Retail sales were up in June, according to the Commerce Department, but not as much as everyone had expected. The increase is good news, but the change in the rate of the increase is bad news. You can add it to the pile along with accelerating factory growth, a rise in new home furnishing sales, and all the other economic news that's been swirling this year, and then you can draw your own conclusions about how a 100,000-employee company uses that information to do anything other than stare at one another in a boardroom.
Last week, a few companies announced that they had managed to succeed in June, even in the swirling winds of the global economy, but those companies are the outliers. Luckily, outliers are good news for investors.
The common thread of success
The thing that holds the winners together isn't price, demographic, or region -- it's understanding. Understanding that their businesses target a specific kind of person, and that that person is affected in a different way than all the other people in the world when things get bumpy. Maybe they spend more, maybe they spend less, maybe they go online, but something changes, and anticipating that change is the only way to succeed.
Top 10 Trucking Companies To Own In Right Now: Sears Holdings Corporation(SHLD)
Sears Holdings Corporation operates as a specialty retailer in the United States and Canada. The company?s Kmart segment operates stores that sell merchandise under Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer labels; and Sears brand products, such as Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard. This segment?s stores provide consumer electronics, seasonal merchandise, outdoor living, toys, lawn and garden equipment, food and consumables, and apparel, as well as operate in-store pharmacies. Its Sears Domestic segment operates stores that sell merchandise under the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard, Lands? End, Covington, Apostrophe, and Canyon River Blues brand names. This segment?s stores provide appliances, consumer electronics, tools, sporting goods, outdoor living, lawn and garden equipment, home fashion products, automotive products, apparel, footwear, jewelry, accessories, health and beauty products, pantry goods, household products, and toys. The Sears Domestic segment also provides clothing, acces sories, footwear, and soft luggage; appliances and services to commercial customers in single-family residential construction/remodel, property management, multi-family new construction, and government/military sectors; premium appliance and plumbing fixtures to architects, designers, and new construction or remodeling customers; parts and repair services for appliances, lawn and garden equipment, consumer electronics, floor care products, and heating and cooling systems; and home improvement services. The company?s Sears Canada segment engages in the retail of apparel and other softlines. Sears Holdings Corporation operates approximately 2,172 full-line stores and 1,338 specialty retail stores in the United States; 500 full-line and specialty retail stores in Canada, as well as operates 17 floor covering stores, 1,734 catalog pick-up locations, and 108 travel offices; and kmart.com and sears.ca Websites. The company was founded in 1899 and is based in Hoffman Estates, Illi nois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Johanna Bennett]
Not everyone is thrilled that Sears (SHLD) plans to spin off its Lands��End business.
The stock hasn�� moved much, falling 0.8% to trade at $50.25 in afternoon market action.
But Credit Suisse analysts Gary Balter, Simeon Gutman and Andrew Kinder argue that the move hurts the value of Sears and shows that the retailer was unable to find a buyer for the asset.
In a note published Friday, the Credit Suisse trio writes:
Lands’ End�� numbers are surprisingly weak, with EBITDA having declined by 50% in a two-year period; a period where JCP was donating apparel share and one would have expected stronger results from Lands’ End. EBITDA fell from over $200 million in 2010 to $107 million in 2012, well below the performance of what would be viewed as comparable companies in apparel.
That said, Lands��End is probably the most profitable business Sears has left, and its spinoff will add $100 million to the company�� EBITDA loss projections. Balter and his colleagues write:
While not clear in the filing, we assume that Lands’ End will take on some debt in their capital structure and possibly pay a dividend back to the parent. However, given the valuation of the total company, we believe losing this EBITDA will be much more material to the parent than any dividend.
Top Retail Companies To Invest In 2014: LightInTheBox Holding Co Ltd (LITB)
Lightinthebox Holding Co., Ltd., incorporated on March 2008, is a global online retail company that delivers products directly to consumers globally. The Company offers a selection of lifestyle products through www.lightinthebox.com, www.miniinthebox.com and other Websites, which are available in 17 languages. It targets lifestyle product categories. It offers products in the three core categories of apparel, small accessories and gadgets and home and garden. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had more than 205,000 product listings. It primarily conducts its operations through its Hong Kong subsidiary, Light In The Box Limited and its Peoples Republic of China subsidiary, Lanting Jishi. In January 2014, the Company acquired Seattle-based social e-commerce company, Ador, Inc.
It operates its business from mainland China and Hong Kong but has delivered its products to consumers in over 200 countries and territories. During the year ended December 31, 2012, it derived 50.7% of its net revenues from Europe and North America, respectively. The Company offers customized products, such as wedding dress and evening dress, at scale for optimal marketing, merchandising and fulfillment. As of December 31, 2012, it offered its Website was available in English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, Russian, Dutch, Danish, Norwegian, Japanese, Swedish, Korean, Hebrew and Finnish.
