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Eric Novinson

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  • This Brewer Could Beat the Bears

    By Eric Novinson - May 21, 2013 | Tickers: BUD, SAM, BREW

    Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM) lost some ground to other craft brewers last quarter as Sam Adams sales dipped. Nevertheless, this brewer's investment in hard cider beverages continues to pay off. The brewer also funds a research organization that has other craft beers under development. Investors remain concerned about Boston Beer's valuation, though. Here are three reasons Boston Beer could still be a promising investment at this level.

    Overall more »

  • This Exercise Equipment Company's Turnaround Continues

    By Eric Novinson - May 17, 2013 | Tickers: BC, LTM, NLS

    Back in 2007, Sherborne decided that exercise equipment seller Nautilus (NYSE: NLS) could get in better shape. The activist investor group had a difficult task ahead. Sherborne bought a company that made home fitness equipment -- right before the housing market collapsed. Here's how Sherborne nevertheless got Nautilus back on track.

    The Takeover

    Nautilus entered 2007 with rising sales. The exercise equipment company reported revenue of $524 million in 2004 more »

  • Whole Foods' International Plans

    By Eric Novinson - May 9, 2013 | Tickers: HAIN, UNFI, WFM

    Whole Foods (NASDAQ: WFM) got attention with its stock split, but this health food store's international expansion potential could be the most important part of its 2Q 2013 earnings release. The grocer mentioned that it might add stores in Britain and Canada. This strategy could help Whole Foods keep growing while keeping its long term strategy on track, and recent results from Hain Celestial (NASDAQ: HAIN) suggest that this more »

  • This Web Wedding Company Is a Cash Cow

    By Eric Novinson - May 2, 2013 | Tickers: M, MSO, XOXO

    XO Group (NYSE: XOXO) has an interesting story. This Internet company, founded by a husband and wife team who still run it, was originally called the Knot and still owns TheKnot.com web site. The company got its start in wedding planning, later moving into other areas such as household and pregnancy planning. The name change showed that the wedding planning company had entered new business areas. Now that the more »

  • Four Areas To Consider With Cintas

    By Eric Novinson - April 30, 2013 | Tickers: CTAS, GK, UNF

    Uniform supplier Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS) may offer defensive potential. Uniforms help represent a company's image to the public, and Cintas has a strong brand in the uniform business. This company has also branched out beyond uniforms by offering fire, safety, and first aid services, as well as document protection. Competitors in the uniform rental business have gained efficiency recently though, which could be a potential source of trouble for more »

  • Lighter Airplanes Are No Dream

    By Eric Novinson - April 24, 2013 | Tickers: HXL, BA, ZOLT | Editor's Choice

    Airplanes paid off for Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) this quarter. This company produces lightweight composite airplane parts for both Boeing (NYSE: BA) and Airbus. Hexcel makes composite helicopter blades and wind turbine blades as well. Hexcel's achieved solid results in the airplane business, and the company's composites and carbon fiber products could also find uses in other industries.

    Financial Results

    In general, the first quarter of 2013 went well more »

  • SWOT Analysis of National CineMedia

    By Eric Novinson - April 22, 2013 | Tickers: CNK, NCMI, RGC

    National Cinemedia (NASDAQ: NCMI) sells the ads that show up on movie theater screens. This business model limits National's operating costs because the movie theaters pay for much of the necessary equipment, which allows this advertising company to pay out large dividends. National Cinemedia has a symbiotic relationship with the movie theaters themselves. Three major movie theater chains, AMC, Cinemark, (NYSE: CNK) and Regal, (NYSE: RGC), created National Cinemedia more »

  • Starbucks and Monster Look Better After Coca-Cola's Report

    By Eric Novinson - April 19, 2013 | Tickers: KO, MNST, SBUX

    Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) started off 2013 with decent results. Even though the beverage seller's revenue dipped, the report impressed the market, which looks positive for companies that sell refreshments in general. Coca-Cola reported especially strong results in its tea, juice, and energy drinks businesses. Rising demand for these products could help Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) and Monster, (NASDAQ: MNST) although these companies do have to consider the competition from Coca-Cola more »

  • Starbucks and Monster Look Better After Coca-Cola's Report

    By Eric Novinson - April 17, 2013 | Tickers: KO, MNST, SBUX

    Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) started off 2013 with decent results. Even though the beverage seller's revenue dipped, the report impressed the market, which looks positive for companies that sell refreshments in general. Coca-Cola reported especially strong results in its tea, juice, and energy drinks businesses. Rising demand for these products could help Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) and Monster, (NASDAQ: MNST) although these companies do have to consider the competition from Coca-Cola more »

  • The J.C. Penney Mess Makes Nordstrom Look Better

    By Eric Novinson - April 15, 2013 | Tickers: JCP, M, JWN

    The J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) turnaround plan hasn't been working out, and now the department store's brought back its last CEO. The department store announced that Ron Johnson is out and Mike Ullman has returned. Investors didn't seem impressed with Ullman's return, which highlights the importance of leadership for department stores. J.C. Penney remains embroiled in its lawsuit with Macy's (NYSE: M) as more »

