Bank of America Merrill Lynch is hoping that a new product offering will give wealthy clients the chance to see a monetary return on their philanthropy by investing in a program to rehabilitate ex-convicts.
The firm launched its first so-called social-impact bond with $13.5 million in funding from large retail and institutional clients, including Bill Ackman's Pershing Square Foundation, the Laura and John Arnold Foundation and former Treasury Secretary Lawrence Summers. The funds, which were collected over a period of six weeks, will go to help former prison inmates find jobs.
The investment works as a contract between New York State and a private charity, the Center for Employment Opportunities. As part of the agreement, the government sets objectives for the charity to fulfill, and a third party, Social Finance Inc., which partnered with Merrill Lynch to find wealthy investors, will raise the funds.
Hot Diversified Bank Companies For 2015: Rite Aid Corp (RAD)
Rite Aid Corporation, incorporated in 1968, is a retail drugstore chain in the United States. As of March 3, 2012, the Company operated drugstores in 31 states across the country and in the District of Columbia. As of March 3, 2012, it operated 4,667 stores. In the Company�� stores, it sells prescription drugs and a range of other merchandise, which it calls front end products. During the fiscal year ended March 3, 2012 (fiscal 2012), prescription drug sales accounted for 68.1% of its total sales. The Company carries a range of front end products, which accounted for 31.9% of its total sales in fiscal 2012. Front end products include over-the-counter medications, health and beauty aids, personal care items, cosmetics, household items, beverages, convenience foods, greeting cards, seasonal merchandise and other everyday and convenience products, as well as photo processing. It offers a variety of products under its private brands, which contributed approximately 17% of its front end sales in the categories where private brand products were offered in fiscal 2012. As of March 3, 2012, the Company had opened over 2,100 GNC stores-within-Rite Aid-stores. During fiscal 2012, the Company sold two owned operating stores to independent third parties.
During fiscal 2012, its stores filled approximately 295 million prescriptions and served an average of 2.1 million customers per day. The overall average size of each store in its chain is approximately 12,600 square feet. As of March 3, 2012, 60% of its stores were freestanding; 51% of its stores included a drive-thru pharmacy; 24% included one-hour photo shops, and 46% included a GNC store-within-Rite Aid-store. The Company�� customers may also order prescription refills over the Internet through www.riteaid.com, or over the phone through its telephonic automated refill systems for pick up at a Rite Aid store. It has a strategic alliance with GNC, a retailer of vitamin and mineral supplements.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By John Divine]
While there are many others, Rite Aid's (NYSE: RAD ) stock is particularly ill-suited for a comparison against the Dow's performance. The drug store, with a market cap just above $7 billion, is less than a quarter of the size of the Dow's smallest component. But Rite Aid investors are doing just fine without the Dow to serve as a constant comparison. Shares jumped 5.6% today as last month's same-store sales increased a booming 7.5% month over month, driven by revenue from its pharmacy. With increasing competition from other drugstores to recruit recurring pharmacy customers via techniques like loyalty programs, the longer-term concern is whether Rite Aid's slim margins can hold up or not.
- [By Teresa Rivas]
Rite Aid (RAD) was up more than 15% at recent check, near six-year highs, as its second quarter surprised investors with an unexpected profit.
The drugstore said it earned $32.8 million, or three cents a share, compared with a year-earlier loss of $38.8 million, or a nickel a share. Analysts were looking for a per-share loss of four cents for the period ended August 31.
Rite Aid�� total sales climbed 0.8% to $$6.28 billion, while same-store sales rose 1%, as a 0.3% decline in front-end sales was more than offset by a 1.7% increase in pharmacy sales.
In addition, Rite Aid also increased its forecast, saying it now expects to earn to between 18 cents and 27 cents a share on sales of $25.1 billion to $25.3 billion and same-store sales of plus or minus 0.5%. The company�� EPS estimate is above expectations, while the revenue guidance is in-line with current forecasts.
At recent check, rival Walgreen (WAG), the nation�� largest chain, was up 0.5%, while CVS Caremark (CVS), the second-largest drugstore operator, was down 0.1%.