The Company�� product offerings include apparel, small accessories and gadgets, home and garden, electronics and communication devices, and others. Apparel includes customized, special occasion apparel, such as wedding dresses, bridesmaid dresses, groom wear, cocktail dresses, formal evening wear, graduation dresses and accessories. It also includes fast fashion, namely women's apparel that represents the latest fashion trends, under its Three Seasons / TS brand. Small accessories and gadgets category includes video game accessories, tablet computer and computer gadgets, electronics gadgets, electronic! s accessories such as electronic cables, headsets and chargers and home theater system accessories, car accessories, cell phone accessories, flashlights, lights, home and office gadgets, batteries, gifts and party supplies, toys and travel kits. Small accessories and gadgets are predominantly offered through its Website, www.miniinthebox.com.
Home and garden category includes faucets (including its own Sprinkle brand of faucets), lighting fixtures, paintings, portable home appliances, bathroom fixtures, door and window fixtures and certain types of furniture. Electronics and communication devices category includes tablet computers, car electronics, security systems, portable music and digital video disk (DVD) players, projectors, cell phones, short-wave radios, virtual display glasses and music player sunglasses. Other category includes beauty products, such as make-up supplies, wigs, footbaths, and ultrasonic cleaners. It also includes sports and outdoors products.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rick Aristotle Munarriz]
Alamy The market may have rallied remarkably this year, but there are plenty of stocks that never got the memo. Dozens of stocks are hitting fresh 52-week lows these days, and some of them aren't as bad as their low stock prices would seem to suggest. Last week, I took a look at five stocks that didn't deserve to be hitting new 52-week highs. Now it's time to flip things around and look at five stocks that hit new 52-week lows last week that are prime candidates to bounce back. Dice Holdings (DHX) 52-Week Range: $6.83-$10.43 Dice operates several industry-specific career and employment websites, including the namesake Dice.com for tech jobs, ClearanceJobs.com for jobs that require security clearance, and Rigzone.com for jobs in the oil industry. It's a novel approach to helping folks in specific sectors network, and naturally this is magnetic to potential employers. The success of LinkedIn (LNKD) may have taken some of the shine off Dice, but the company's still finding ways to grow. Analysts see revenue climbing at a slightly better than 6 percent clip this year and again in 2014. Kinder Morgan (KMI) 52-Week Range: $32.30-$41.49 Kinder Morgan watches over the country's largest network of natural gas pipelines. Thanks to its reputation as a cleaner energy source than coal or petroleum (and the massive upsurge in U.S. production thanks to the fracking boom), natural gas is a growing source of domestic energy. Even commercial vehicles are starting to be powered by liquefied natural gas. Kinder Morgan is growing, but it has missed Wall Street's profit targets in each of the three past quarters. That's been enough to scare off some investors. However, the falling share price has also made Kinder Morgan's healthy dividend that much more compelling. The stock's yield of 4.6 percent is too rich to ignore here. Liquidity Services (LQDT) 52-Week Range: $20.37-$44.40 Liquidity Services prides itself as a problem solver. It runs a marketplace for items that need to b
- [By Jim Jubak]
Paul Goodwin chose the Chinese company LightInTheBox Holdings (LITB) as his value play for this year. This company, based out of Bejing, actually sells most of its online merchandise to customers outside of mainland China.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
LightInTheBox (NYSE: LITB ) became the first Chinese company to go public on a stateside exchange since last year on Thursday.
The online retailer of apparel, gadgets, and home furnishings priced its IPO at $9.50 on Wednesday night, closing out the week 32% higher.
Top Retail Companies To Invest In 2014: GUESS? Inc (GES)
Guess?, Inc. (GUESS?) designs, markets, distributes and licenses apparel and accessories for men, women and children. The Company operates in five: Europe, North American Retail, Asia, North American Wholesale and Licensing. The Company�� products are sold through retail, wholesale, e-commerce and licensing distribution channels. The lines include full collections of clothing, including jeans, pants, skirts, dresses, shorts, blouses, shirts, jackets, knitwear and intimate apparel. It also grant licenses to manufactures and distributes a range of products, including eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids' and infants' apparel, leather apparel, swimwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories. In fiscal 2012, the Company, along with its distributors and licensees, opened 224 stores in all concepts combined outside of the United Sates and Canada, which consisted of 120 stores in Europe and the Middle East, 89 stores in Asia and 15 stores in the combined area of Central and South America.
