http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2008/04/30/b-dubs-earns-some-respect.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 30, 2008

Investors have been flapping their chicken wings over Buffalo Wild Wings‘ (Nasdaq: BWLD) spicy first-quarter results. With investors slowly regaining an appetite for restaurant stocks, the company’s 22% jump in price today makes it appear that B-Dubs is finally getting the respect it deserves.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2008/04/29/global-beauty-at-avon.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 29, 2008

Avon Products (NYSE: AVP) bills itself as the “world’s largest direct seller” of beauty products, and its global reach is undisputed — 76% of its first-quarter sales stemmed from outside North America. Sales trends are proving quite strong overseas as well, and though overall profitability has fallen in recent years, the company’s restructuring efforts look to be paying off.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/04/28/buyers-remorse-at-radiosshack.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 28, 2008

To demonstrate just how often I frequent RadioShack (NYSE: RSH) stores these days, my visit two weeks ago triggered a fraud alert on my credit card. The transaction was legit but admittedly suspicious — I can’t remember the last time I made a purchase there. And though my particular experience is purely anecdotal, I think it speaks to the challenges RadioShack faces, which investors were reminded of this morning when it posted first-quarter results.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2008/04/28/wrigley-heads-for-mars.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 28, 2008

It was a double-fresh day for shareholders in William Wrigley Jr. (NYSE: WWY): They heard a solid first-quarter earnings report, and privately held Mars bought out the Motley Fool Income Investor recommendation for $80 a share — about a 30% premium to where shares closed on Friday.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/04/25/whirlpool-in-a-tailspin.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 25, 2008

As the number of foreclosures escalates and inflation pressures for food and fuel continue to pinch consumers, the last thing on anyone’s mind is buying a big-ticket home appliance. That doesn’t make for a good trend for Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR), because 57% of its revenue was generated in the U.S. in the first quarter, which hindered overall performance.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/04/25/pepsi-bottling-doesnt-wobble.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 25, 2008

Pepsi Bottling Group (NYSE: PBG) bills itself as the world’s largest bottler for PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP). As impressive as that sounds, manufacturing, selling, and distributing beverages isn’t that sexy. It’s very capital intensive, and Pepsi Bottling is tied primarily to the stale growth in North America. Despite all that, the firm has proven itself a steady grower, and first-quarter results kept it on target for the year.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/04/24/a-refreshing-swig-of-pepsi.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 24, 2008

Through good times and bad, food and beverage giant PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) has a habit of delivering consistent sales and earnings growth. First-quarter results released Thursday morning were no exception — a welcome relief with higher food and commodity costs really starting to put a hurt on some of the competition. Pepsi put its size as well as its diverse products and distribution to good use in posting impressive 13.4% sales growth and a respectable 7.7% improvement in earnings per share for the quarter.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/24/royal-caribbean-steams-ahead.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 24, 2008

Cruise line operator and Motley Fool Stock Advisor pick Royal Caribbean (NYSE: RCL) reported first-quarter earnings this morning, and the numbers suggest that cruise vacations are holding up well in a slow economy. Total sales improved 16.8%, while profitability surged ahead nearly ninefold on increased ship capacity and higher revenue per passenger.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/value/2008/04/24/hanesbrands-worth-trying-on.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 24, 2008

Despite recent uninspiring sales trends, apparel company Hanesbrands (NYSE: HBI) has a number of profit-motivated tricks up its sleeve, and investors are starting to notice. Total first-quarter sales fell 5%, but reported earnings nearly tripled to $0.38 a share on cost-reduction efforts, lower debt, and share repurchases, which proved to be a nice encore to the improving profit trends the company reported to exit 2007. No wonder the stock has risen 23% so far this year.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/23/sherwin-williams-turns-purple.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 23, 2008

Paint firm and Motley Fool Stock Advisor pick Sherwin-Williams (NYSE: SHW) reported first-quarter earnings this morning. The numbers showed that the company continues to face an uphill battle, thanks to a tough domestic housing market. Total sales eked out a 1.5% gain, but earnings fell almost 23%. International trends again painted a much prettier picture for the quarter, but they weren’t enough to help Sherwin brush aside industry woes at home.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/18/textron-flies-high.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 18, 2008

Textron‘s (NYSE: TXT) earnings release on Thursday proved that the multi-industrial player is feeling few ill effects from the slowing U.S. economy. Continuing an impressive string of quarterly results, Textron posted a 19.2% jump in earnings as sales flew ahead 18.7%, and current trends were strong enough for management to boost full-year guidance by a nickel.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/17/wolverine-one-step-ahead.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 17, 2008

Footwear company Wolverine World Wide (NYSE: WWW) proved for yet another quarter that international exposure pays these days. Diversification played a key role, as management said assorted trends and its exposure in many locations helped generate a strong performance in the first quarter despite a weak economy.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/small-cap/2008/04/17/badger-meter-keeps-the-taps-open.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 17, 2008

There has been plenty of hype in recent years over the need for significant spending on global water infrastructure. Reasons cited include years of neglect by local utilities and growing overseas demand for water, but this investment potential has gone unrealized — unless you’ve discovered Badger Meter (NYSE: BMI).

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/16/polaris-rides-high.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 16, 2008

Apparently, all-terrain vehicle and snowmobile sales are leading contrary economic indicators. At least, that’s how things look to have turned out for the first quarter, as judging by the stellar results Polaris (NYSE: PII) posted yesterday morning. Better yet, the company sees these trends continuing at least through 2008.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/16/medtox-fails-the-test.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 16, 2008

MEDTOX Scientific (Nasdaq: MTOX) provides “drugs-of-abuse” tests that certainly have kept many substance abusers from gainful employment. Unfortunately, its newest competition, the weakening job market, seems to be keeping people unemployed without the company’s tests. That led to failed sales and earnings projections for its first quarter, and its near-term prospects remain as hazy as the job prospects of those who can’t stay off the sauce.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/dividends-income/2008/04/15/regions-financial-is-saved.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 15, 2008

Investors are breathing a collective sigh of relief on Alabama-based regional bank Regions Financial (NYSE: RF) — it just posted first-quarter results without any major surprises, which, if you have been following the banking industry lately, is a feat in itself.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/11/rite-aid-hasnt-fully-recovered.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 11, 2008

At just $2.62, shares of Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) are trading at about the same price as a cart full of post-Easter marshmallow Peeps. Unfortunately for the stock, the current price still doesn’t represent much of a bargain, and recent trends look about as stale as those Peeps.

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http://www.fool.com/investing/general/2008/04/11/fastenal-returns-to-form.aspx

Ryan Fuhrmann, CFA
April 11, 2008

Industrial and construction supplier Fastenal (Nasdaq: FAST) focuses on providing small-yet-vital nuts, bolts, and related products to its customers. Historically, the company has grown rapidly, and a couple of minor initiative changes appear to have helped it return to form.

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