- [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Leading and Lagging Sectors
In trading on Friday, non-cyclical consumer goods & services shares were relative leaders, up on the day by about 0.09 percent. Among the leading sector stocks, gains came from Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) and Xueda Education Group (NYSE: XUE). Financial sector was the leading decliner in the US market today. - [By Jake L'Ecuyer]
Top Headline
Rite Aid (NYSE: RAD) reported a 16% rise in its fiscal third-quarter earnings.For the fiscal year, Rite Aid lowered its earnings forecast to $0.17 to $0.23 per share, on revenue of $25.3 billion to $25.425 billion. The company had earlier expected earnings of $0.18 to $0.27 per share, on revenue of $25.1 billion to $25.3 billion.
Top Retail Stocks To Watch Right Now: The Pantry Inc.(PTRY)
The Pantry, Inc. operates a chain of convenience stores in the southeastern United States. The company?s stores offer a selection of merchandise, fuel, and ancillary products and services. Its merchandise products include cigarettes, grocery and other tobacco products, packaged beverages, beer, and wine. The company operates stores under various selected banners, which primarily include Kangaroo Express. As of September 29, 2011, it operated 1,649 convenience stores located in Florida, North Carolina, South Carolina, Georgia, Alabama, Tennessee, Mississippi, Virginia, Kansas, Kentucky, Louisiana, Indiana, and Missouri; and 233 quick service restaurants. The company was founded in 1967 and is headquartered in Cary, North Carolina.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Geoff Gannon]
For one thing, I can�� tell a great oil company from a not so great oil company. I can�� evaluate the company�� culture, management, etc. There was no way I was ever going to answer questions like that. But I can easily split Murphy�� U.S. retail business from its other operations. And I can compare that part of the company to other public companies like Pantry (PTRY) and Susser (SUSS). I can also ��this is much harder ��look at Murphy�� reserves and compare them to other oil companies��reserves. The SEC now requires a standardized way of reporting discounted net cash flows for all oil companies. So, there�� certainly a specific number available for every company. Whether it�� a very good number or not depends on the assumptions the method uses.
- [By Sean Williams]
Much of the same can be said about The Pantry (NASDAQ: PTRY ) , a predominantly Southeastern U.S. convenience store chain that operates under the Kangaroo Express name. Food inflation has been minimal, the weather hasn't been as cooperative, and consumer traffic fell 4.6% in its most recent quarter. But where other investors see weakness, I see an opportunity.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Pantry (Nasdaq: PTRY ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Jeremy Bowman]
What: Shares of The Pantry (NASDAQ: PTRY ) were down as much as 15% today after the convenience-store chain posted a second-quarter loss and missed Wall Street estimates.
Top Retail Stocks To Watch Right Now: Ross Stores Inc.(ROST)
Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home accessories stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand names in the United States. Its Ross Dress for Less brand stores sell brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices; and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores sell apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. As of January 29, 2011, the company operated 1,055 stores, of which 988 were Ross Dress for Less brand stores in 27 states and Guam, and 67 were dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores in 6 states. Its Ross Dress for Less brand stores primarily target middle income households and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores target moderate income households. Ross Stores, Inc. was found ed in 1957 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Andrew Marder]
That focus on full-price is the core of TJX's strategy. The brand is known as a discounter, but hitting higher margins is the key to increasing comparable sales and income. Over this last quarter, gross margin came in 28.4%, which is in line with competitor Ross (NASDAQ: ROST ) , which had a gross margin of 27.8% in its last quarter.
- [By Rich Duprey]
Try this on for size
While some clothing shops such as Gap (NYSE: GPS ) beat analyst expectations on same-store sales last month, the fact that they were down 1% anyway is hardly a source of confidence. TJX (NYSE: TJX ) was down 2.2%, while�Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST ) was up 2%, actually beating expectations, but far below the 10% jump it experienced a year ago.� - [By Inyoung Hwang]
Equities halted a four-day rally on the last session of the week amid disappointing retail sales and tumbling commodity prices. Consumer-discretionary stocks led gains as all 10 S&P 500 groups rose. L Brands Inc. and Ross Stores (ROST) Inc. climbed at least 9 percent amid higher-than-estimated sales. Newmont Mining Corp. slumped 7.6 percent as gold entered a bear market.
