Sozzi's Retail Roundup: Sears' Future Not Looking Good

Brian Sozzi, CEO and Chief Equities Strategist at Belus Capital Advisors dropped by on Benzinga's PreMarket Prep on Wednesday to discuss retailers. Sears SHLD is a retailer that Sozzi follows closely and wants to see succeed due to positive childhood memories. According to Sozzi, Sears' CEO Eddie Lampert has been hiding behind a blog that is not regularly updated. Sozzi believes that Lampert has always viewed the company as something that can be slimmed down over the course of many years to raise cash, perhaps for a personal reason. Related: Brian Sozzi's Retail Roundup, Part 1: JC Penney Sozzi doesn't believe that Lampert takes a pro-active approach and regularly visits stores to see first-hand how horrifically out of date many of them are, as a result of years of under-investments. “He has caused a slow liquidation of the national retail chain. I mean, that is exactly what is happening in front of our eyes,” said Sozzi.

Yes, that is a paper sign $SHLD pic.twitter.com/yue9KvU0Kd

— Brian Sozzi (@BrianSozzi) February 3, 2014

This 1970s style floor is still in use at @Kmart $SHLD pic.twitter.com/9betWHmpqm

— Brian Sozzi (@BrianSozzi) February 3, 2014

Unfortunately, with Eddie Lampert at the helm of the company, Sozzi envisions the company running into serious problems by 2017 and won't be in business past 2020. Sozzi told Benzinga that he believes the company is in liquidation mode with "80 percent off" signs all across stores, which is the easiest way for a company to get rid of its inventory while adding money to the balance sheet.