With shares of J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) trading around $5, is JCP an OUTPERFORM, WAIT AND SEE, or STAY AWAY? Let�� analyze the stock with the relevant sections of our CHEAT SHEET investing framework:
T = Trends for a Stock’s MovementJ.C. Penney is a retailer operating more than 1,000 department stores in just about every state in the United States and Puerto Rico. Its business consists of selling merchandise and services to consumers through its department stores and website. It sells family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products through Sephora, and home furnishings. The company has not done too well in recent years, but it is doing what it can to be a top provider of apparel and related products.
J.C. Penney, the department-store chain working to reverse more than two years of losses, posted its first quarterly same-store sales gain since 2011 after Chief Executive Officer Mike Ullman increased discounts.�Sales at locations open at least a year rose 2 percent in the fiscal fourth-quarter, which runs through January, the Plano, Texas-based company said today in a statement. Same-store sales climbed 3.1 percent in the nine weeks through November and December, J.C. Penney said.�Ullman has halted the decline in J.C. Penney�� sales by reviving popular private-label brands and bringing back sales events that former CEO Ron Johnson had done away with. Same-store sales plunged 32 percent in the fourth-quarter a year earlier, and revenue by that measure hadn�� gained since the quarter ended in July 2011.
Top US Companies To Buy Right Now: Points International Ltd (PCOM)
Points International Ltd. provides a range of e-commerce and technology services to loyalty program operators using. These services consist of a range of e-commerce services (referred as its Loyalty Currency Services) that enable the sale of loyalty currencies (such as frequent flyer miles, hotel points and credit card points), both retail and wholesale. The Company also offers a reward management Website referred to as Points.com. The majority of the Company�� loyalty program partners operate in the United States. It also has a European customer base. It has three wholly owned direct subsidiaries: Points.com Inc., Points International (UK) Limited, and Points International (U.S.) Ltd. The Company�� services are generally delivered through Web-enabled e-commerce solutions. Points.com offers members of multiple loyalty programs the ability to track and manage their loyalty currencies. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Hank Coleman]
Anna Subbotina/Shutterstock You may not be fully aware of it, but you're probably sitting on your own personal treasure hoard: a stash of airline miles, hotel points or reward points you've earned through your credit cards. According to statistics compiled by Points.com and its parent Points International (PCOM), a company specializing in helping consumers trade, exchange and redeem reward points, the average American is hoarding more than 61,000 reward points through various programs. Americans have more than 2.65 billion loyalty memberships -- almost 10 per person. This would be fine if we were spending those points -- but we're not. According to Points.com, only 16 percent of us redeem the points that we earn each year. Why do we love reward points? Is there a danger in hoarding them? What should we do with our points as our balances continue to grow? Why Do We Love Reward Points So Much? Getting something for free is a big allure of reward points and loyalty programs. I love that my airline-branded credit card allows me to check a bag for free. Companies view reward programs as marketing by gamification. If businesses can make patronizing them into a game for their customers, they'll be more likely to do what it takes to advance to the next level. And of course, these programs inspire brand loyalty. I'm a huge fan of Fitbit. I'm always striving for the next badge or level with my fitness goals through the site and its devices. I'm also addicted to checking in to the places that I frequent on Foursquare. It drives me crazy when someone ousts me as the mayor of one of my favorite haunts. Gamification is going on with reward points themselves. Companies have found that we desperately want to get to the next level of rewards. That's why companies have different colored credit cards and exclusive levels that offer even more freebies to loyal customers -- though usually for a price. And we are dreamers. We dream that our frequent flyer miles and hotel rew
Best Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Singapore Telecommunications Ltd (SGAPY.PK)
Singapore Telecommunications Limited (SingTel) is engaged in the operation and provision of telecommunication systems and services, and investment holding. SingTel operates in three segments: Singapore, which represent the services and products provided by SingTel and its subsidiaries (excluding SingTel Optus Pty Limited (Optus)); Australia, which represents the services and products provided by Optus, a subsidiary of SingTel domiciled in Australia, and Associates & Joint Ventures, which represents the Company�� investments in associated and joint venture companies, which mainly comprise Advanced Info Service Public Company Limited (AIS) in Thailand, Bharti in India, Globe Telecom, Inc. in the Philippines, and PT Telekomunikasi Selular (Telkomsel) in Indonesia. In December 2013, its subsidiary, Amobee Group Pte Ltd incorporated a subsidiary in Australia known as Amobee ANZ Pty Ltd. In December 2013, its subsidiary, SingTel Optus Pty Limited incorporated Optus Digital Life Pty Limited. Advisors' Opinion:- [By David Hunkar]
Investors looking to add international dividend stocks can consider some of the options listed below:
Company: Singapore Telecommunications Ltd. (SGAPY.PK)Current Dividend Yield: 4.35%
Sector: Telecom
Country: Singapore
Best Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Sonic Corp.(SONC)
Sonic Corp. operates and franchises a chain of quick-service drive-in restaurants in the United States. As of October 03, 2011, the company operated and franchised approximately 3,500 drive-ins. It also leases signs and real estate. The company was founded in 1953 and is headquartered in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By CNNMoney Staff]
Shares of Sonic (SONC) are higher after the drive-in restaurant operator reported earnings that beat Wall Street's expectations.