Top Retail Stocks To Watch Right Now: Lands End Inc (LE)
Lands��End, Inc. (Lands��End), incorporated on August 19, 1986, is a multi-channel retailer of casual clothing, accessories and footwear, as well as home products. The Company offers products through catalogs, online at www.landsend.com and affiliated specialty and international Websites, and through retail locations, primarily at Lands��End Shops at Sears and standalone Lands��End Inlet stores. The Company operates in two segments: Direct and Retail, and it offers merchandise that includes men��, women�� and kids��apparel, outerwear and swimwear; specialty apparel; accessories; footwear; and home products. In addition, Lands��End Business Outfitters offers business casual apparel and a variety of promotional products that can be embroidered to enhance a partner company�� image. The Lands��End School Uniform business provides school uniforms and school-appropriate clothing designed to meet dress-code requirements.
Lands��End Direct
The Company�� Direct business sells its products through its United States and international e-commerce websites and through direct mail catalogs. The customers can choose from several ordering methods- Internet, phone, mail, or in-store computer kiosks. The Company also offers specialty services, such as monogramming, embroidery and hemming pants to length. It also operates three call centers out of Dodgeville, Reedsburg and Stevens Point, Wisconsin. Its customer care representatives are available 24 hours a day, seven days a week and 364 days a year. The Company�� apparel sales include men��, women�� and kids��apparel, footwear and accessories. It offers a full range of fits from Petites to Plus for women, Slim to Husky for kids and Big and Tall for men. The Company�� Lands��End Canvas collection focuses on updating the Lands��End heritage pieces with tailored fits, designs and fabrics throughout the line. Through its Lands��End Business Outfitters and School Uniform businesses, it offers tailored and busi! ness casual apparel for office wear, trade shows and company events and uniforms and school-appropriate clothing designed to meet dress-code requirements.
Lands��End Retail
The Company�� Retail business sells products and services through standalone Lands��End Inlet stores and dedicated Lands��End Shops at Sears across the United States. Each Lands��End Shop at Sears features Lands��End products, personalized service, enhanced visuals and a shopping lounge where customers can search all of its offerings through the Internet and its catalog. The Company�� Lands��End Shops at Sears offer a selection of products for men, women and kids and select stores offer footwear and products for the home.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Maria Armental and Anna Prior]
Lands' End Inc.(LE) said in its first earnings release since it was spun off from Sears Holding Corp.(SHLD) in April that its fiscal first-quarter profit rose nearly 50% on higher revenue and margins.
- [By Ben Levisohn]
If Land’s End (LE) proved anything with its financial results today, it’s that it’s not Sears (SHLD).
ZUMAPRESS.comRemember: Land’s End was spun off from Sears back in April, as CEO Eddie Lampert continued to pare back non-core assets, though a better term for those assets might be “the good stuff.”
And that term appears appropriate for Land’s End following today’s financial results. Land’s End reported a profit of 37 cents a share, up from 35 cents a year earlier, while sales grew by more than 5% to $347.2 million. (When Sears last reported in August, its sales fell 9.7%, while reporting a loss of $573 million.)
Investors rejoiced. Shares of Land’s End have jumped 21% to $40.39, a new all-time high, and even Sears is getting in on the fun. It’s shares have gained 2.2% to $33.63 at 3:42 p.m.
Top Retail Stocks To Watch Right Now: Matahari Department Store Tbk PT (LPPF)
PT Matahari Department Store Tbk operates as a multi-format retailer. The Company, based in Indonesia, operates as the Department Store division of Matahari Putra Prima. The Matahari Group is Indonesia's multi-format retailer with core retail businesses in fashion and household groceries businesses targeted for middle - upper middle consumers throughout the country. Advisors' Opinion:- [By Emma O��rien]
PT Matahari Department Store (LPPF), Indonesia�� largest retailer, climbed 7.7 percent to 14,000 rupiah after the stock was added to the MSCI Emerging Markets Index.
