Feb
27
February 27, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
Remarkably, it hasn’t even been two years since Wynn Resorts (Nasdaq:WYNN), which operates casino properties in Las Vegas and Macau, sold 3.75 million shares at $158 per share to shore up its capital base and fund an aggressive expansion campaign. These days, those same shares can be had for just a little over $21 per share, or only slightly above the October 2002 IPO price of $13.
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Feb
27
February 27, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
These days, to set its stock ablaze a company must simply report results that were less dire than the market originally expected. Upscale department-store operator Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) demonstrated this in late February as its share price rose 13% in after-hours trading after it reported earnings that exceeded analyst projections by a mere penny.
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Feb
24
February 24, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
Inventory and operating expense reductions allowed retailer J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) to beat analyst expectations by a few “penneys” when it reported fourth-quarter results on Friday. This good news sent the stock up while another dreadful day dragged the market down, but does Penney’s rise indicate that it’s finally on the path to brighter days ahead? Let’s dig in a bit deeper.
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Feb
24
February 24, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
Economic turmoil continues to reduce the number of firms that are able to successfully navigate increasing unemployment rates and plummeting personal wealth. Falling housing and asset prices take a serious bite out of consumers’ willingness to spend. According to some polls, the only companies standing tall are those that sell alcohol, candy and cigarettes.
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Feb
20
February 20, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
Retail giant Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) revealed a significant milestone in its February 17 quarterly and full-year earnings results. Fourth quarter sales, which are typically the highest for retailers due to holiday shopping, again exceeded 12 digits. In addition, its $405.6 billion in sales for the year ended January 31, 2009 pushed past the $400 billion barrier for the first time. Wal-Mart’s ability to maintain control of its sizable warehouse stores throughout the world is mystifying. Showing little sign of losing focus any time soon, Wal-Mart remains one of the safer bets in the stock market these days.
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Feb
19
February 19, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
About a year ago, forest-product firm Weyerhaeuser (NYSE:WY) announced it was selling its containerboard, packaging and recycling businesses to rival International Paper (NYSE:IP). The move was timely as it shored up Weyerhaeuser’s capital position while exacerbating its exposure to the struggling homebuilding industry. The long-term investment appeal remains in the 5.7 million owned acres of timberland, but is this enough to offset wood product and real estate exposure?
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Feb
12
Posted on 12-02-2009
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by ryan
February 10, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
On January 16, 2009, after failing to find a buyer for its remaining 567 U.S. stores, Circuit City officially threw in the towel and announced it would liquidate its electronics retailing operations. The move quickly sent competitors scrambling for the void that Circuit City will leave, with Best Buy (NYSE:BBY) circling the wagons on soon-to-be vacant store locations and Hhgregg (NYSE:HGG) offering to accept Circuit City gift cards and honor outstanding warranties on products bought at rival locations.
Feb
12
Posted on 12-02-2009
Filed Under (Uncategorized) by ryan
February 12, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
Equifax (NYSE:EFX) generates most of its revenue by compiling consumer credit information and selling it to businesses that rely on this data to assess credit risk. With only three key players in this sector, Equifax maintains a sustainable advantage over its competitors. The company’s growth comes primarily from the maturity of complementary avenues to its core business, which appear to create more upside potential than downside risk in the stock. Of course, this spells good news for investors.
Feb
06
February 06, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
Few companies are considered more defensive than consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble (NYSE:PG). Yet, the company’s shares hit a 52-week low on February 4, following a ho-hum second quarter earnings report a few days earlier. Although P&G is feeling the heat from a slowing global economy, it is far from losing its cool. At current valuations, investors should take a closer look.
Feb
06
February 06, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
Thanks to aggressive overseas expansion, 55% of Yum! Brands’ (NYSE:YUM) 2008 sales came from outside of the U.S. And if not for China, which Yum breaks out as its own operating unit, overall company results for the year would have fully reflected the dour economic trends that many restaurant rivals have been experiencing.
Feb
03
February 03, 2009 | by Ryan C. Fuhrmann
At first glance, recent financial results from document publishing giant Xerox (NYSE:XRX) appeared as putrid as those of other companies that have struggled to navigate challenging global economic conditions. Digging beneath the surface, however, reveals that Xerox’s underlying potential to generate cash flow has been masked by its dismal profitability reports.
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