Tag Archives: Jeremy Bowman

Why LIN TV Shares Jumped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of LIN TV were up as much as 13% today, climbing steadily after the local media provider announced this morning its second acquisition in less than a week.

So what: LIN, which specializes in local multimedia and advertising, said it had gained majority ownership of Dedicated Media, “a leader in multi-channel ad buying and optimization,” according to LIN‘s press release. Management said the acquisition will help maximize the effectiveness of its advertising and add depth to its targeted marketing suite.

Now what: Perhaps proving that boring businesses often make the best investments, LIN shares have been on fire over the past year, gaining more than 300% since the summer. Today’s acquisition comes on top of LIN‘s purchase last week of a majority stake in HYFN, a social media management specialist, showing that the media company has its eye on continued growth. Don’t be surprised to see shares keep  moving higher from here.  

Don’t miss the next update on LIN TV. Add the company to your Watchlist by clicking right here.

The article Why LIN TV Shares Jumped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned, and neither does The Motley Fool. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga =

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Mistras Group Shares Tumbled

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Mistras Group were falling flat today, dropping as much as 12% after reporting a disappointing quarter.  

So what: Mistras, which provides energy infrastructure services, said revenue increased 28% in the quarter to $133.9 million, while earnings came in at $0.09 per share, down from $0.13. Sales were enough to beat estimates, but earnings were well short of the experts’ view at $0.17. Much of Mistras’ revenue growth also came from acquisitions, as organic sales increased 10%. CEO Sotirios Vahaviolos pointed to improvements in international sales but also said that changes in the sales mix led to lower profits. Management now expects fiscal-year revenue to come in the high end of its guidance of $525 million to $535 million, in line with analyst estimates, but it lowered its EBITDA guidance.

Now what: It’s never a good sign when profits move in the wrong direction, but the top-line beat should help reassure investors. Management also expressed confidence in long-term growth prospects, and if sales increase, profits should eventually follow. I wouldn’t change my investing thesis based on today’s report alone.

Stay up to date on Mistras Group. Add the company to your Watchlist by clicking right here.  

The article Why Mistras Group Shares Tumbled originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
…read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why A. Schulman Shares Tumbled

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of A. Schulman were getting squashed today, falling as much as 14% after the plastics-maker turned in a subpar quarter.

So what: The automotive-materials supplier posted an adjusted earnings per share of $0.27, well below the analyst consensus at $0.40, and revenue was slightly off as well. Management blamed the shortfall on continued weakness in Europe, noting that it was their first quarter in “quite some time where our America and Asia segments could not offset softness in Europe.” CEO Joseph Gingo also said the company plans to cut costs at the SG&A level to cope with the disappointing economic environment. Shulman also lowered its EPS forecast for the fiscal year ending in August to $2.08 to $2.13 a share. Analysts had projected $2.18.

Now what: Coming on the cusp of earnings season, Schulman’s report is a bit of warning shot for the auto industry as a whole. The slowdown in Europe has dampened industry performance for the past several quarters, and the sector still seems to be waiting for the upswing. Some of the larger automakers have predicted Europe will begin to come back in the second half of the year, but that remains to be seen. With continued restructuring activities planned and the global economy still slow to wake up, Schulman looks like a risky bet right now.

Get more on A. Schulman. Add the company to your Watchlist by clicking right here.  

The article Why A. Schulman Shares Tumbled originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return …read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Best Buy Shares Jump on Samsung Deal

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Best Buy were getting a lift today, jumping as much as 16%, after the struggling retailer announced a new partnership with smartphone-maker Samsung.

So what: Best Buy said it will begin putting Samsung kiosks in its stores, a move that comes as the Korean electronics maker is challenging  Apple  for supremacy in the smartphone world with its Galaxy line. Investors also seem to believe that the Samsung platforms could be a lifeline for the bricks-and-mortar model, which has struggled to stave off competition from the likes of Amazon.com. Samsung plans to open a total of 1,400 kiosks in Best Buy locations with 900 open by early May.

