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Posted
Oct 01 2009, 09:17 AM
by
Minyanville
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
 This article is written by Minyanville's Glenn Curtis
It’s pretty likely that some upper-crust retailers may see small pockets of strength in the months to come. But for the most part, frugal shoppers (like me -- I’m cheap) will be searching out low prices and clearance specials -- particularly during the holiday season -- and as such, will be more likely to schlep their way to the popular discount stores. Click here for my last take on Costco.
Washington-based wholesale club Costco (COST) has some things going for it as well as some things that aren’t too swift. Here they are (in no particular order):
1. I do agree that some consumers are looking to save money and costly trips to the store (read: gas) by buying items in bulk. However, I also believe that the vast majority of consumers are looking for storefronts that carry wide-ranging merchandise selections that are known for their super low prices.
You may be wondering: Isn’t that kind of what Costco does? The answer is sort of. It has many types of food, some clothing, some books, and other merchandise. But if you’re interested in a certain variety of ketchup or need to replace one light bulb (that is, you don’t need items sold by the truckload but still want them at rock-bottom prices), I’d wager you’ll hit a store like Wal-Mart (WMT), or perhaps a Target (TGT) first. While not as plentiful as the proverbial Starbucks (SBUX) on every corner, both Wal-Mart and Target are convenient for most cost-conscious Americans. See also my recent take on Starbucks, Starbucks Chatter Is Appetizing
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Posted
Sep 10 2009, 09:00 AM
by
Minyanville
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
This article is written by Minyanville's Glenn Curtis
On September 15, electronics retailer Best Buy (BBY) is due out with its second-quarter numbers. And I’m here to tell you I think the shares are worth a look ahead of the announcement. Here’s why: 1. Although the shares have certainly had a nice run since the latter part of 2008, the stock hasn’t gone straight up like some other big names out there. In fact, it seems to be hovering roughly in the $30 to $40 range, looking for some sort of catalyst. Because of this, I’m less worried about profit-taking. Bing: What do analysts say about BBY?
2. It’s thumped the estimate the last three quarters, and I think it will beat again. Management knows this game, and it will be doing its utmost to make sure investors are left with a good taste in their mouths, post release. Incidentally, note that in the last 30 days, the estimate has edged up from $0.40 to $0.41. Not gigantic by any stretch, but still a good thing.
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Posted
Aug 03 2009, 09:01 AM
by
Minyanville
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
This article was written by Minyanville's Mike Schuster
RadioShack (RSH) -- the store you pass on the way to the pet shop window -- is on the precipice of an image overhaul. Coming on the heels of a partnership with T-Mobile (DT) to sell its phones in-store, RadioShack will press its luck on a new name.
According to Engadget, new storefront signs will read "The Shack" sometime later this year -- a move that will likely garner a cease-and-desist from Mr. O'Neal soon after.
Like KFC (YUM) dropping the "Kentucky" and equally disparaging "Fried," the chain seems to be changing its name to appeal to a younger, hipper crowd. If there's one thing today's urban youth likes most, it's pushy salespeople beside a rack of transistors and electrolytic capacitors.
(See also: Pizza Hut TV: Mouth-Watering, or Half-Baked?)
The company's re-branding is part of a massive bi-coastal event taking place from August 6th through 8th and promoted on its official Web site. Dubbed "The Shack Summer Netogether," the gala will feature 14-foot laptops in New York's Times Square and San Francisco's Justin Herman Plaza streaming live video from one another. Bands and entertainers are set to perform in between games and contests.
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Posted
Aug 03 2009, 05:02 AM
by
Minyanville
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
 This article was written by Minyanville's Kristin Graham
I could sense pessimism in the air as I roamed through my local mall this weekend while checking out the back to school shopping scene. Unfortunately, it wasn’t just the gloomy faces of teenyboppers cringing with the upcoming start of school. Retailers – who in previous years would typically be overflowing with back to school shoppers – stood abandoned by their once loyal customers. The National Retail Federation’s annual Back to School Survey concurred with my observation. According to the survey, four out of five Americans say the economy is significantly affecting back to school plans. Back to school spending for K–12 students is expected to decline 7.7%. Even worse, spending on apparel overall is expected to drop 12.7%. Beneath the dreary data, however, there was a hint of optimism for some companies. Spending on electronics is expected grow 11%. And nearly a quarter of families surveyed suggested they are likely to purchase back to school supplies at drug stores – a whopping 18% increase over last year.
