http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06083119.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/31/2006
Two years ago, a group of distinguished and highly respected investors and admirers got together and created a collection of essays, memoirs, interviews, and speeches regarding Warren Buffett’s closest friend and business partner, Charles T. Munger. Poor Charlie’s Almanack: The Wit and Wisdom of Charles T. Munger, is modeled after Benjamin Franklin’s Poor Richard’s Almanack, a popular collection of calendars, weather-related and astrological material that was published from 1733 to 1758. Charlie Munger is a huge fan of Ben Franklin and has worked to model his life after one of the architects of U.S. government and institutions. Poor Charlie’s Almanack is a must-read for any fan of Munger, Buffett, Benjamin Graham, Berkshire Hathaway(NYSE:BRKa)(NYSE:BRKb), and rational investing.
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06083109.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/31/2006
Having recently covered the earnings release for regional electronics retailer Rex Stores(NYSE:RSC), and mentioning that rival CircuitCity(NYSE:CC) appears to have turned itself around after a couple of disastrous years, I decided to see just how well the recovery has been going.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06083105.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/31/2006
It’s been a busy week for Brown-Forman(NYSE:BFb)(NYSE:BFa), a producer and marketer of many liquor and spirit brands, including Jack Daniel’s whiskey, Southern Comfort, and Finlandia Vodka. On Monday, it announced an acquisition; on Wednesday, it divulged that it was exploring strategic alternatives for its remaining non-liquor business; and this morning, it released first-quarter earnings.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06083119.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/31/2006
While investing, Fools come across stocks in industries that are hard to swallow, including tobacco, gambling, and liquor. These are also known as sin stocks, and there are even mutual funds to help you concentrate your portfolio in these areas. Ever heard of the Vice Fund(FUND:VICEX)?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06083120.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/31/2006
Talk about a nastygram from cyberspace. On Tuesday, about 400 employees at RadioShack(NYSE:RSH) were supposedly sent the following email: “The work force reduction notification is currently in progress. Unfortunately your position is one that has been eliminated.”
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06083009.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/30/2006
Pass the lime and salt. Today, Brown-Forman(NYSE:BFb)(NYSE:BFa), owner of a multitude of liquor and spirit brands, including the venerable Jack Daniel’s whiskey, agreed to make a run for the border. It’s buying most of the assets of Mexican tequila maker Casa Herradura and its related $200 million in 2005 sales.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06082515.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/25/2006
Shares of hibachi and sushi restaurateur Benihana(NASDAQ:BNHN) were on a roll until May when an earnings warning skewered the stock chart. But the company is currently in the midst of revitalizing certain stores, which is affecting sizzling top-line growth as it trickles down to bottom-line earnings results.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06082505.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/25/2006
With shares of Jackson Hewitt NYSE:JTX trading near their 52-week highs, one would think it was already tax season. And while first-quarter results surely won’t cause any further upside, it’s worth tracking just what was reported — as well as looking into the potential appeal of Hewitt’s shares.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06082407.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/24/2006
Payless ShoeSource‘s (NYSE: PSS) second-quarter results confirm its transition to selling more fashionable, high-priced shoes and related accessories. But just as the 18% run-up in the stock price after first-quarter earnings was perplexing (the numbers weren’t that solid), I’m not sure yesterday’s 11% plunge was warranted either. So what’s with the volatility?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06082308.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/23/2006
Toll Brothers(NYSE: TOL) released third-quarter earnings today, giving investors its current take on where the homebuilding cycle may be heading. Investors breathed a sigh of relief, bidding the shares up a couple of percentage points, but the shares still sit at less than half of their 52-week highs. The future’s not so bright, either, but doesn’t a current P/E of five factor in most of that downside?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06082207.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/22/2006
Judging by its second-quarter results, the integration of Galyan’s by Dick’s Sporting Goods(NYSE: DKS) appears to be going well. But has the merger enhanced Dick’s overall competitiveness in the cutthroat sporting goods industry?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081819.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/18/2006