Now what: Best Buy has come roaring back this year, more than doubling in just the last three months alone. Investors have been encouraged by a potential buyout offer from Founder Richard Schulze, and later, a report that showed that online sales grew 10%, an increase that seemed to result from Amazon’s agreement to begin collecting sales tax. The latest deal with Samsung seems like yet another arrow in its quiver. Sales are still moving in the wrong direction, though, and Wall Street sees an 8.2% decline in the current quarter. I’d like to see that trend reverse before I got behind the retailer.

For more information on Best Buy, check out our premium research report, which details the company’s opportunities and risks, and comes with a year’s worth of free updates as an added bonus. You can started with this new package right now. All you have to do is click right here.

The article Best Buy Shares Jump on Samsung Deal originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

…read more

Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Conn's Shares Popped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Conn’s were flying today, gaining as much as 15% after the retailer promised a better-than-expected results in 2013.

So what: In its quarterly earnings report, the durable-goods retailer delivered an EPS of $0.54 on expectations of $0.55. Revenues increased 10.4% to $250.3 million but were also slightly below estimates, while same-store sales grew swiftly at 7%. Guidance for the coming year, however, was well ahead of the consensus, as management now sees EPS of $2.40-$2.50, ahead of estimates at just $2.08. CEO Theodore Wright noted “improvement in retail and credit operations” and announced the opening of 10 to 12 new Conn’s Home Plus stores. Same-store sales at those locations were up 15% in February and March, after the quarter ended.

Now what: The new store additions will increase store count by 15-18%, and Conn’s has said that they bring in 1.6 times the revenue as regular stores. Margins have also greatly improved over the past year, with a net margin of 8.5% in the usually strong fourth quarter. If Conn’s continues expanding at the same pace across the Sun Belt, the stock should have no problem moving higher.

Get more on Conn’s. Add the company to your Watchlist by clicking right here.

The article Why Conn’s Shares Popped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Mattress Firm Shares Jumped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Mattress Firm Holding were springing higher today, gaining as much as 13% after providing promising 2013 guidance in its quarterly report.

So what: Despite today’s gain, It wasn’t exactly a great quarter for Mattress Firm. Adjusted earnings per share fell from $0.56 to $0.30, and although revenue grew 37% in the quarter, that growth came entirely from new and acquired stores as same-store sales fell by 1.6%. The results missed expectations on both top and bottom lines. EPS guidance of $1.90 to $1.98 for 2013 was within range of estimates, while revenue guidance of $1.24 to $1.25 billion was ahead by about 3%.

Now what: The earnings report won Mattress Firm an upgrade from The Street from sell to hold based on strong revenue growth and solid return on equity, and Raymond James also upgraded the stock to “outperform” from “market perform.” Citigroup noted that sales could increase by more than expected as mattress prices continue to go up. The upside revenue guidance was enough to bring shares of industry rivals Tempur-Pedic and Select Comfort up significantly. Still, I’d remain wary of these companies, as the industry is extremely competitive and the durable nature of mattresses means that any meaningful innovation is likely to be copied before it reaches most consumers.

Don’t miss the next update on Mattress Firm. Add the stock to your Watchlist by clicking right here.

The article Why Mattress Firm Shares Jumped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Citigroup and Tempur-Pedic International. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Sonic Shares Shot Up

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of fast-food chain Sonic were looking hot off the grill today, jumping as much as 10% after the company reported quarterly earnings.

So what: The burger slinger said adjusted earnings per share improved from $0.03 a year ago to $0.05, in line with estimates. Revenue in the quarter fell from $115.1 million to $111.1 million, but gross profit improved slightly. Sonic also said same-store sales increased 1.3% when accounting for the extra day in the calendar last year. The company, which operates both company-owned and franchised locations, saw its total store count decline from 3,550 a year ago to 3,526. For fiscal 2013, the company sees comparable sales growth in the low single digits and a slight increase in franchise store openings.