Carnival (CCL) shares fell after the cruise company reported a first quarter loss.
- [By Wallace Witkowski]
Sonic (SONC) �shares advanced 5.2% to $22.01 on moderate volume after the company reported fiscal second-quarter earnings of 7 cents a share on revenue of $109.7 million. Analysts had expected 6 cents a share on revenue of $110.3 million.
Best Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: Carbonite Inc (CARB)
Carbonite, Inc. (Carbonite), incorporated on February 10, 2005, focuses on the development and marketing of personal computer backup software that enables users to backup, access, and restore data files online. Carbonite is a provider of online backup solutions for consumers and small and medium sized businesses (SMBs). The Company provides secure online backup solutions with anytime, anywhere access to files stored on its servers, which it calls the Carbonite Personal Cloud. In November 2012, the Company acquired Zmanda, Inc.
The Company�� backup solutions works automatically uploading encrypted copies of its customers��files to the Carbonite servers. The Company's customers can browse and share their photos, videos, and documents anytime, anywhere using a Web browser or its free iPad, iPhone, BlackBerry, and Android apps. As of December 31, 2012, the Company had subscribers in more than 100 countries, with subscribers based in the United States representing 94% of its total revenue for 2012.
The Company competes with CrashPlan, Mozy, SOS Online Backup, Apple, Google, Microsoft, Amazon, DropBox, SugarSync, Box and others.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Seth Jayson]
Carbonite (Nasdaq: CARB ) is expected to report Q2 earnings around July 12. Here's what Wall Street wants to see:
The 10-second takeaway
Comparing the upcoming quarter to the prior-year quarter, average analyst estimates predict Carbonite's revenues will grow 27.5% and EPS will remain in the red.
Best Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: ProtoSource Corp (PSCO)
ProtoSource Corporation, doing business as Software Solutions Company, incorporated on July 1, 1988, primarily focuses on the delivery of ePublishing solutions and related services, to newspapers, retailers, and magazines, utilizing internally-developed, applications bridging the divide between traditional print revenue and the opportunities online via a coordinated sales and marketing strategy in the United States and Europe. The Company has two suites of services and solutions offered by its two principle operating units: P2i Newspapers and BX-Solutions.
P2i Newspapers offers products and services tailored specifically to support the online publishing of editorial content, advertising, discounts, deals and offers. Every day of the week, 52 weeks a year, P2i receives electronic files from customers at its facility in Cyberjaya, just south of Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia. Incoming data files are processed overnight for delivery the following morning. Data is delivered not only to P2i's Web servers for seamless integration into its clients' existing, hosted Websites, but also distributed back to clients and their business partners in a range of formats.
The Company's second facility in Fresno, California, operated by, and branded as, BX-Solutions, is a wholly owned subsidiary of ProtoSource Acquisition II, Inc., which provides around-the-clock english and spanish technical support via incoming telephone calls from the customers of technology companies. These comprise small and mid-size Internet service providers (ISP) and telecommunication companies in the United States. This facility also houses and manages servers for its own customers.
The Company competes with Print2Web, Travidia, ShopLocal, Mactive and Olive.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Vanina Egea]
As for global expansion, Wal-Mart is focusing on emerging economies to drive further growth. Along these lines, its main target is China where the firm plans to open over 100 outlets between 2014 and 2016. According to the Institute of Grocery Distribution, retail market of China is expected to grow 11% by 2015, while the U.S retail business will only enlarge at a rate of 4.2% in the same period. However a good opportunity for its business, after 15 years in the country WMT is still struggling to achieve the strong position that it has in other markets. Tough competition from Sun Art Retail Group Ltd. (SURRF), the largest hypermarket operator, and the joint venture between Tesco TLC (PSCO) (the largest U.K. retailer) and China Resources Enterprise Ltd. (0291.HK), make WMT麓s growth arduous. The company has 3% of China麓s market share while Sun Art boasts a large 14%. Nevertheless, the company consistently keeps on the growth path by means of a continuous improvement in the perception of Chinese customers麓 preferences and the opening of new stores to reach the scale needed to compete. Low costs of labor in this country benefit the company to a great extent.
