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Big Lots, Inc.

  • 3 Stocks in the Specialty Retail Business

    By Victor Selva - May 1, 2013 | Tickers: BIG, COST, LQDT

    Slightly different to ordinary retailers, specialty retailers like Big Lots Inc. (NYSE: BIG), Liquidity Services Inc. (NASDAQ: LQDT) and Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ: COST) offer specific products to customers, usually at discount prices, and a differentiated business model with plenty of upside, to stockholders. We will take a look into these three companies with the objective of elucidating if they are a good place to put our money down.

    A more »

  • Does Costco Deserve Its High Stock Price?

    By Meena Krishnamsetty - May 1, 2013 | Tickers: BIG, COST, PSMT, TGT, WMT

    The second quarter of Costco (NASDAQ: COST)’s fiscal year ended in mid February, with strong results for the membership discount retailer. Revenue, over 95% of which comes from sales as opposed to membership fees, was up 8% compared to the same period in the previous fiscal year. This was essentially in line with Costco’s performance in fiscal Q1. While costs were up as well, the company expanded its more »

  • Billionaire Steve Cohen's New Stocks

    By Marshall Hargrave - March 28, 2013 | Tickers: ALU, ADI, BIG, ORLY, TTWO

    Billionaire Steve Cohen added a number of stocks to his portfolio last quarter. He manages some $14 billion via his SAC Capital hedge fund, with over half of that being his own personal wealth. Outlined below are Cohen and SAC Capital's five largest new additions to their portfolio last quarter. 

    The best part about these five stocks is that they all are all less-covered and less well-known than some more »

  • Which Stocks are Hidden Treasures?

    By Ryan Peckyno - February 28, 2013 | Tickers: BIG, DG, DLTR, FDO

    In one of my past assignments, I worked as an Associate Brand Manager at a Fortune 100 company.  That company attempted to differentiate itself from the competition by having a superior understanding of the customer.  

    In that assignment, we did a number of things such as shop-alongs (where you literally shop alongside someone, make observations, and ask probing questions to help you understand how they make purchasing decisions), research studies more »

  • Are These Discount Stores Really a Discount?

    By Chris Hodge - February 26, 2013 | Tickers: BIG, COST, FDO | Editor's Choice

    I love discount stores. They've got the market expansion during bad times and there are always going to be deal-hunters during good times, so they've definitely got room to run. But I'm not about to plunk down my money (whether earning it was easy or hard) unless I can find a good deal. To me, that means a reasonably low price relative to either sales, profits, or more »

  • Looking For Bargains In The Dollar Stores

    By Bob Chandler - February 20, 2013 | Tickers: BIG, DG, DLTR, FDO

    Dollar stores, or low-price discount retailers, were hot stocks during the summer of 2012. Investors found their good same store sales figures and solid profitability very appealing, but some disappointing guidance has recently made the market less enthusiastic.

    Industry leaders like Dollar Tree (NASDAQ: DLTR), Dollar General (NYSE: DG), and Family Dollar (NYSE: FDO) have all seen shares decline from their summer highs. Dollar Tree topped out at $57 per more »

  • Winding Down Fourth-Quarter Earnings

    By Damon Churchwell - February 7, 2013 | Tickers: BGS, BIG, LO, POOL

    We are awaiting results from numerous companies, including many in positively-trending industries. The residential construction market is showing signs of a further recovery, a factor that could spark a broader economic upturn. Meanwhile, retail and consumer spending is treading water but is climbing in certain sectors. Finding the right areas to invest in for the near and long term has become important. A suggestion is to keep track of earnings more »

  • Do Dollar Chains Present Better Value Than Big Box Discounters?

    By Bill Edson - January 16, 2013 | Tickers: BIG, FDO, TGT, WMT

    The prevailing story about discount stores has been that dollar store formats have outpaced big box discounters. They have seen phenomenal earnings growth, and they have positioned themselves as the new low cost leaders, usurping Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT).

    As interesting or compelling as this story is, investors should focus on relative value. The most important question is if a stock is trading at a discount to its peers or to more »

  • Recession Proof Stock With Solid Upside Potential

    By Gaurav Singla - December 24, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, DG, DLTR, FDO

    Dollar General’s (NYSE: DG) stock has been under pressure lately and have corrected more than 16% over the last six months. The company recently reported strong Q3 results with year over year earnings growth of 21%. However, this strong showing has not moved its price and the company is still trading more or less in-line with its peers. Does that mean that the market is under appreciating the growth more »

  • ESL Investments Portfolio Update

    By Federico Zaldua - December 21, 2012 | Tickers: AZO, BIG, COF, NFLX

    ESL Investments is a $5.5 billion hedge fund started by Ed Lampert in 1988. According to Insider Monkey, he believes in concentrated value investing, which is basically aiming to buy assets for less than what they are worth and to sell them at or closer to what they are worth. Lampert makes concentrated bets and holds them for many years, similar to Warren Buffett. Lampert, who typically invests in more »

  • Aside From Apple: 3 Stocks That Have Nosedived From Their 52-Week Highs (Part II)

    By Robby Greengold - December 20, 2012 | Tickers: AAPL, BIG, TPX

    This is Part II of a two-part article. Click here to the first part.