Now what: Today’s jump is somewhat of a surprise after a relatively middling earnings report. The winter quarter is a slow one for Sonic, whose drive-in model is affected by weather, but the slowdown in revenue is concerning. Its reliance on franchising should deliver strong margins, but that hasn’t been the case recently. Plus, the stock is not even particularly cheap despite its slow growth. I’d stay away from this one.

Don’t miss the next update on Sonic. Add the stock to your Watchlist here.

The article Why Sonic Shares Shot Up originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Nike Shares Took Off

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Nike were playing above the rim today, as the ubiquitous sneaker brand jumped as much as 12% after delivering a slam-dunk earnings report.

So what: Earnings per share from continuing operations grew 20%, to $0.73, from $0.61 a year ago, and the apparel maker benefited from a one-time gain of $203 million from the sale of its Cole Haan brand. Nike made a strategic decision last year to divest from the Cole Haan and Umbro brands so it could focus on its core brands. Revenues in the quarter were up 9%, to $6.2 billion, and grew in all regions except for China and Japan. Sales growth in North America, its biggest market, was particularly strong, increasing 18%, and gross margin improved for the first time in 10 quarters.

Now what: Nike is one of the world’s strongest brands, and quarters like this one seem to put to rest any doubts about its continued growth potential. Despite its maturity at home, the Swoosh still pulled off a strong sales jump in the key North America region, which makes up 40% of sales. Upstarts like Lululemon athletica and Under Armour may be challenging the industry leader in some areas, but Nike has the star power, brand strength, and global reach to ensure its continued dominance. Factor in a solid share buyback program, and there are plenty of reasons to be confident in Nike’s long-term value. You can stay on track by adding the stock to your Watchlist here.

The article Why Nike Shares Took Off originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman owns shares of Nike. The Motley Fool recommends Nike. The Motley Fool owns shares of Nike. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why SUPERVALU Shares Surged

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: SUPERVALU shares shot up as much as 14% today after the struggling supermarket chain completed its deal to sell $3.3 billion worth of assets to Cerebrus Capital Management.

So what: Supervalu will sell off five of its supermarket chains to the Cerebrus investing group, including Albertson’s, Acme, Jewel-Osco, Shaw’s, and Star Market, as well as in-store pharmacies Osco and Sav-on. Cerebrus will pay Supervalu $100 million in cash, and assume $3.2 billion in debt. Supervalu had nearly $6.2 billion in debt as of its last earnings report, so the Supervalu sale would seem to alleviate some of its interest burden and allow it to focus on its Sav-A-Lot stores and smaller local chains.

Now what: The sale will cut Supervalu’s annual sales essentially in half, to $17 billion, but the company, which had posted quarterly losses repeatedly and suffers under a huge debt burden, had it’s a back against the wall. In a statement, Supervalu said the move makes it a “more efficient wholesale and retail company.” While today’s sale is no guarantee of a turnaround, it does offer investors some hope, which is more than the company merited before. It’s still a long road back to financial health for Supervalu, but this seems to be a good first step.

Get more on Supervalu. Add the company to your Watchlist by clicking right here.

The article Why SUPERVALU Shares Surged originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of Supervalu. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Williams-Sonoma Shares Jumped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Williams-Sonoma jumped as much as 12% today, after the high-end retailer delivered a strong fourth quarter and a dividend increase.

So what: Net income at the Pottery Barn and West Elm parent increased 9% to $1.34 a share, which beat estimates by $0.05, and revenue rose 11% to $1.41 billion with gains in all channels. The retail chain did benefit from an extra week in the calendar. Williams-Sonoma surprised investors by hiking its quarterly dividend to 41 cents from 31 cents a year ago, and announcing a $750 million share buyback program, or 13% of the company’s market cap, to be carried out over the next three years.

Now what: The company’s guidance for the year was disappointing as it said it expects an EPS of $2.65-$2.75 for the year against the analyst consensus of $2.82, but the market didn’t seem concerned. This is a strong upscale brand that should improve along with the overall economy, and its commitment to returning capital to shareholders is a definite bonus. I’d expect shares to continue to move higher from here.

