Filed under: Costco Wholesale (COST), Stocks to Buy

Retailers like Walmart (WMT) and Target (TGT) are campaigning to force Amazon.com (AMZN) to pay sales taxes. While these retailers headline the effort and would certainly gain from any such decision, other large players like Costco (COST) have (relatively) flown under the radar. Could Costco see the same benefit? Costco traditionally competes with warehouse club operators like BJ’s Wholesale Club (BJ) and Sam’s Club, in addition to companies like Walmart, Best Buy (BBY) and Target.

Our price estimate for Costco’s stock stands at .67, a roughly 10% discount to the stock’s current market price.

Continue reading Retailers Push for Amazon Sales Tax, but Should Costco Care?

Retailers Push for Amazon Sales Tax, but Should Costco Care? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Wed, 30 Mar 2011 15:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Earnings Reports

Earlier in the week, I exhibited a bearish tone on Ross Stores (ROST). I haven’t had a change of heart necessarily, but I do have to concede that the company’s latest earnings report, issued yesterday morning, was a good one.

According to Reuters, Q4 net profit increased 18% to .37 per share. While this number merely met Wall Street’s projection, I enjoyed the growth rate. Furthermore, same-store sales experienced a healthy 4% expansion.

Continue reading Ross Stores Reports Earnings Results: What Should Investors Think?

Ross Stores Reports Earnings Results: What Should Investors Think? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 18 Mar 2011 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Microsoft (MSFT), Electronic Arts (ERTS), Nintendo (NTDOY)

So the video-game data report for February is out. According to InvestorPlace’s survey of NPD figures, consoles systems saw a 10% increase in sales. Microsoft’s (MSFT) Xbox 360 was particularly robust. The Nintendo (NTDOY) Wii didn’t do badly, either.

As you might imagine, there were other companies mentioned in the article. Electronic Arts (ERTS) scored pretty well, as did Activision Blizzard (ATVI). In fact, the latter’s latest Call of Duty entry is apparently still selling a bunch of copies in retail shelves even though the holiday season is long gone.

Continue reading Video Games Do All Right In February: Which Stock Should an Investor Buy?

Video Games Do All Right In February: Which Stock Should an Investor Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 11 Mar 2011 17:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Microsoft (MSFT), Nokia Corp. (NOK), Technology

So, I’m sitting here in front of my screen, watching the market action. Kind of a boring day, at least for my portfolio. In particular, one of my holdings, Microsoft (MSFT), is acting in a very boring manner. I was hoping to see some interest on the part of Wall Street in that name today following the stock’s recent weakness, but alas, there is none to be had. At the time of this writing, shares are down fractionally to .15.

Investors have been digesting the news concerning the deal between the maker of Windows and Nokia (NOK). The plan is to generate some competition in the smartphone business. Success with this initiative would be nice for shareholders of both companies.

Continue reading Microsoft: Should I Add To My Position?

Microsoft: Should I Add To My Position? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Mon, 14 Feb 2011 15:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Earnings Reports, Coca-Cola (KO), PepsiCo (PEP)

PepsicCo (PEP) is in the red at the time of this writing. Investors weren’t dazzled by the beverage entity’s latest earnings report, I guess. I see a quote of .16 on my screen; this means that the shares are off by about 2%. Volume is heavy.

According to the Associated Press, fourth-quarter profit on a reported basis went down five pennies to 85 cents per share. Not good to hear, but here’s something that will put shareholders in a happier mood: on an adjusted basis, profit calculated out to .05 per share, a figure that was one penny ahead of the overall projection.

Continue reading Should You Sell PepsiCo Based On the Q4 Report?

Should You Sell PepsiCo Based On the Q4 Report? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 10 Feb 2011 14:40:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Earnings Reports, 3M Corporation (MMM)

So, earlier today, I said that we shouldn’t worry about the sell-off in Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) following the company’s fourth-quarter earnings report. I’m going to say the same thing about 3M’s (MMM) release. I just don’t believe that the weakness I’m currently seeing should be feared.

With an hour to go before the end of the day as I write this, 3M is off by 2.8% to .80. I agree: a 2.8% retreat in a blue-chip equity isn’t anything to immediately dismiss. But the 52-week low for this stock is .98, and the 52-week high is .49. The chart shows a company that seems to be fighting for higher levels. Perhaps the drop is a buying opportunity.

Continue reading 3M Sold On Q4 News: Should We Care?

3M Sold On Q4 News: Should We Care? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 25 Jan 2011 17:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Earnings Reports, Electronic Arts (ERTS), Activision Inc (ATVI), Technology, Take-Two Interactive (TTWO)

Take-Two Interactive (TTWO), a video-game publisher whose competitors include Activision Blizzard (ATVI) and Electronic Arts (ERTS), reported excellent results for its latest quarter Thursday after the bell. The numbers sent the stock higher in the extended-hours session: Shares gained over 6%, rising to .68. Is it time to buy?

Take-Two is getting interesting, I have to admit. I was bearish on the company back in July. Now, the recent price action and the strong stats have got me looking quite seriously at the bull case.

Continue reading Take-Two Has a Great Quarter: Should You Buy?

Take-Two Has a Great Quarter: Should You Buy? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Fri, 17 Dec 2010 10:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Earnings Reports, ConAgra Foods (CAG), Kraft Foods’A’ (KFT)

The J.M. Smucker Company (SJM) was down almost 1.4% to .15 at the close of the day. Volume was quite heavy. The market voted on the food entity’s latest earnings report. Should investors listen to this opinion and immediately put in sell orders?

According to TheFly, the business, whose colleagues include ConAgra Foods, Inc. (CAG) and Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT), made an adjusted .38 per share during its fiscal second quarter. That was six solid pennies ahead of the overall projection. Not only was that beat cool to see, but income guidance for fiscal year 2011 saw an improvement.

Continue reading Smucker Was Down Today: Should Investors Worry?

Smucker Was Down Today: Should Investors Worry? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Thu, 18 Nov 2010 18:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Comfort Zone Investing, Initial Public Offerings

General Motors is about to go public again. Speculation is that the stock will be priced between and a share, depending on demand and how much stock is sold. Is this a good investment for the average investor?

I don’t know. I haven’t seen the prospectus so I can only tell you what I’ve read so far. Much of what you would be buying is the future, and well, that’s in the future where many things can happen.

Continue reading Comfort Zone Investing: Should You Buy GM?

Comfort Zone Investing: Should You Buy GM? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Sat, 13 Nov 2010 10:30:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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Filed under: Earnings Reports, Magazines

Playboy (PLA) is going through a troubled period, one that has lasted a long time. And, quite frankly, I’m not sure when it will end. I guess it will end when the business eventually finds a buyer. Whether such a buyer turns out to be founder Hugh Hefner or some other entity, we’ll have to wait and see (I would assume Hefner would have the obvious advantage).

Shares of the stock are, as I write this, priced at .93. The 52-week low for the company is .73 while the 52-week high is .10. Yes, this has been a great trading vehicle. But don’t underestimate the risk here, even though the latest quarterly report did bring some relatively good news.

Continue reading Playboy’s Q3 Earnings: Should You Buy The Numbers?

Playboy’s Q3 Earnings: Should You Buy The Numbers? originally appeared on BloggingStocks on Tue, 09 Nov 2010 16:00:00 EST. Please see our terms for use of feeds.

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