I'm not ashamed to admit that denim retailer The Buckle (NYSE: BKE ) is one of my favorite stocks. The company has an excellent brand, fantastic management, and a solid balance sheet. That's why it was so surprising to me that it missed earnings expectations yesterday. The company had turned in two years of hitting or exceeding market expectations before yesterday's miss.
Overall, it wasn't a horrible quarter. The company posted a small increase in comparable sales, but earnings per share fell slightly from the same time last year. Management admitted taking a bit too long to get some styles to stores, missing out on some spring fashion due to production issues. Aside from that small misstep, Buckle actually looks very healthy.
The first quarter at Buckle
Comparable sales inched up 1.2% from last year. That's a minor increase, but it's better than a lot of apparel retailers did at the beginning of the year, with many citing the long winter as a drag on sales. The slow growth in sales didn't hurt margins, though, with gross margin rising slightly and operating margin holding firm at 22%.
Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Staples Inc.(SPLS)
Staples, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as an office products company. The company offers various office supplies and services, office machines and related products, computers and related products, and office furniture under Staples, Quill, and other proprietary brands. It also provides copy and print services to retail and delivery customers, as well as technology services through its EasyTech business. The company sells and delivers office products and services directly to businesses and consumers through Internet retail, including Staples.com and Quill.com, as well as through contract sales force, direct mail catalog business, and retail stores. As of January 28, 2012, it operated 2,295 retail stores in 48 states and the District of Columbia in the United States; and 10 provinces and 2 territories in Canada, as well as in Belgium, Finland, Germany, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Sweden, the United Kingdom, China, Argentina, and Australia. The company also operated 124 distribution and fulfillment centers in 29 states in the United States; 7 provinces in Canada; and in Austria, Belgium, Denmark, Finland, France, Germany, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Norway, Portugal, Spain, Sweden, the United Kingdom, China, Argentina, Brazil, and Australia. Staples, Inc. was founded in 1986 and is based in Framingham, Massachusetts.
Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Gamestop Corporation (GME)
GameStop Corp. operates as a retailer of video game products and personal computer (PC) entertainment software. It sells new and used video game hardware; video game software; used video game products; and video game accessories, which primarily consist of controllers, memory cards, and other add-ons, as well as strategy guides and trading cards. The company also offers PC entertainment and other software across various genres, including sports, action, strategy, adventure/role playing, and simulation, as well as products that relate to the digital category comprising network point cards, prepaid digital and online timecards, and digitally downloadable software. GameStop Corp. sells its products through stores, as well as through its electronic commerce Web sites, including gamestop.com, ebgames.com.au, gamestop.ca, gamestop.it, gamestop.es, gamestop.ie, gamestop.de, and micromania.fr. As of July 12, 2011, its retail network and family of brands included 6,573 company-oper ated stores in 17 countries worldwide. The company also publishes Game Informer, a video game magazine in the United States; and operates the online video gaming Web sites kongregate.com and joltonline.com. GameStop Corp. was founded in 1994 and is based in Grapevine, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Brian Stoffel]
Rising Star Jim Mueller has built his portfolio around companies with stock prices that show the market's unreasonable distaste for them.
Sometimes it takes awhile for his bets to pay off, but when they do, he's handsomely rewarded. Just consider his double-dipping buys of Dendreon (Nasdaq: DNDN ) , a pharmaceutical company that's recently seen its fortunes improve on the basis of its prostate drug Provenge. Though the stock didn't do too much for Jim in 2011, it's up 94% for him in 2012!
He thinks the same could happen with GameStop, a company that analysts have written off as a dying bricks-and-mortar retailer. But Jim says the company is refusing to die, taking three solid steps to solidify its future.
- GameStop's PowerUp Rewards program is catching on with customers, growing from 4.5 million members to 15.5 million in just a year's time.
- The company is strengthening its digital business with Impulse (a downloading site), Kongregate (a casual gaming site), and Spawn Labs (a cloud gaming subsidiary).
- It is working with content providers and console providers to strengthen these digital channels.