Want more on Williams-Sonoma? Add Williams-Sonoma to My Watchlist.

The retail space is in the midst of the biggest paradigm shift since mail order took off at the turn of the last century. Only those most forward-looking and capable companies will survive, and they’ll handsomely reward those investors who understand the landscape. You can read about the 3 Companies Ready to Rule Retail in The Motley Fool’s special report. Uncovering these top picks is free today; just click here to read more.

The article Why Williams-Sonoma Shares Jumped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Williams-Sonoma. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Charter Communications Shares Popped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Charter Communications jumped as much as 11% today, after reports broke that Liberty Media is buying a 25% stake in the cable provider.

So what: Shares shot up just after 12:30 p.m. ET today as sources began reporting that the two parties were close to a deal. Liberty will pay nearly $2.5 billion for the 25% piece of Charter, and shares of the country’s eighth-biggest pay-TV provider quickly jumped to a valuation near $10 billion, in line with Liberty’s offer. Liberty Media, which finished the day up 0.3%, also gained full control of SiriusXM Radio recently and has been increasing its stake in Live Nation Entertainment.

Now what: Shares of Charter are now up 50%, and John Malone bet seems to indicate that he sees it as a value play. Not only does his expected purchase mean a higher share price for Charter, but his direction could also help lead Charter back to profitability.

Find out what’s next for Charter Communications. Add the company to your Watchlist by clicking right here.

The article Why Charter Communications Shares Popped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga = document.createElement('script');
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why J.C. Penney Shares Jumped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of J.C. Penney were regaining some life today, jumping as much as 11% after an analyst suggested the struggling retailer could add value by converting some of its stores into a real estate investment trust.

So what: Omar Saad, a retail analyst with the ISI Group, said that if the department-store chain converted 300 of its top locations into a REIT-like entity, it could make $1.2 billion in net income as a landlord alone. Saad gave that portion of the business a $40 per-share value and assessed the remaining 800 J.C. Penney stores at a value of $6 a share, if they remained traditional retail outlets. Today’s share-price jump also come amid positive reports about the launch of Canadian label Joe Fresh at 700 of Penney’s 1,100 stores.

Now what: Today’s developments seem to be only further confirmation that investors have given up on Penney as a retailer. The company posted nearly $1 billion in losses last year and will need to make serious improvements to avoid a similar disaster in 2013. Perhaps the real-estate avenue could generate more cash, but Saad seems to be mistaken if he thinks removing the 300 best stores will leave a retail chain that has any value at all. J.C. Penney didn’t comment on Saad’s proposal. I’d be skeptical until the company seems to believe in the real estate angle.

For more information on J.C. Penney, I encourage you to pick up a copy of our premium research report all about the venerable retailer. This detailed analysis features a look at the company’s opportunities, risks, and key areas to watch, and it comes with a year’s worth of free updates as a bonus. You can get started with this in-depth insight right now. All you have to do is click right here.

The article Why J.C. Penney Shares Jumped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman and The Motley Fool have no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Ulta Shares Tumbled

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Ulta Salon were getting beaten with the ugly stick today, falling as much as 16% after the beauty products chain provided disappointing guidance in its quarterly report.

So what: Ulta actually beat earnings estimates slightly, posting an EPS of $1.00 against expectations of $0.98, and revenues of $758.8 million were in line with estimates. Sales grew 30.3% in the quarter, though they benefited from an extra week in the quarter, while same-store sales jumped 8%. For the current quarter, Ulta sees sales growth of about 21%, to $568 to $577 million, EPS of $0.60-$0.63, and a comparable sales increase of 4%-6% for both the year and the quarter. Analysts had expected earnings per share of $0.72, however,

Now what: Today’s drop seems a little steep, but we’ve seen this pattern before with high-priced growth stocks. Ulta still carries a high price tag at a P/E of 28, but with 125 new stores planned this year — a 22% increase in the base — it would seem to be growing fast enough to justify the markup. Ulta also received a downgrade from Oppenheimer in the wake of yesterday’s report, but I’d tend to see today’s drop as a buying opportunity. This is a company that expects long-term EPS growth of 25%-30% and seems to have a plan to deliver.

