http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/09/28/global-payments-steady-is-good.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 28, 2007

After some extreme volatility earlier this year, payment-processing and money-transfer firm Global Payments (NYSE: GPN) appears to be settling into a period of steady yet unspectacular growth. That’s not all bad, though; a revival in the money-transfer business could bolster its future prospects, and the core business is an indisputable king of cash.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/28/walk-past-the-finish-line.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 28, 2007

After being fouled by Genesco (NYSE: GCO) a few days ago, floundering athletic footwear and apparel retailer Finish Line (Nasdaq: FINL) reported uninspiring second-quarter results last evening. The company has been stumbling for some time, so the results were not a surprise; even so, sales did come in slightly below expectations.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/27/a-lukewarm-bed-bath.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 27, 2007

Recent results at home furnishings retailer Bed Bath & Beyond (Nasdaq: BBBY) were nothing to write home about, but things could have been much worse, given the plummeting trends in residential home sales from the likes of limping Lennar (NYSE: LEN), DR Horton (NYSE: DHI), and Centex (NYSE: CTX).

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/09/27/rite-aid-looks-a-little-peaked.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 27, 2007

Drugstore retailer Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) recently got a whole lot bigger when it purchased a large block of competing stores, and a long-term record of rival buyouts has allowed it to grow into the third-largest industry player. But bigger doesn’t necessarily mean better, and Rite Aid has quite a bit of work to do to convince investors it can successfully manage the empire it has acquired.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/27/entertaining-hospitality-at-marcus.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 27, 2007

Marcus Corporation (NYSE: MCS), owner and operator of movie theaters and hotels, hit the mark this quarter in terms of sales, but the bottom line didn’t reflect the impressive revenue increase.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/27/chattem-chugs-along.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 27, 2007

Third-quarter results from health-care and consumer-products firm Chattem (Nasdaq: CHTT) indeed proved soothing, and the stock hit a new high as management also upped its forward guidance. But while momentum-driven investors are currently piling into the shares, I’m not so sure this is the best long-term strategy.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/09/26/factsets-strong-numbers.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 26, 2007

Yesterday’s fourth-quarter and full-year earnings release confirms just why financial data provider FactSet (NYSE: FDS) is a cash king and overall dynamite business. Too bad then, that this is no secret in the stock market. However, we all know that Mr. Market is a moody fellow, so it’s best to stay up on the name in hopes a buying opportunity shows itself at some point. 

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/09/25/fool-on-the-street-the-secret-of-kohls-success.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 25, 2007

Fundamentally, retailing is about merchandising, and companies that sell goods that customers find appealing tend to do quite well. Of course, there are many ways to slice and dice product selection; almighty Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) focuses on price, while Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) and Neiman Marcus target consumers more interested in fashion than cost.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/25/fool-on-the-street-grilling-benihana.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 25, 2007

Restaurateur Benihana (Nasdaq: BNHN) (Nasdaq: BNHNA) bills itself as a “leader in Japanese theme and sushi dining with three distinct brands [to] target diverse market segments.” If that sounds like a dry company description from a PowerPoint presentation, it is. But the company’s growth potential is far more exciting.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/24/nike-favorable-global-footprint.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 24, 2007

Any company with major overseas sales is most likely enjoying itself these days, as the weak dollar and recession worries here at home hit domestic firms. Athletic footwear and apparel titan Nike (NYSE: NKE) is no exception; its strong international growth easily offset anemic trends in the United States. Revenue increased in every region this quarter, but strength from international segments helped offset its weak domestic growth. And it looks like Nike may just be getting warmed up to reach its lofty long-term goals.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/09/24/fool-on-the-street-wal-marts-stateside-stall.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 24, 2007

Big-box retailing behemoth Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) had a rough second quarter, and its struggles are nothing new; the stock has yet to come close to the $68 per share it reached as the dot-com bubble was reaching its final innings. Granted, valuations back in 2000 were nothing short of ludicrous, but growth has been slowing at Wal-Mart ever since.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/21/carnival-on-cruise-control.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 21, 2007

Cruise-line operator Carnival (NYSE: CCL) successfully navigated oil-price volatility for its third quarter, but next quarter could see further turbulence from a fuel perspective. Good thing the company has a number of favorable qualities to ride out short-term predicaments.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/21/cracker-barrels-original-recipe.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 21, 2007

CBRL Group (Nasdaq: CBRL), owner and operator of Cracker Barrel Old Country Stores, is embarking on the difficult task of whipping a maturing restaurant concept back into shape. Management recently decided to focus on its country franchise, which is actually unique in the crowded restaurant and retail industries.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/21/another-shoe-drops-on-bakers-footwear.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 21, 2007

