http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06033116.htm

By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
03/31/2006

Since sales of $4.98 on its first day of operations in New York in 1837, Tiffany & Co.(NYSE: TIF) has been expanding globally, selling namesake silver and jewelry in its famous little blue boxes. Indeed, fiscal 2005 sales just clocked in at $2.4 billion. Because of an enviable history and track record as a public company, it’s worth taking a further peek into the stock’s investment merits and key drivers of operations.

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http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06032902.htm

By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
03/29/2006

Fools should keep their eyes peeled for at least one item on a company’s balance sheet: long-term debt. Since the dawn of time, it seems, both academics and investment professionals have studied capital structure in an attempt to determine a company’s optimal level of debt versus equity. Here’s what you should know.

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By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
03/27/2006

Carnival(NYSE: CCL) took a hit to the hull last Thursday as profits slid 19%. Revenue grew a modest 2.7% for the quarter, and net yields (an industry measure of revenue per passenger) were also up slightly, but so were costs, primarily because of a 63% increase in fuel expense. Read the rest of this entry »

Friday March 24, 9:37 am ET

By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA

Like many other formerly high-flying stocks, Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL – News) continues to post solid growth, but it’s been watching its price stagnate following the bursting of the tech bubble. Investors have increasingly begun to monitor this baffling trend at companies such as Microsoft (Nasdaq: MSFT – News), Cisco (Nasdaq: CSCO – News), Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT – News), and Home Depot (NYSE: HD – News). Businesses that traded at more than 50 times EPS have seen earnings continue to grow at a healthy pace, but their stocks have been virtually unchanged over the past 60 months. Read the rest of this entry »

By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
03/22/2006

It’s spring break around the U.S., and for some folks, it’s time to hit the open road in the family RV. That means things should start to heat up in the seasonally strong spring selling period for Winnebago Industries(NYSE: WGO). Overall, Winnebago is a great stock with a number of Foolish characteristics. But is it time to climb aboard just yet? Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06031409.htm

By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
03/14/2006

Urban Outfitters(NYSE: URBN) has had an amazing run over the past five years. With its namesake stores targeting young adults, and its Anthropologie shops aimed at women ages 30-45, the company has reported 29% annual compounded sales growth, EPS growth of approximately 33%, and a roughly 20-fold increase in share price. Even as it has added new stores, Urban Outfitters has grown organic sales by consistently staying at the fashion forefront. But how long can the company’s results stay stylishly superb?

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http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06031008.htm

By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
03/10/2006

If you recall the product life cycle from business classes, products and services can typically be categorized into one of five development stages: development, introduction, growth, maturity, and decline. For Blockbuster(NYSE: BBI), one could argue that its primary product, the store rental of prerecorded videos, is somewhere within the maturity/decline phase of the cycle.

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Thursday March 9, 9:57 am ET
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA

Shares of Dick’s Sporting Goods (NYSE: DKS – News), one of the fastest-growing sports retailers, went on a tear immediately following its October 2002 IPO. Things cooled off somewhat after the company announced its acquisition of competitor Galyan’s in July 2004, and investors have been working overtime since then to determine whether the large acquisition will spoil what has otherwise been an impressive performance record. Recent results shed some light on this subject, and I have some concerns about the current valuation. Read the rest of this entry »

http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06030301.htm

By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
03/03/2006

Payless ShoeSource(NYSE: PSS) has had a stellar run lately, more than doubling its stock price from a low of $9 in late 2004. Since then, a new management team has cut the fat, streamlined operations, and subsequently revitalized margins and earnings. But the future direction of the stock price will depend on whether Payless has entered a new paradigm of consistent growth in its 4,600-store base, or whether it has already experienced most of the recent recovery. Read the rest of this entry »