    The past two months have been an exciting time for financial newscasters and pundits. The sensational news is that Apple’s stock – seen by many as infallible – has had a great fall. After hitting $700 in September, with so much enthusiasm and eagerness to see $800 or $1000 right around the corner, Apple investors have been more »

  • Three Retailers With Room to Grow

    By Damon Churchwell - December 10, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, COST, HSNI, JOSB

    Here are a few more of the stocks from my watchlist, particularly retailers. I like the fact that these companies are planning to expand their brick-and-mortar bases. They may also be viewed as adept at finding original avenues whereby to build profits.

    Jos. A. Bank (NASDAQ: JOSB) recently announced that it intends to build its store count 33%, to around 800 units eventually, depending on the company’s performance. It more »

  • Wal-Mart's PR Clouds Demand Lower Valuations

    By Bill Edson - December 4, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, TGT, WMT

    Deserved, undeserved, or most-likely--somewhere in between; Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) bears the burden of bad public relations. Its anti-union stance, labor cost controls, and corporate scandals have turned off a lot of would-be customers. This is a shame, since by and large it is just a firm that turns a profit, not a demon or evil force. Wal-Mart even does great charity at the local national level, which is often ignored more »

  • 2 Alternatives To The Wal-Mart PR Debacle

    By Bill Edson - November 26, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, TGT, WMT

    Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) is a public relations nightmare. Even though it does great charity, both on a local level and on a national scale, its aggressive labor cost controls, anti-union stance, and list of corporate scandals have turned off a lot of potential customers. Investors should require a valuation discount relative to its competitors to invest in a firm with such a dark cloud around its brand.

    Wal-Mart Does Good more »

  • Billionaire Eddie Lampert’s Latest Stock Picks

    By Meena Krishnamsetty - November 19, 2012 | Tickers: AZO, BIG, COF, GPS, NFLX

    Eddie Lampert founded ESL Investments in 1988 and has become a billionaire due to the fund’s strong performance; he has also become the chairman of Sears’s Board of Directors thanks to ESL’s large stake in the company. We have gone through the fund’s 13F for the quarter that ended in September and searched for major changes from last quarter that either show that Lampert and his more »

  • Where Are the Discount Retail Bargains?

    By Bill Edson - November 8, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, DG, DLTR, TGT, WMT

    Where should investors look for bargains among discount retailers?

    Dollar stores have been a darling for investors and consumers alike in U.S. markets. They present a challenge to big box retailers, which seem to have fallen behind. Should investors continue to flock to them, or are other discount retail stocks better priced to sell? Does Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) or any other discount retailer present a better opportunity based on more »

  • These Retail Stocks Are On Sale Now!

    By Brian Shaw - October 9, 2012 | Tickers: ANF, BIG, DLTR, GPS, PERY

     Everyone loves a good sale.  Whether it is a new pair of shoes or a new car, there's more satisfaction when you think you are getting a deal.  The same is true with the stock market; stocks trading at dirt cheap valuations can be quite enticing.  However, the trick is to make sure you do enough diligence to make sure you are finding a diamond in the rough rather more »

  • This Discount Retailer is soaring; but its Reputation is taking a Hit

    By Tedra DeSue - October 8, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, DG, DLTR, FDO

    This week Family Dollar Stores (NYSE: FDO) released its earnings for the fourth quarter, and as expected the company beat Wall Street estimates. As it enjoys quarter after quarter of profits, it should be addressing the growing negative sentiments coming from people in the communities where it is deriving most of its revenues.

    Complaints from consumers in these areas are twofold. They are trying to improve business corridors by attracting more »

  • Big Lots' Big Disappointment

    By RJ Towner - September 5, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, FRED, WMT

    Discounter Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) issued disappointing fiscal year guidance to go along with its mixed second quarter results. Revenue grew 4.3% year-over-year to $1.2 billion, which was in-line with consensus expectations. Earnings from operations, on the other hand, declined 28% year-over-year to $0.36 per share, worse than consensus expectations. Still, second quarter results were overshadowed by the firm’s revised fiscal year earnings outlook, which was more »

  • Dollar Stores Crushing Big Lots

    By Ashish Sharma - August 27, 2012 | Tickers: BIG, DG, DLTR, FDO

    Big Lots’ (NYSE: BIG) 2Q results and updated FY12 guidance were far worse than expected and it is not surprising to see the shares trading down significantly after the earnings announcement. Reported 2Q12 EPS of $0.36 was below consensus estimates of $0.42 and also below the low end of guidance of $0.37-$0.42. Moreover, same store sales were weaker than expected and declined 1.9% as more »

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