As of January 28, 2012, the Company directly operated a total of 504 stores in the United Sates and Canada and 251 stores outside of the United Sates and Canada, and in addition, 230 smaller-sized concessions in Asia and Europe. As of January 28, 2012, its international licensees and distributors operated 804 stores located outside the United Sates and Canada, and 119 smaller-sized licensee operated concessions located in Asia. As of January 28, 2012, it operated retail Websites in the United Sates, Canada, Europe and South Korea. As of January 28, 2012, it had e-commerce available to 26 countries, and in 6 languages around the world. The Company and its network of licensee partners sell its products around the world primarily through six different store concepts, namely its flagship GUESS? retail stores, its GUESS? factory outlet stores, its GUESS by MARCIANO stores, its G by GUESS stores, its GUESS? Accessories stores and its GUESS? Kids stores. The Company also has a small number of footwe! ar, Gc watch and underwear concept stores.
Europe Segment
In the Company�� Europe segment, GUESS? sells its products in 63 countries throughout Europe and the Middle East through wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels. In fiscal 2012, its Europe segment accounted for approximately 37.6% of its revenues. The Company�� European wholesale business generally relies on a large number of smaller regional distributors and agents to distribute its products primarily to smaller independent multi-brand boutiques. The Company�� products are also sold directly to department stores like Galeries Lafayette, Printemps and El Corte Ingles. As of January 28, 2012, GUESS? had showrooms in Barcelona, Dusseldorf, Munich, London, Paris, Florence and Lugano. It sells both its apparel and certain accessories products under the Company�� GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO brand concepts through its wholesale channel, operating primarily through two seasons, Spring/Summer and Fall/Winter.
The Company�� European retail network consists of a mix of directly operated and licensee operated GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO retail and outlet stores, GUESS? Accessories stores, GUESS? Footwear stores and GUESS? Kids stores. As of January 28, 2012, it had 179 directly operated stores and 382 licensee stores, excluding 17 smaller-sized concessions in Europe. During fiscal 2012, the Company opened 45 new directly operated stores, 75 licensee stores and 5 concessions. The Company�� GUESS? Accessories stores average approximately 800 square feet, GUESS by MARCIANO stores average approximately 1,300 square feet and full-price GUESS? stores generally average 2,300 square feet.
North American Retail Segment
In the Company�� North American Retail segment, it sells its products through a network of directly operated retail and factory outlet stores in North America and through its on-line stores. In fiscal 2012, the Company�� North American Retail segment accounted for ap! proximate! ly 41.6% of its revenue. As of January 28, 2012, it also directly operated 25 GUESS? branded stores in Mexico through a majority-owned joint venture. The Company�� the United Sates and Canada GUESS? retail stores carry an assortment of men's and women's GUESS? merchandise, including most of its licensed product categories. As of January 28, 2012, these stores occupied approximately 1,025,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,500 to 13,500 square feet, with most stores between 4,000 and 6,000 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened nine new retail stores and GUESS? closed four stores.
The Company�� the United Sates and Canada factory outlet stores are located primarily in outlet malls generally operating outside the shopping radius of its wholesale customers and its retail stores. These stores sell selected styles of men's and women's GUESS? apparel and licensed products. As of January 28, 2012, its the United Sates and Canada factory outlet stores occupied approximately 717,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,000 to 11,000 square feet, with most stores between 4,500 and 6,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened 10 new factory stores. The Company�� G by GUESS store carries apparel for both men and women and a line of accessories and footwear. As of January 28, 2012, its G by GUESS stores occupied approximately 317,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 4,000 to 10,000 square feet, with most stores between 4,000 and 5,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, the Company opened 12 new G by GUESS stores and it closed three stores.Its GUESS? Accessories store concept sells GUESS? and GUESS by MARCIANO labeled accessory products.
As of January 28, 2012, the Company�� GUESS? Accessories concept stores occupied approximately 122,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 1,000 to 4,000 square feet, with most stores between 1,500 and 2,500 square feet. In fiscal 2012, GUESS? opened four new GUESS? Accessories stores and i! t closed ! three stores. The Company�� GUESS by MARCIANO stores in the United Sates and Canada offer a women's collection designed for the stylish, trend-setting woman. As of January 28, 2012, its GUESS by MARCIANO stores occupied approximately 156,000 square feet and ranged in size from approximately 2,000 to 6,500 square feet, with most stores between 2,000 and 3,000 square feet. In fiscal 2012, it opened two new GUESS by MARCIANO stores and the Company closed four stores. The Company�� North American Retail segment also includes its the United Sates and Canada retail Websites, including www.guess.com, www.gbyguess.com, www.guessbymarciano.com, www.guesskids.com, www.guess.ca and www.guessbymarciano.ca. These Websites operates as virtual storefronts that both sell its products and promotes its brands.