Best Services Stocks To Buy Right Now: World Acceptance Corp (WRLD)
World Acceptance Corporation operates a small-loan consumer finance business in 12 states and Mexico. The Company is engaged in the small-loan consumer finance business, offering short-term small loans, medium-term larger loans, related credit insurance and ancillary products and services to individuals. As of March 31, 2012, the Company offered standardized installment loans through 1,137 offices in South Carolina, Georgia, Texas, Oklahoma, Louisiana, Tennessee, Illinois, Missouri, New Mexico, Kentucky, Alabama, Wisconsin, and Mexico. The Company serves individuals with limited access to consumer credit from banks, credit unions, other consumer finance businesses and credit card lenders. In the United States offices, the Company also offers income tax return preparation services to its customers and others.
During the fiscal year ended March 31, 2012 (fiscal 2012), the Company opened 69 new offices. In each state in which it operates and in Mexico, the Company offers consumer installment loans, which are standardized by amount and maturity. The Company's loans are consumer installment loans, which are payable in fully amortizing monthly installments with terms generally of 4 to 36 months, and all loans are pre-payable at any time without penalty. During fiscal 2012, the Company's average originated gross loan term was approximately 12 months. As of March 31, 2012, the annual percentage rates on loans offered by the Company, which include interest, fees and other charges as calculated for the purposes of the requirements of the federal Truth in Lending Act, ranged from 24% to 204% depending on the loan size, maturity and the state, in which the loan is made. In addition, in certain states, the Company, as agent for an unaffiliated insurance company, sells credit insurance in connection with its loan transactions.
Specific allowable charges vary by state and, consistent with industry practice, the Company generally charges at or close to the maximum rates allowable under app! licable state law in those states that limit loan rates. Statutes in Texas and Oklahoma allow for indexing the maximum loan amounts to the Consumer Price Index. The Company�� loan products are pre-computed loans in which the finance charge is a combination of origination or acquisition fees, account maintenance fees, monthly account handling fee and other charges permitted by the relevant state laws.
The Company, as an agent for an unaffiliated insurance company, markets and sells credit life, credit accident and health, credit property, and unemployment insurance in connection with its loans in selected states where the sale of such insurance is permitted by law. Credit life insurance provides for the payment in full of the borrower's credit obligation to the lender in the event of death. Credit accident and health insurance provides for repayment of loan installments to the lender, which come due during the insured's period of income interruption resulting from disability from illness or injury. Credit property insurance insures payment of the borrower's credit obligation to the lender in the event, which the personal property pledged as security by the borrower is damaged or destroyed by a covered event. Unemployment insurance provides for repayment of loan installments to the lender, which come due during the insured�� period of involuntary unemployment. The Company requires each customer to obtain specific credit insurance in the amount of the loan for all loans originated in Georgia under the Georgia Industrial Loan Act, and encourages customers to obtain credit insurance for all loans originated in South Carolina, Louisiana, Alabama and Kentucky and on a limited basis in Tennessee, Oklahoma, and Texas. Customers in those states obtain such credit insurance through the Company.
In South Carolina, Georgia, Louisiana, Kentucky and Alabama, the Company charges its borrowers for its non-file premiums in connection with certain loans in lieu of recording and perfecting the! Company� �s security interest in the loan collateral. The premiums are remitted to a third party insurance company for non-file insurance coverage. The Company also markets automobile club memberships to its borrowers in Georgia, Tennessee, New Mexico, Louisiana, Alabama, Texas, and Kentucky as an agent for an unaffiliated automobile club. Club memberships entitle members to automobile breakdown and towing reimbursement and related services. The Company is paid a commission on each membership sold.
The Company offers income tax return preparation and electronic filing. This program is provided in all but a few of the Company�� the United States offices. During fiscal 2012, the Company prepared 44,000 returns. During fiscal 2012, 93.4% of the Company�� revenues were attributable to the United States customers and 6.6% were attributable to customers in Mexico. During fiscal 2012, approximately 84.7% of the Company's loans were generated through refinancings of outstanding loans and the origination of new loans to previous customers.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Canadian Value]
So I�� going to stick my next out and share my views on four battleground stocks that are among my favorite shorts: World Acceptance (WRLD), Green Mountain (GMCR), Herbalife (HLF), and InterOil (IOC). And next week at the Value Investing Congress I will present another short, my largest.
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