BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com BloggingStocks http://www.blogsmithmedia.com/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/media/feedlogo.gif BloggingStocks http://www.bloggingstocks.com en-us Copyright 2012 Weblogs, Inc. The contents of this feed are available for non-commercial use only. Blogsmith http://www.blogsmith.com/<![CDATA[Gas prices drive retail sales rebound, coveted brands still struggle]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/14/gas-prices-drive-retail-sales-rebound-coveted-brands-still-stru/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/14/gas-prices-drive-retail-sales-rebound-coveted-brands-still-stru/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/07/14/gas-prices-drive-retail-sales-rebound-coveted-brands-still-stru/#commentsFiled under: , , , ,

Last summer we lamented the price of gas. This year, however, there's at least one upside. Retail sales for June were up 0.6% - substantially better than the 0.4% anticipated - with the gas prices leading the charge. A slight tip in the brutalized auto manufacturer sector helped, as well. This was the largest retail sales increase in five months.

Gas stations benefited from the cost of fuel, adding a bit of pep to a beleaguered retail industry: sales were up 5% year over year, after doing the same in May. And, car dealers had their best month since January: the sales of cars and parts climbed 2.3%. Nonetheless, this corner of the retail world is still off 14.5% from last year. It may have helped last month, but we're still pretty far from a cure.

Continue reading Gas prices drive retail sales rebound, coveted brands still struggle

Gas prices drive retail sales rebound, coveted brands still struggle originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 14 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>abercrombieabercrombie and fitchAbercrombieAndFitchabercrombiefitchaeoamerican eagleamerican eagle outfittersAmericanEagleAmericanEagleOutfittersanfconsumer spendingConsumerSpendinggasgas pricesgas stationgas stationsGasPricesGasStationGasStationsinthenewsretailretail salesretail stocksretailersRetailSalesRetailStockstargettargetcorptargetcorp.tgtwal-martwalmartwmtwmt stockWmtStockTue, 14 Jul 2009 16:45:00 EST<![CDATA[Wal-Mart up, Target down in January same-store sales]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/09/wal-mart-up-target-down-in-january-same-store-sales/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/09/wal-mart-up-target-down-in-january-same-store-sales/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2009/02/09/wal-mart-up-target-down-in-january-same-store-sales/#commentsFiled under: ,

In what is becoming standard practice in retail, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) reported a same-store sales increase of 2.1% in January while competitor Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) experienced a same-store sales decline of 1.6% from the year-ago period. Surprising? Not at all.

As the economic stimulus bill hangs around Capitol Hill and more and more Americans are becoming unemployed, Wal-Mart is continuing to experience an influx of business that's coming in from the competition. This will continue throughout 2009. Even though Wal-Mart won't be giving monthly same-store sales forecasts for the time being, the retailer will be one of the very few shining lights in retail this year.

Continue reading Wal-Mart up, Target down in January same-store sales

Wal-Mart up, Target down in January same-store sales originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 09 Feb 2009 14:41:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>inthenewssame-store salesSame-storeSalestarget corptarget corp.TargetCorpTargetCorp.TGTWal-MartWMTMon, 09 Feb 2009 14:41:00 EST<![CDATA[Retailers in for some hurt this holiday season?]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/22/retailers-in-for-some-hurt-this-holiday-season/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/22/retailers-in-for-some-hurt-this-holiday-season/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2008/09/22/retailers-in-for-some-hurt-this-holiday-season/#commentsFiled under: , , ,

With the hundreds of billions of dollars in U.S. Government bailouts and the largest mess in decades within the U.S. financial system, will consumers draw back their wallets and purses this holiday season and hurt the U.S. economy even more? Although retailer Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) has seen same-store sames growth from the late Spring to now, not all retailers have been as lucky. Sentiment says consumers are leaving non-discount stores and flocking to Wal-Mart and its low prices. No big surprise, really.

This means retailers will have to 1) get aggressive on marketing and promotion that differentiates their brand and positioning, or 2) compete on price and make that known to the shopping public. How about making sure customers know where to find goods (hint: don't change store layouts to accommodate holiday promotions) as well as the old-fashioned value proposition?

Art Hammer from consulting firm QualPro told Reuters that "What we have seen is that fire sales are not working ... the people who still have money seem to be spending the same total, but are getting a little bit better merchandise or a little bit better service. Wow -- heavy discounts not working in a down economy? Sounds odd, right? But that's the theory. So, as the holiday season gears up for what could be the lousiest season in a decade or more here in a month, we'll see if expert sentiment is correct.

Retailers in for some hurt this holiday season? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 22 Sep 2008 13:57:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Read | Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>black fridayBlackFridayholiday shoppingHolidayShoppingTarget CorpTargetCorpTGTWal-MartWMTMon, 22 Sep 2008 13:57:00 EST<![CDATA[Analyst initiations: ENP, EXBD, FCN and GLDD]]>http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/12/analyst-initiations-enp-exbd-fcn-and-gldd/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/12/analyst-initiations-enp-exbd-fcn-and-gldd/http://www.bloggingstocks.com/2007/10/12/analyst-initiations-enp-exbd-fcn-and-gldd/#commentsFiled under: , , , , ,

MOST NOTEWORTHY: Encore Energy, Corporate Executive Board, FTI Consulting and Great Lakes Dredge were today's noteworthy initiations:
  • Stanford believes shares of Encore Energy Partners LP (NYSE: ENP) are reasonably valued, and started shares with a Hold rating and $20.50 target.
  • The Corporate Executive Board Company (NASDAQ: EXBD) was initiated with a Neutral at Baird, as they have concerns regarding the slowing economy near-term.
  • Baird also started shares of FTI Consulting Inc (NYSE: FCN) with an Outperform rating and a $64 target, as they believe the company is well-positioned for continued strong growth driven by positive macro demand and specific company drivers.
  • Banc of America initiated Great Lakes Dredge and Dock Corporation (NASDAQ: GLDD) with a Neutral rating and $10 target. The firm believes near-term visibility is closed by an unsettled Army Corps/domestic funding policy and is looking for a more attractive valuation.
OTHER INITIATIONS:

Analyst initiations: ENP, EXBD, FCN and GLDD originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 12 Oct 2007 11:08:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

Permalink | Email this | Comments]]>BJBJ's WholesaleBj'sWholesaleCisco SystemsCiscoSystemsCorporate Executive BoardCorporateExecutiveBoardCOSTCostcoCostco WholesaleCostcoWholesaleCSCOEncore EnergyEncoreEnergyENPEXBDFCNFTI ConsultingFtiConsultingGLDDGreat Lakes DredgeGreatLakesDredgeinthenewsTargetTarget CorpTargetCorpTGTWal-MartWal-Mart StoresWal-martStoresWMTFri, 12 Oct 2007 11:08:00 EST