Top 5 High Tech Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Sonic Automotive Inc.(SAH)
Sonic Automotive, Inc. operates as an automotive retailer in the United States. It engages in the sale of new and used cars, light trucks, and replacement parts; provision of vehicle maintenance, warranty repair, paint, and collision repair services; and arrangement of extended service contracts, financing, insurance, and other aftermarket products. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 119 dealerships representing 30 brands of cars and light trucks, and 23 collision repair centers in 15 states. The company was founded in 1997 and is based in Charlotte, North Carolina.
Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Penske Automotive Group Inc.(PAG)
Penske Automotive Group, Inc. operates as an automotive retailer. It sells new and used vehicles of approximately 40 vehicle brands; offers vehicle maintenance and repair services; and engages in the sale and placement of third-party finance and insurance products, third-party extended service contracts, and replacement and aftermarket automotive products. As of December 31, 2011, the company operated 320 retail automotive franchises, of which 166 franchises were located in the United States and 154 franchises are located outside of the United States primarily in the United Kingdom. It also has operations in Puerto Rico and Germany. Penske Automotive Group, Inc. was founded in 1990 and is headquartered in Bloomfield Hills, Michigan.
Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Macy’s Inc (M)
Macy�s, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates stores and Internet Websites in the United States. Its retail stores and Internet Web sites sell a range of merchandise, including apparel and accessories for men, women, and children; cosmetics; home furnishings; and other consumer goods. The company also operates Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores that offer a range of apparel and accessories, including ready-to-wear, shoes, fashion accessories, jewelry, handbags, and intimate apparel products. As of January 28, 2012, it operated approximately 840 stores under the names of Macy�s and Bloomingdale�s; and 7 Bloomingdale�s Outlet stores, as well as macys.com and bloomingdales.com. The company was formerly known as Federated Department Stores, Inc. and changed its name to Macy�s, Inc. in June 2007. Macy�s, Inc. was founded in 1820 and is based in Cincinnati, Ohio.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Dividend Stocks Online]
Rating: 95/100. Mattel has a dividend yield of 3.1% and a 5 year dividend growth rate of 10.2%. It has raised its dividend for the last 3 years and has a payout ratio of 46%. Mattel has a 3 year net income growth rate of 26.5% and the stock is up 31% over the last 12 months. We would like to see a higher dividend yield and consistent annual dividend increases from Mattel before we can rate the stock higher.
Best Retail Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Viad Corp(VVI)
Viad Corp, together with its subsidiaries, operates in exhibition and events, and travel and recreation industries primarily in North America, the United Kingdom, Germany, and the United Arab Emirates. The company?s Marketing & Events Group segment designs, plans, and produces face-to-face events for show organizers, corporate brand marketers, and retail shopping centers. It offers general event management, planning and consultation, concept design, exhibition layout and design, graphics and design, show traffic analysis, carpeting and flooring, decorating products and accessories, custom graphics, overhead rigging, and cleaning services, as well as temporary electrical, lighting, and plumbing services. This segment also provides custom exhibit design and construction; portable and modular exhibits and design; integrated marketing, including pre- and post-event communications and customer relationship management; multimedia services; event surveys; return on investment an alysis; attendee and exhibit booth traffic analysis; staff training; online management tools; logistics and freight-forwarding, storage, and refurbishment of exhibits; booth furnishings, carpeting, and signage; in-house installation and dismantling; and various other show services. In addition, the segment offers various entertaining attractions and brand-based experiences, sponsored events, mobile marketing and other branded entertainment, and face-to-face marketing solutions for clients and venues, including movie studios, leading consumer brand marketers, shopping malls, museums, and casinos. Its Travel & Recreation Group segment provides tourism products, including attractions, transportation services, inbound package tour operations, hotel operations, and corporate and event management; operates five lodges, three motor inns, and one resort hotel; and engages in food and beverages, and retail and concession businesses. Viad Corp was founded in 1914 and is headquartered in Phoenix, Arizona.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Hesler]
Viad Corp is engaged in providing exhibition, event and retail marketing services in North America, the United Kingdom and the United Arab Emirates, as well as travel and recreation services in the United States and Canada. Its EPS forecast for the current year is 0.6 and next year is 1. According to consensus estimates, its topline is expected to grow 6.3% current year and 5% next year. It is trading at a forward P/E of 25.18. One analyst covers the company and has a hold rating.
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