  • Four Factors To Consider With The G-III Group

    By Eric Novinson - April 3, 2013 | Tickers: GIII, M, PVH, TJX

    Licensing deals with major clothing brands have helped the G-III Apparel Group (NASDAQ: GIII) achieve impressive results. G-III also has a brand portfolio of its own that includes the G-III brand itself, Andrew Marc brands, and 2012 acquisition Vilebrequin. Although the Vilebrequin deal wasn't cheap, it addressed G-III's weak points and opened up new growth areas. The G-III Apparel Group also looks reasonably priced, and this clothing maker more »

  • DSW Stays On The Shelf For Now

    By Eric Novinson - March 26, 2013 | Tickers: DSW, GMAN, KSS, ROST, TJX

    DSW (NYSE: DSW) helps shoppers find inexpensive shoes that still impress, so the bull case for this stock shares similarities with the bull cases for clothing sellers TJX (NYSE: TJX) and Ross Stores. (NASDAQ: ROST) Unfortunately for DSW, early 2013 results didn't impress, and the shoe seller cut its guidance for the year. Retail investors can also pick cheaper stocks like Gordmans (NASDAQ: GMAN) and Kohl's, (NYSE: KSSmore »)

  • Multiple Brands Definitely Help Yum! Right Now

    By Eric Novinson - March 26, 2013 | Tickers: MCD, PEP, SONC, YUM

    Yum! (NYSE: YUM) may have convinced Chinese diners to come back. After a chicken contamination scandal hit Chinese KFC restaurants hard last quarter Yum! warned that this problem could weigh on the company's results for the entire year. Now, Yum! looks like it might recover from this scandal sooner. And KFC isn't the only thing Yum!'s cooking up. Taco Bell has shaken up its menu, adding a more »

  • Three Key Areas For Tilly's

    By Eric Novinson - March 22, 2013 | Tickers: PSUN, ZQK, TLYS, ZUMZ

    Surf and skate clothing retailer Tilly's (NYSE: TLYS) wiped out after hours on Wednesday after releasing disappointing results. Tilly's had higher than usual fiscal 2012 expenses because of IPO-related costs, but weaker same store sales figures provided the main reason for the dip. This release still had one major bright spot for investors though, as Tilly's surpassed an important growth projection it made when it went public more »

  • Hain Celestial's Counterattack

    By Eric Novinson - March 19, 2013 | Tickers: HAIN, K, KR, WFM

    Hain Celestial (NASDAQ: HAIN) could soon have a much wider moat, even if more competitors enter the organic food business. The natural food company recently announced a wide variety of new product launches and upgrades that include products with Bisphenol A (BPA) free packaging, and reiterated its support for GMO labeling laws. Private label competition remains a threat, but competitors could have difficulty matching Hain's moves here. 

    Organic Competition more »

  • Marissa Mayer's Telecommuting Decision Could Help This 2013 IPO

    By Eric Novinson - March 14, 2013 | Tickers: BFAM, GOOG, HD, YHOO

    Soon after Marissa Mayer became the CEO of Yahoo!, (NASDAQ: YHOO) she announced a policy that required telecommuters to show up at the office. If this plan works for Yahoo!, other large tech companies could follow by cutting back their own work from home plans. These companies may need to make arrangements for workers who have young children, which could mean more clients for recent child care center IPO Bright more »

  • This Struggling Pharmacy Made Another Turnaround Move

    By Eric Novinson - March 12, 2013 | Tickers: CVS, ESRX, RAD, KR, WAG

    Pharmacies had a challenging February. Both Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) and Walgreen (NYSE: WAG) reported weaker same store sales. CVS (NYSE: CVS) didn't report monthly sales figures, but high gas prices don't help this pharmacy's customers either.

    The tough retail environment threatens Rite Aid's turnaround efforts, but the struggling drugstore has come up with a strategy that could add sales. Rite Aid's plan makes its more »

  • Multiple Brands Definitely Help Yum! Right Now

    By Eric Novinson - March 12, 2013 | Tickers: MCD, PEP, SONC, YUM

    Yum! (NYSE: YUM) may have convinced Chinese diners to come back. After a chicken contamination scandal hit Chinese KFC restaurants hard last quarter Yum! warned that this problem could weigh on the company's results for the entire year. Now, Yum! looks like it might recover from this scandal sooner. And KFC isn't the only thing Yum!'s cooking up. Taco Bell has shaken up its menu, adding a more »

  • Safeway Cheers Up

    By Eric Novinson - March 7, 2013 | Tickers: CVS, SWY, TFM, WMT, WFM

    Safeway (NYSE: SWY) just proved that traditional grocers won't go down without a fight. The grocer's Lifestyle remodeling efforts have paid off, and other stores that sell groceries have cut back their expectations. A recent trip to a local Vons store (Safeway owns Vons) showed that the grocer definitely made some improvements, but now Safeway has to show that it can keep its turnaround going. If Safeway can more »

  • Nordstrom Racks Up Strong Results

    By Eric Novinson - March 4, 2013 | Tickers: JCP, M, MSO, JWN

    Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) demonstrated that shoppers who want high end clothing remain very interested in bargains. Nordstrom Rack stores brought in more revenue in 2012, and the discount concept could pay off even more in 2013. A battle between competitors Macy's (NYSE: M) and J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) over contracts with Martha Stewart Living (NYSE: MSO) has also heated up recently, which could also have potential upside for more »

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