Mar 2008 16:29:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Crocs (NASDAQ: CROX) was one of the best-performing stocks of 2007 until it hit the wall after releasing its September 30th quarterly results. The stock began 2007 at $20.68, ran up to a high of $75 and now sits at $45. The December, March and June quarterly results were spectacular, exceeding both top line and bottom line expectations. The company and analysts raised expectations for forward quarters and the hedge funds that were short the shares thinking the company is just "a fad", got annihilated.

The September quarter results were by all measure excellent as Crocs reported revenues of $256 million, up 130% from the previous year and earnings were up 144% to 66 cents per share. The consensus estimates were for earnings in the 63 cent to 64 cent range and revenue was expected at $253-$258 million. With revenue not "crushing" expectations, the stock was crushed, down from $75 to $32.

In spite of the stock coming down dramatically, many portfolio managers that missed the first run up from $21 to $75 had an excellent opportunity to begin buying the shares. Many have. The stock has rebuilt its value to the $45 level and is still inexpensive versus any traditional valuation methodology. Street expectations for earnings this year is $1.98 and $2.70 for 2008, a solid 35% growth. Revenue will come in this year at $830-$840 million and expectations for 2008 are set for $1.150 billion, again up 35-40%.

Continue reading Is Crocs back yet?

Is Crocs back yet? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sun, 09 Dec 2007 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.