In similar fashion to other clothing retailers such as Urban Outfitters(Nasdaq: URBN), Pacific Sunwear(Nasdaq: PSUN), and chronic underachiever Gap(NYSE: GPS), The Buckle‘s (NYSE: BKE) second-quarter results stunk. But that may not be such a bad thing for longer-term-oriented investors in the fickle apparel industry.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081825.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/18/2006
Fossil(Nasdaq: FOSL) is a watch and accessories firm working toward a clearer trend of earnings and cash flow generation. Recently reported results were decent from a top-line perspective but confirm there is still work to do on the bottom line.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06082121.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/21/2006
For Fools looking to add luxury retailing exposure to their portfolios, the options are limited. Saks(NYSE: SKS) is working through some company-specific issues, Barney’s is buried among the many assets of Jones Apparel(NYSE: JNY), and Jones just called off trying to sell itself because of a lack of interest, while super-luxurious Neiman-Marcus was snapped up by private-equity shops a while back. That pretty much leaves Seattle-based Nordstrom(NYSE: JWN), which has been doing quite well, as last week’s second-quarter results bear out.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06082124.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/21/2006
Shares of do-it-yourself home-improvement giant Lowe’s(NYSE:LOW) are 18% below last December’s 52-week high. Second-quarter earnings released today indicate that the stock will remain in the doldrums for the time being, which suggests a decent entry point for long-term-oriented investors.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081805.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/18/2006
Hewlett-Packard(NYSE: HPQ) CEO Mark Hurd has made an undeniably big splash since coming on board in March of 2005. After undergoing a major cost-saving restructuring announced shortly after Hurd took the helm of the technology giant, HP’s performance has improved markedly, and the stock price has nearly doubled as a result. Third-quarter results and higher guidance released yesterday demonstrate that Hurd’s plan is paying off in spades; what’s next up his sleeve as the cost-cutting plan reaches fruition?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081617.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/16/2006
Back in February 2005, Sara Lee(NYSE: SLE) announced a rather large restructuring to jettison a number of business units and become a more streamlined food firm. Since that time, it has made a number of significant moves, and next month will be the biggest yet: the spinoff of its clothing segment, Hanesbrands.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081611.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/16/2006
Over the past six years, investing in the electronic manufacturing services (EMS) space has been about as painful as hearing Britney Spears utter the word “huh” over and over in her latest reality TV outtake (courtesy of YouTube.com). A long position in contract manufacturer Sanmina-SCI(Nasdaq: SANM) could qualify as most painful; things continue to be grim and the stock is trading near its all-time lows.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081608.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/16/2006
Recent results at 100-year-old J.C. Penney(NYSE: JCP) suggest that the company has remembered that merchandising matters.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081417.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/14/2006
Cisco Systems(Nasdaq: CSCO) appears to be one of the few large-cap technology firms able to grow somewhat consistently on an organic basis. And like some other tech giants, it is able energize that growth with outside acquisitions. The market liked what it saw when the company released fourth-quarter and full-year earnings last week, sending the stock up nearly 10%. Read the rest of this entry »
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081414.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/14/2006
After a period of uneven performance, specialty department store operator Kohl’s(NYSE: KSS) appears to have returned to steady new-store expansion and same-store sales growth. Second-quarter results released last Friday confirmed the trend. So how long can we count on the revitalized performance?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081110.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/11/2006
Shareholders of Urban Outfitters(Nasdaq: URBN) got a bit of a reprieve yesterday, as the stock jumped more than 14% after the company released second-quarter results. Unfortunately, the stock is still more than 50% below the highs it reached late last year. Quarterly results were not as bad as initially projected, but expectations remain too low for the company as a whole.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081124.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/11/2006
Viacom‘s (NYSE: VIA) stock jumped almost 9% after the company released earnings yesterday. Is the “new” Viacom finally starting to live up to the separation hype that investors hoped would lead to an “improved” company?
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06081120.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/11/2006
Wings. Beer. Sports. Motley Fool Hidden Gems recommendation BuffaloWild Wings‘ (Nasdaq: BWLD) website says it all. Sounds like a winning combination to me, but if we peer into the future, will investors be able to add the phrase “ten-bagger” to the beer gut that will come with too many trips to the burgeoning hangout?