Get more on Ulta. Add the company to your Watchlist by clicking right here.

The article Why Ulta Shares Tumbled originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance. The Motley Fool owns shares of Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Team Shares Dropped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Team, were falling apart today, dropping as much as 18% after the maintenance provider cut its fiscal 2013 earnings guidance.

So what: Team cut its EPS outlook for the year from $1.90-$2.05, to $1.70-$1.85, and also revised its revenue guidance for the fiscal year ending May 31, 2013 down to $705 to $720 million. Analysts had projected EPS of $2.03 on sales of $732.5 million. Management said the revision was due to weak results in its third quarter, particularly poor sales from Canada and Europe. For the current quarter, management now expects break-even earnings on revenue of $150 million.

Now what: Team also curtailed its fourth-quarter revenue guidance by $10 million, but expressed long-term confidence in its business prospects. We’ll learn more about Team’s future when it reports earnings on April 2. If the current update turns out to be just a short-term concern, there could be significant upside potential. Check back after earnings are in. You can stay on top of Team by adding it to your Watchlist here.

The article Why Team Shares Dropped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Monster's First Line of Defense

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Leaders are often tested in times of crisis. Monster Beverage shares have lost nearly half their value since their all-time high last June amid slowing sales and safety concerns. At times like these, management can make all the difference in the public’s perception of the company, which is especially important when dealing with a product, like Monster’s, whose value is essentially derived entirely from its brand name. Not surprisingly, management has been vigorously defending Monster’s flagship product during this tough time. Let’s take a closer look at the men behind the curtain at Monster Beverage in this excerpt from our premium research report.

Leadership
Monster Beverage is headed by Chairman and CEO Rodney Sacks and CFO Hilton Schlosberg, both from South Africa. In 1992, they acquired what was then Hansen’s Natural Soda for $14.5 million. Frustrated at the slow growth in the natural beverage market, the pair noticed the splash Red Bull was making in Europe, and decided they should make their own energy drink. After one failed attempt under the Hansen’s label, they created Monster, and packaged it in cans twice the size of Red Bull‘s, but sold it at a similar price point, which appealed to retailers and consumers alike.

Unlike some other entrepreneurs, Sacks and Schlosberg do not seem to be guided by any mission beyond that of making the business successful. The company’s website lists no mission statement, purpose, or stated goal. The pair stumbled upon Hansen after first buying a publicly traded shell company, and getting word from an investment banker on the natural soda and juice company. The two seem to keep a fairly low profile, as virtually no information is available about Sacks or Schlosberg on Monster’s website.

Rounding out the management team is Mark Hall, president of the Monster Beverage Division, who joined the company in 1997 after serving as vice president of sales with the Arizona Beverage Company, and Thomas Kelly, senior vice president of finance, who has been with the company since before Sacks and Schlosberg purchased it, working as controller for the California Co-Packers Corporation, predecessor to Hansen Beverage.

If you found the above information useful, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the complete report, which features in-depth analysis on Monster’s opportunities and risk, and key areas to watch. To get your copy of this invaluable insight now, all you have to do is click right here.

The article Monster’s First Line of Defense originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Monster Beverage. The Motley Fool owns shares of Monster Beverage. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a <a target=_blank …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Who's Who at Pandora

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Though it’s difficult to measure, leadership is one of the most important areas to look at when assessing companies. Visionary leaders can make all the difference in industries where there is little competitive advantage to be won. Business strategy, capital allocation, and employee culture vary from company to company, but they start at the top. In this excerpt from our premium research report, we take a closer look at Pandora Media‘s leadership.

Leadership
Pandora is led by CEO Joe Kennedy, who joined the company in 2004 from E-LOAN, where he served for five years as chief operating officer. Before that, he was the VP of sales, service, and marketing for Saturn, where he helped grow the brand to over $4 billion in revenue and established it as No. 1 in customer satisfaction in the industry.