Footwear retailer Bakers Footwear (Nasdaq: BKRS) continues to tread on the dark side of retailing, with plummeting trends at existing stores and increasing earnings losses. If it doesn’t get its act together soon, there could be new retail space for rent at its mall-based locations.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/09/21/oracle-struts-its-software.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 21, 2007

Enterprise software titan Oracle (Nasdaq: ORCL) reported impressive first-quarter results yesterday evening — impressive enough to take the market’s focus off subprime and residential housing woes for the time being. Few firms have the clout to set the tone for the overall stock market, and this technology bellwether may just be getting warmed up as it outgrows the competition.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/20/best-buy-back-on-track.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 20, 2007

Earlier this week, electronics retailing giant Best Buy (NYSE: BBY) demonstrated to Fools that first-quarter challenges were a short-term blip, as second-quarter results came in better than expected. The company has the financial muscle to withstand the volatility inherent in its industry.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/20/circuit-city-shorts-out.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 20, 2007

Electronics retailer Circuit City (NYSE: CC) continues to face big challenges, and right now, management just seems to be digging itself a deeper hole. The flailing superstore’s sales and profitability keep moving in the wrong direction.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/14/fool-on-the-street-columbia-sportswear-stays-styli.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 14, 2007

Recently, outerwear-apparel and footwear firm Columbia Sportswear (Nasdaq: COLM) presented at the 14th annual Goldman Sachs retailing conference. CEO Tim Boyle, the company’s featured speaker, updated investors on the current state of affairs, his long-term outlook for Columbia, and the reasons to keep an eye on the stock.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/14/fool-on-the-street-collective-brands-marches-on.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 14, 2007

Thanks to recent acquisitions of Stride Rite and a private company called Collective International, Payless Shoesource has quickly morphed from a pure retailer into a seller and owner of footwear brands. The combination is now known as Collective Brands (NYSE: PSS), and integration efforts are just in their early stages. That made a recent presentation at the 14th annual Goldman Sachs global retailing conference particularly timely, especially since the company just reported a tough second quarter.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/09/07/dueling-fools-sysco-bear-rebuttal.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 7, 2007

After reading the bullish opener, I think my Foolish counterpart thoroughly identified what makes SYSCO (NYSE: SYY) a profitable, dominant industry player. But he did little to answer my key concerns about the company’s future, and his contention that this is an “opportunity to buy a great company at a discount price” leaves me slightly queasy.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2007/09/07/dueling-fools-sysco-bear.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 7, 2007

A bearish stance on food distributor SYSCO (NYSE: SYY) may seem hypocritical after my glowing article on the company’s impressive fiscal 2007 results. The company also pays a nice 2.3% dividend yield, it’s an industry leader, and it’s been posting higher profit margins and earnings growth over the past few quarters. But despite all those pesky positives, I’m still hard- pressed to justify anteing up for shares of SYSCO.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/07/mr-market-drops-cascade.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 7, 2007

As luck would have it, lift-truck products firm Cascade Corp. (NYSE: CAE) picked a bad day to release second-quarter earnings, because its uplifting results are being masked by a weaker-than-expected economic data release.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/07/keepin-watch-on-movado.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 7, 2007

At the current share price, an investment in watch maker Movado (NYSE: MOV) in 2000 would have netted Fools almost eight times their original investment. And judging by today’s second-quarter results, it could soon turn into a coveted 10-bagger.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/international/2007/09/07/could-subprime-save-fleetwood.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 7, 2007

As part of its first-quarter earnings release, manufactured home and recreational vehicle maker Fleetwood Enterprises (NYSE: FLE) suggested that subprime challenges could actually end up helping its housing segment. That logic makes sense to this Fool, and I see this as possibly being one of the few ways to capitalize on housing woes — besides going short on anything exposed to the industry.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2007/09/06/caseys-burns-bright.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 6, 2007

The share price of convenience store operator Casey’s General Stores (Nasdaq: CASY) is fast approaching its 52-week highs, as the company just posted high-octane first-quarter results. The future also looks bright as Casey’s grows and consolidates the fragmented convenience store industry.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2007/09/06/jackson-hewitts-future-by-the-numbers.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 6, 2007

Thursday’s front page of The Wall Street Journal‘s Money & Investing section highlighted the current beef certain investors have with H&R Block‘s (NYSE: HRB) blockhead diversification into businesses unrelated to its core tax-preparation franchise. In other words, just the type of work that Hidden Gems Pay Dirt pick Jackson Hewitt (NYSE: JTX) focuses on.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2007/09/06/bio-reference-labs-passes-the-test.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
September 6, 2007

Small-cap lab-testing firm Bio-Reference Labs (Nasdaq: BRLI) again proved it can compete with the big boys in the highly competitive New York metro area.

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