Kcdtsg via Wikimedia CommonsCrocs Inc. (NASDAQ: CROX) is holding up rather well when you consider that the “maker of ugly shoes” lowered its guidance again. One saving grace may be that Crocs shares were…
ThinkstockRetailers are announcing August same-store sales figures today. Research firm Retail Metrics projected an overall gain of 3.2% year-over-year, compared with a 4.2% gain in July and a 4.3% gain in June. Retail sales…
ThinkstockDollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) reported second-quarter 2013 results before markets opened this morning. The discount retailer reported adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.77 on revenues of $4.39 billion. In the same…
ThinkstockThe last, and largest, of the discount variety stores reports second quarter earnings tomorrow. Dollar General Corp. (NYSE: DG) is expected to post earnings per share (EPS) of $0.74 on revenues of $4.36 billion.…
Dwight Burdette, via Wikimedia CommonsWhile optimism about the economy fell slightly in August, consumer sentiment remained close to its six-year high. During the recession, Americans were reluctant to spend more than they had to.…
ThinkstockLabor Day is always an interesting holiday, and it has serious ramifications on consumer spending and on the economy. The 2013 back-to-school spending has been down after a record 2012, and this leaves a…
Courtesy J.C. Penney Co. Inc.; photo by Chris RupertJ.C Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) continues to face unprecedented drops in traffic and sales that, to some extent, caused its largest shareholder Bill Ackman to…
courtesy Tiffany & Co.Tiffany & Co. (NYSE: TIF) reported second-quarter results before markets opened Tuesday morning. The luxury goods company posted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $0.83 on revenues of $926 million. In…
courtesy of StarbucksThe arms war among the fast-food chains escalated as McDonald’s Corp. (NYSE: MCD) confirmed that it would begin to sell chicken wings nationwide next month. Dubbed “Mighty Wings,” the new offering will…
thinkstockWilliam Ackman too a huge stake in J.C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) in the belief that its shares would soar on the basis of a turnaround. He helped bring in Ron Johnson from…
courtesy J.C. Penney Co. Inc.J. C. Penney Co. Inc. (NYSE: JCP) has been a real pain in the backside of activist investor Pershing Square and other value and turnaround investors. This is Bill Ackman’s…
courtesy Making Change at Walmart and UFCW Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (NYSE: WMT) recently held what it called its “Walmart U.S. Manufacturing Summit.” One of the purposes of the meeting was to promote new initiatives to…
thinkstockTwo of the oldest brands in U.S. retailing are engaged in a struggle for survival. And if either is to defy a Darwinian end, some evolution will have to take place. Sears Holdings Corp.…
Courtesy J.C. Penney Co. Inc.; photo by Chris RupertConsider the holiday sales season started, even though Labor Day weekend has not begun. A number of large retailers are stocking up for the period, and…
ThinkstockSupposedly the works of many great painters do not reach their peak value until the artists are dead. In the case of Elmore Leonard, who sold millions of books when he was alive, a related…