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Posted
Jul 06 2009, 11:16 AM
by
Anthony Mirhaydari
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
Really, how hard is it to find a job? Was June's horrid numbers, in which 467,000 people lost their jobs compared to 345,000 in May, a one-time fluke? Or does it mean that all those Wall Street economists who believe the economic recovery is starting are dead wrong?
Not to scare you, but the situation is actually worse than it seems. Over the years, the government has changed the way it counts the unemployed. An example of this is the criticized Birth-Death Model which was added in 2000. The model is designed to account for the birth and death of businesses and the resultant lag in survey data. Unfortunately, the model doesn't work that well during economic contractions (like we have now) and consistently overstates the number of jobs being created each month.
John Williams of Shadow Government Statistics specializes in removing these questionable tweaks to the government's statistical data to better align current numbers with the methodology used to gather historical data. After reviewing the data, Williams believes that "the June jobs loss likely exceeded 700,000." David Rosenberg of Gluskin Sheff notes that the fall in the number of hours worked in June (to a record low of 33 per week) is equivalent to a loss of more than 800,000 jobs.
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Posted
Jun 26 2009, 11:29 AM
by
Minyanville
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
 Retailers, reacting to the ongoing structural shift away from excessive consumerism, are beginning to choose quality over quantity.
Finally.
This morning's Wall Street Journal highlights efforts by stores like Target (TGT), Walgreens (WAG), and Wal-Mart (WMT) to reduce their product offerings, limit shelf clutter, and generally simplify the consumer's shopping experiences. Suppliers like ConAgra (CAG) and Clorox (CLX) are also trying to get ahead of the curve, and are reducing the variety of their offerings.
As shoppers become more selective, confronting a dizzying array of salad-dressing options inspires many to simply throw up their hands and go with a brand they know. As one customer told the Journal: "There are too many choices. I just went with Kraft (KFT), because I know Kraft."
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Posted
Jun 15 2009, 04:44 PM
by
James Dlugosch
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
This weekend marked the last day of business for the Virgin Megastore chain in the United States. Like many retailers, the company has struggled during the current recession, and Sunday it shuttered its last two stores, in Manhattan and Hollywood.
Its fate, and that of most of the big chain record shops, was sealed in 2001 when Apple (AAPL) unleashed its game-changing iPod.
Why go to a store to buy an outdated CD? Digital music platforms give us the ability to download music at the click of a button. And you buy only the songs you want; online you can make your mix.
Forget about vinyl, of course. Those old LPs are the refuge of audiophiles and independent record stores, who might now carry more CDs as well. These independents are putting up a brave fight, but they're ultimately no match for technology.
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Posted
Jun 04 2009, 03:37 AM
by
Douglas McIntyre
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
Many big-box retailers, including Best Buy (BBY), Target (TGT), and Costco (COST), are struggling as the recession beats down their same-store sales. General retailers such as Sears (SHLD) are not faring any better. That means that the layoffs in the retail industry, which have already been extensive, are likely to continue, especially if the 2009 holiday season is weak.
Wal-Mart (WMT) is at the other end of the spectrum, by itself. The world’s largest retailer says it will add 22,000 jobs at its U.S. stores this year. That is down slightly from 2008, but in an economy that is forcing hundreds of thousands of people out of work each month, it is extremely impressive.
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Posted
Jun 02 2009, 07:20 AM
by
James Dlugosch
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
 I love it when management supports a stock with insider buying. Nothing aligns executive and shareholder interest better than having skin in the game. Without it, management is just playing with your money. So when I recently learned that Wal-Mart (WMT) managers were gobbling up shares, I took note.
Historically, insider buying is very bullish for stocks. In fact, many investors swear by it and closely follow the actions of management with regard to stock trades. The general idea is that who better knows about a company and its prospects than management?
As a result, I would be a buyer of Wal-Mart and a seller of Costco (COST).
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Posted
May 26 2009, 12:35 PM
by
Minyanville
Rating:
Money Blog: Top Stocks Blog - MSN Money
What a nice, long, relaxing weekend. I took in a parade, got to spend time in the backyard hanging out with the family, made a fool out of myself on a Slip-n-Slide, got a sunburn and ate probably one too many hot dogs.
Apple (AAPL): Per Reuters: “Morgan Stanley upgraded Apple Inc to 'overweight,' saying the iPhone maker is emerging as the clear leader in the battle over mobile Internet and will see iPhone-driven earnings growth over the next 2 years.”
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