Asia Segment
In the Company�� Asia segment, GUESS? sells its products through wholesale, retail and e-commerce channels throughout Asia. In fiscal 2012, its Asia segment accounted for approximately 9.3% of its revenue. Its Asia retail business includes both licensee and the Company operated stores, including GUESS?, G by GUESS, GUESS by MARCIANO, Gc, GUESS? Accessories and GUESS? Underwear stores. During fiscal 2012, it and its partners opened 89 new stores in Asia, as of January 28, 2012, it had 423 stores, 47 of which it operated directly and 376 of which were operated by licensees or distributors. The Company and its partners opened flagship stores in cities, such as Seoul, Shanghai, Hong Kong, Macau, Taipei and Beijing and have partnered with licensees to develop its business in the second tier cities in this region.
North American Wholesale Segment
In the Company�� North American Wholesale segment, it sells its products through wholesale channels in North America and to third party distributors based in Central and South America. In fiscal 2012, its North American Wholesale segment accounted for approximately 7.0% of its revenue. As of January 28, 20! 12, its p! roducts were sold to consumers through 1,005 major doors in the United Sates and Canada. These locations include 345 shop-in-shops, a selling area within a department store that offers an array of its products and incorporates GUESS? signage and fixture designs. The Company has sales representatives in New York, Los Angeles, Toronto, Montreal and Vancouver. During fiscal 2012, Macy's, Inc. was its largest domestic wholesale customer, accounting for approximately 2.7% of its consolidated net revenue.
Licensing Segment
The Company�� licensing segment includes the worldwide licensing operations of the Company. In fiscal 2012, its licensing segment royalties accounted for approximately 4.5% of its revenue. As of January 28, 2012, GUESS? had 19 domestic and international licenses that included eyewear, watches, handbags, footwear, kids' and infants' apparel, leather outerwear, fragrance, jewelry and other fashion accessories; and included licenses for the manufacture of GUESS? branded products in markets, which include Africa, Asia, Australia, Europe, the Middle East, Central America, North America and South America.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Sara Murphy]
Guess? (NYSE: GES ) experienced an unexpectedly low growth rate in Asia during the third quarter of fiscal year 2012, partly because of reduced outerwear sales in South Korea caused by "weather that was much warmer than we had anticipated.
Top Retail Companies To Invest In 2014: Puget Technologies Inc (PUGE)
PUGET TECHNOLOGIES, INC., incorporated on March 17, 2010, is a development-stage company. The Company is engaged in the distribution of luxury wool bedding sets produced in Germany. The Company�� product includes Lama Wool, Camel Wool, Cashmere Wool and Merino Wool.
The Company�� Lama Wool is consists of 50% Lama Wool hair, and 50% Merino wool hair. The Camel wool is consists of 50% Camel wool hair, and 50% Merino wool hair. The Cashmere wool is blended with Merino wool.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Peter Graham]
Small cap stocks Inscor, Inc (OTCMKTS: IOGA), Puget Technologies Inc (OTCBB: PUGE) and PTA Holdings Inc (OTCMKTS: PTAH) have all been getting some attention lately in various investment newsletters or investor alerts. However, two of these small caps have been the subject of paid promotions while the third is getting attention largely because its in the growing marijuana or cannabis business. With that in mind, are these stocks really all that hot or not? Here is a quick reality check:
Top Retail Companies To Invest In 2014: Tim Hortons Inc.(THI)
Tim Hortons Inc. develops, franchises, and operates quick service restaurants primarily in Canada and the United States. Its restaurants serve coffee and other hot and cold beverages, baked goods, sandwiches, soups, and other food products. As of April 03, 2011, the company and its restaurant owners operated 3,169 restaurants in Canada and 613 restaurants in the United States under the Tim Hortons name; and had 274 primarily self-serve licensed locations in the Republic of Ireland and the United Kingdom Tim Hortons Inc. was founded in 1964 and is based in Oakville, Canada.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Rich Duprey]
Canadian restaurant chain�Tim Horton's� (NYSE: THI ) �declared today�its regular quarterly dividend of $0.26 per share, slightly higher than the $0.2534 per share it paid back in February.�
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Burger King Worldwide (BKW) has risen 3.2% to $33.45 after Warren Buffett said he would help finance its merger with Tim Hortons (THI). Tim Hortons has leaped 10% to $82.55.
- [By Nickey Friedman]
Growth continues to turn from good to better for Tim Hortons' (NYSE: THI ) competitors Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX ) , Dunkin' Brands Group (NASDAQ: DNKN ) , and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD ) . Though Little Timmy has lagged behind, that could change, beginning with the five-year strategic plan the company will outline on Feb. 25.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
Burger King Worldwide�(BKW) has climbed 7.9% to $29.25�on reports that the hamburger joint is considering the purchase of Canadian coffee-outlet Tim Hortons�(THI) for the tax benefits. Tim Hortons has gained 15% to $72.00.
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