http://www.fool.com/news/commentary/2006/commentary06081122.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/11/2006
I have to commend Anders Bylund for kicking the tires and comparing Buffalo Wild Wings(Nasdaq: BWLD) to some of the other yummy casual-dining stocks out there. Overall, his point of contention regarding B-Dubs can be summed up as follows: Read the rest of this entry »
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081007.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/10/2006
Sales up 40%, operating income up 44%, earnings up nearly 17%. Sounds pretty good to me, so why did True Religion(Nasdaq: TRLG) also announce it had retained Goldman Sachs(NYSE: GS) as part of its second-quarter earnings release last week?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06081027.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/10/2006
The footwear and fashion landscape is filled with firms that share the same names as their founders. There’s Steve Madden(Nasdaq: SHOO), Ralph Lauren(NYSE: RL), and Kenneth Cole(NYSE: KCP), just to name a few. So how does Mr. Cole stack up against his peers?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080921.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/09/2006
If you’re a famous musician, the choices are limited if you want to go on tour. You see, Ticketmaster, a division if IAC/InterActiveCorp(Nasdaq: IACI) has a stranglehold on ticket sales, and Live Nation(NYSE: LYV) controls most of the concert venues throughout the U.S. — all the more so, now that it plans to purchase HOB Entertainment, owner of 10 House of Blues concert halls.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080821.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/08/2006
Big Dog Holdings(Nasdaq: BDOG) is a relatively small retailer with two chains: Big Dog USA and The Walking Company, or TWC for short. Results are still being driven by the niche Big Dog chain, but the company is fast becoming a footwear retailer. What does this mean for investors going forward?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080836.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/08/2006
Payroll processor Automatic Data Processing(NYSE: ADP) has followed a path similar to other great firms, namely dominating an industry to the point where the law of large numbers begins to catch up with it and growth becomes more difficult. Much like Microsoft(Nasdaq: MSFT) and Dell(Nasdaq: DELL), ADP’s growth has slowed, leaving it less opportunity to invest substantial cash flow generated by its businesses. But unlike the two computer giants, ADP’s industry has brighter growth prospects.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080419.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/04/2006
The more I analyze the footwear industry, the more I’m amazed at how many companies operate in the space. Perhaps that’s understandable; without a shirt or shoes, consumers would be unable to get service at many of their favorite shopping destinations. So how does Skechers(NYSE: SKX) stack up against the competition?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080320.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/03/2006
Back at the end of June, Build-a-Bear Workshop(NYSE: BBW)lowered its earnings forecast for the year. As a result, investors punished the stock, sending it close to its lowest levels over the past year. The shares recovered a bit, but sunk once again after the company released second-quarter earnings last week. What’s a Fool to make of the recent bearish developments?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080336.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/03/2006
In the first quarter since issuing an impressive array of long-term financial goals, did drug wholesaler and distributor Cardinal Health(NYSE: CAH) start delivering on its lofty aspirations? Judging by fourth-quarter and full-year results released today, it did, but one year does not make a trend, especially considering that the company’s business model was turned upside-down not that long ago.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080325.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/03/2006
Shares of fashion-footwear retailer and marketer Steve Madden(Nasdaq: SHOO) have more than doubled over the past year, trading at a recent $33.74. After a brief lull in May, the shares are on the rise again, helped by a recent impressive earnings release.
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080324.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/03/2006
YRC Worldwide(Nasdaq: YRCW) was a recent recommendation of legendary investor John Neff, who mentioned it in his presentation last month at an investment seminar in Chicago. It’s the largest trucking firm in the U.S., yet it trades at a single-digit P/E multiple. What might have led Neff to single out this stock?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080233.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/02/2006
Anheuser-Busch(NYSE: BUD) appears to be re-establishing itself as the king of beers, as seen in its improved second-quarter results. But fellow Fool Nate Parmelee is worried that competitors such as Molson Coors(NYSE: TAP), the fifth-largest brewer out there, are fast on its trail. Do recent results at Molson Coors suggest it’s capitalizing on industry malaise to steal market share from a dominant Bud?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080223.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/02/2006
I recently read that certain corporate CEOs have begun to blow off steam by starting bands. Perhaps they’re picking up their favorite gear at the planet’s only big-box music chain, GuitarCenter(Nasdaq: GTRC). At a recent investor conference, management suggested that the Internet is drawing in customers by making it easier for bands to record music, distribute songs, and find an audience. This trend helped Guitar Center’s online results for the most recent quarter, but will it prove enough of a boon to the company in the long term?
http://www.fool.com/news/mft/2006/mft06080124.htm
By Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
08/01/2006
Landry’s Restaurants(NYSE: LNY) looks to be changing the menu items of its corporate holdings. Last week, the company decided to explore “strategic alternatives” and enhancements for two of its restaurant chains and the Golden Nugget, which it purchased in September 2005. Does this signal that it’s heading toward an OSIRestaurant Partners(NYSE: OSI)-type debacle of struggling sales, or is there smoother sailing ahead?
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