Hypermarkets & Super Centers

Housing Starts fell in December to a seasonally adjusted annual rate of just 529,000 from 553,000 in November, a fall of 4.3%. The November numbers were revised slightly lower from 555,000, so it is possible to see the decline as 26,000. Relative to a year ago they are down 8.2%. Quite frankly, a...

Target Corporation's (TGT) efficient marketing, multi-channel strategy, product innovation, compelling pricing strategy and new merchandise assortments should help drive comparable-store sales and operating margins in the long term. We expect the company to gain market share, and believe that...

Target Corporation's (TGT) efficient marketing, multi-channel strategy, product innovation, compelling pricing strategy and new merchandise assortments should help drive comparable-store sales and operating margins in the long term. We expect the company to gain market share, and believe that...

Target Corp. (TGT), in its first expedition outside the U.S., has announced its plan to expand into Canada by acquiring leases for 220 Zellers stores, owned by Hudson Bay Company. Target will be gaining the leasehold interests on the properties by paying C$1.825 billion to Zellers Inc. The...

Target Corp. (TGT), in its first expedition outside the U.S., has announced its plan to expand into Canada by acquiring leases for 220 Zellers stores, owned by Hudson Bay Company. Target will be gaining the leasehold interests on the properties by paying C$1.825 billion to Zellers Inc. The...

Watch for falling stock prices?  Goldman Sachs recently expressed bearish sentiment on Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE:WMT), downgrading shares of the retailer to neutral from buy. Reasons for the downgrade included inflationary risks in the food and apparel sectors, which could limit margin upside. Goldman...

Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance rose by 35,000 last week to 445,000 (last week was also revised up by 1,000, so one could see it as a 36,000 increase). This was much worse than the expected level of 415,000. Could it be that the drop out of the trading range of the last month or so was...

Initial Claims for Unemployment Insurance rose by 35,000 last week to 445,000 (last week was also revised up by 1,000, so one could see it as a 36,000 increase). This was much worse than the expected level of 415,000. Could it be that the drop out of the trading range of the last month or so was...

The improving advertising performance at Meredith Corporation's (MDP) National and Local Media groups, and increasing readership and online traffic have been benefiting the company's top and bottom line results. Meredith is one of the leading media and marketing companies with interests in...

We recently downgraded our recommendation on Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO), the operator of self-service retail discount store chains, to Neutral with a price target of $46.00, following lower-than-expected first-quarter 2011 results. Earlier, we had an Outperform rating on the stock. Family...

The improving advertising performance at Meredith Corporation's (MDP) National and Local Media groups, and increasing readership and online traffic have been benefiting the company's top and bottom line results. Meredith is one of the leading media and marketing companies with interests in...

We recently downgraded our recommendation on Family Dollar Stores Inc. (FDO), the operator of self-service retail discount store chains, to Neutral with a price target of $46.00, following lower-than-expected first-quarter 2011 results. Earlier, we had an Outperform rating on the stock. Family...

PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) just hit a new all-time high at $39.93 after reporting strong Q3 results in early January that included a 14% earnings surprise. With an average earnings surprise of 17% over the last four quarters and bullish growth projection, this Zacks #1 rank stock offers a big box of...

PriceSmart, Inc. (PSMT) just hit a new all-time high at $39.93 after reporting strong Q3 results in early January that included a 14% earnings surprise. With an average earnings surprise of 17% over the last four quarters and bullish growth projection, this Zacks #1 rank stock offers a big box of...