Founder Tim Westergren still plays a key role in the company as chief strategy officer. Before starting Pandora as the Music Genome Project, Westergren spent 20 years in the music industry as an award-winning composer and musician. Westergren created Pandora in part to help emerging artists find an audience, and he considers himself the company’s chief evangelist.

Pandora’s management is rounded out by Chief Technology Officer Tom Conrad, who is in charge of product management; CFO Steve Cakebread, who was previously chief strategy officer at salesforce.com; Chief Revenue Officer John Trimble, who oversees advertising operations; and Chief Marketing Officer Simon Fleming-Wood, who joined Pandora in 2011 after serving in a similar capacity at Cisco.

If you found the above information useful, I encourage you to pick up a copy of the complete report, which features in-depth research on the company’s opportunities and risks as well as key areas. To get started today, all you have to do is click right here.

The article Who’s Who at Pandora originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned, and neither does The Motley Fool. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why National Financial Partners Shares Soared

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of National Financial Partners jumped as much as 17% today after the company announcing that it may sell itself.

So what: The high-end financial advisor said it has received “indications of interest” from some private equity firms, though it was unsure whether it would reach a deal. The company is working with Bank of America on the potential sale.

Now what: The news seems to be mostly speculative at this point, and without any clear buyout offer, today’s jump may wipe out whatever premium investors would have gotten on the sale. Today’s development comes as CEO Jessica Bibliowicz plans to step down and as the stock price approaches a five-year high. Considering today’s jump, the high-water mark, and the chance that no deal will take place, this seems like a good time to sell.

Want more on National Financial Partners? Add National Financial Partners Cor to My Watchlist.

The article Why National Financial Partners Shares Soared originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return r;
}
}

addEvent(window, "load", function(){new FoolVisualSciences();})
addEvent(window, "load", function(){new PickAd();})

var themeName = 'dailyfinance.com';
var _gaq = _gaq || [];
_gaq.push(['_setAccount', 'UA-24928199-1']);
_gaq.push(['_trackPageview']);

(function () {

var ga = document.createElement('script');
ga.type = 'text/javascript';
ga.async = true;
ga.src = ('https:' == document.location.protocol ? 'https://ssl' : …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why GenMark Diagnostics Shares Jumped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of GenMark Diagnostics were returning positive results today, jumping as much as 13% after a strong earnings report.

So what: The development-stage molecular diagnostics company beat estimates on top and bottom lines with a revenue of $9.4 million, a 364% increase from the year before, and an EPS loss of $0.15 was better than the $0.21 loss analysts expected. CEO Hany Massarany noted that a strong flu season and the continued expansion of the company’s installed base contributed to the better-than-expected quarter. Gross margin also dramatically improved to 50% from 20% in the same quarter a year ago.

Now what: Guidance for 2013 also beat estimates, as GenMark expects revenue to grow 70% to $35 million in the year. Analysts had expected just $30.6 million. The company also predicts its installed base of analyzers to grow by about 50%, or an additional 150 machines. Still, GenMark seems at least a few years from profitability, and it’s hard to justify its current $400 million market cap. Shares have more than tripled in the past year, and it seems like it could be time to cool off.

Even if GenMark is popping today, macro trends will continue to affect the overall stock market. Warren Buffett referred to one trend as “the tapeworm that’s eating at American competitiveness.” Find out what it is in our free report: “What’s Really Eating At America’s Competitiveness.” You’ll also discover an idea to profit as companies work to eradicate this efficiency-sucking tapeworm. Just click here for free, immediate access.

The article Why GenMark Diagnostics Shares Jumped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why iRobot Shares Jumped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of iRobot were doing the robot today, climbing as much as 11% today after the company raised its first-quarter forecast.

So what: The robot-maker raised its EPS guidance from flat to $0.07, to $0.16 to $0.20, and said it now expects revenue of $102 to $104 million, up slightly from its previous range. Analyst consensus had stood at an EPS of just $0.02 on sales of $100.8 million. iRobot recently received a $14 million order for FirstLook robots, which are used in military operations, which likely helped push the higher forecast. Last night, the company also announced the resignation of CFO John Leahy, who will be replaced by Alison Dean, who has held a number of different positions with iRobot since joining the company in 2005.

Now what: iRobot also won an upgrade on the news, as Needham raised its price target to $28. Shares of the manufacturer cooled off over the course of the day, trading with a gain near 5% toward the end of the session. Shares are still dearly priced, but if the company can string a few more quarters like this one, it will have no problem justifying its high P/E.

Stay on top of iRobot — add the company to your watchlist by clicking right here.

2013 and beyond
The Motley Fool’s chief investment officer has selected his No. 1 stock for the next year. Find out which stock it is in the brand-new free report: “The Motley Fool’s Top Stock for 2013.” Just click here to access the report and find out the name of this under-the-radar company.

The article Why iRobot Shares Jumped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends iRobot. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
…read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance

Why Foot Locker Shares Slipped

By Jeremy Bowman, The Motley Fool

Filed under:

Although we don’t believe in timing the market or panicking over market movements, we do like to keep an eye on big changes — just in case they’re material to our investing thesis.

What: Shares of Foot Locker were getting tripped up today, falling as much as 10% after missing EPS estimates in its earnings report.

So what: The athletic-footwear-and-apparel retailer said net income jumped 28% to $0.68 per share thanks to an extra week in the calendar, but adjusting for the extra week and other items, EPS was $0.64, below estimates of $0.72. Sales numbers were strong as overall revenue grew 14% to $1.71 billion, and same-store sales were up 7.9% in the quarter, much higher than the industry average, which generally saw a weak holiday season. Management projected a double-digit percentage increase in adjusted profits from $2.47 in 2013, which could put this year’s total above analyst estimates of $2.84.

Now what: Wall Street seems to be playing the earnings game once again, punishing an otherwise strong report for missing estimates. Foot Locker‘s revenue for the quarter beat expectations, and comparable sales that high are rare to see in retail these days, especially for a stock with an average valuation. If management can deliver on those profit projections, this looks like a good time to buy.

Don’t let Foot Locker leave you behind. Add the company to your watchlist by clicking here.

The article Why Foot Locker Shares Slipped originally appeared on Fool.com.

Fool contributor Jeremy Bowman has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter services free for 30 days. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Copyright © 1995 – 2013 The Motley Fool, LLC. All rights reserved. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

(function(c,a){window.mixpanel=a;var b,d,h,e;b=c.createElement(“script”);
b.type=”text/javascript”;b.async=!0;b.src=(“https:”===c.location.protocol?”https:”:”http:”)+
‘//cdn.mxpnl.com/libs/mixpanel-2.2.min.js’;d=c.getElementsByTagName(“script”)[0];
d.parentNode.insertBefore(b,d);a._i=[];a.init=function(b,c,f){function d(a,b){
var c=b.split(“.”);2==c.length&&(a=a[c[0]],b=c[1]);a[b]=function(){a.push([b].concat(
Array.prototype.slice.call(arguments,0)))}}var g=a;”undefined”!==typeof f?g=a[f]=[]:
f=”mixpanel”;g.people=g.people||[];h=[‘disable’,’track’,’track_pageview’,’track_links’,
‘track_forms’,’register’,’register_once’,’unregister’,’identify’,’alias’,’name_tag’,
‘set_config’,’people.set’,’people.increment’];for(e=0;e<h.length;e++)d(g,h[e]);
a._i.push([b,c,f])};a.__SV=1.2;})(document,window.mixpanel||[]);
mixpanel.init("9659875b92ba8fa639ba476aedbb73b9");

function addEvent(obj, evType, fn, useCapture){
if (obj.addEventListener){
obj.addEventListener(evType, fn, useCapture);
return true;
} else if (obj.attachEvent){
var r = obj.attachEvent("on"+evType, fn);
return …read more
Source: FULL ARTICLE at DailyFinance