Top Retail Stocks To Watch Right Now: Mattress Firm Holding Corp (MFRM)
Mattress Firm Holding Corp. (Mattress Firm), incorporated on January 5, 2007, is a specialty retailer of mattresses and related products and accessories in the United States. The Company conducts its operations through its indirect, wholly owned subsidiary, Mattress Holding Corp. and its subsidiaries. As of August 2, 2011, the Company and its franchisees operated 620 and 107 stores, respectively, primarily under the Mattress Firm name, in 60 markets across 25 states. The Company focuses on the national brands, but also offers its customers its Hampton and Rhodes private label mattresses. The Company has introduced its YuMe brand. On October 15, 2010, the Company acquired Peak Management, LLC. On December 1, 2010, the Company acquired Maggie's Enterprises, Inc. In May 2012, Mattress Firm announced the completion of its acquisition of regional bedding company, Mattress Giant Holding Corp. Effective September 9, 2013, Mattress Firm Holding Corp, a unit of JW Childs Associates LP, acquired Olejo Inc, a provider of ecommerce retail services.
The Company�� stores carry national mattress brands, with a range of styles, sizes, price points and features. The Company provides its customers with their choice of traditional mattresses, including Sealy and Simmons, as well as specialty mattresses, such as Tempur-Pedic. In addition to its mattress selection, the Company offers a range of bedding-related products and accessories.
Conventional Mattresses
Conventional mattresses, such as those of Sealy (including Sealy Posturepedic and Stearns and Foster) and Simmons (including Simmons Beautyrest), utilize steel-coil innersprings. During the fiscal year ended February 1, 2011, the conventional mattresses represented approximately 75% of bedding industry sales in the United States and approximately 60% of the Company�� total sales. In addition to these national brands, the Company also offers its Hampton and Rhodes private label mattresses.
Specialty Mattresses
Specialty mattresses, such as those manufactured by Tempur-Pedic and select comfort, utilize materials other than steel-coil innersprings to provide comfort and support. In fiscal 2010, the specialty mattresses represented approximately 30% of the Company�� total sales. The Company is expanding its assortments in the categories, including viscoelastic foam mattresses and yume sleep system. Viscoelastic foam, also referred to as memory foam or polyurethane foam, features a temperature sensitive foam core that reduces pressure points and tossing and turning by contouring to one's body. The Company has introduced a sleep system made of foam produced from coconut oil, utilizing a technology that uses ambient air to heat and cool the mattress surface.
Furniture and Accessories
During fiscal 2010, the Company was in the process of introducing new headboards and footboards, which complement its current bedding products. All of the Company�� stores carry an assortment of bedding-related accessories, including bed frames, mattress pads and pillows. In fiscal 2010, bedding-related products and accessories represented approximately 7% of the Company�� total sales from Company-operated stores.
The Company competes with Mattress Giant, American Mattress, Haverty's, Rooms-To-Go, Macy's, Sears, JC Penney, Walmart, Costco and Original Mattress.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Monica Gerson]
Mattress Firm Holding (NASDAQ: MFRM) is projected to report its Q2 earnings at $0.60 per share on revenue of $409.99 million.
Bebe Stores (NASDAQ: BEBE) is estimated to post a Q4 loss at $0.17 per share on revenue of $104.79 million.
- [By John Kell and Lauren Pollock var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); ]
Mattress Firm Holding Corp.(MFRM) fiscal fourth-quarter earnings rose 14%, as the company reported a strong increase in revenue and same-store sales. Shares rose 6.9% to $47.50 premarket.
- [By Rick Munarriz]
Tuesday
Mattress Firm (NASDAQ: MFRM ) hopes investors sleep well after checking out its latest quarterly report. The leading retailer of bedding has made the most of its publicly traded status by acquiring smaller rivals in the highly fragmented mattress retailing market. It may also be seen as a housing play if folks moving or buying new properties decide that paying movers to haul over an old mattress may not be worth it.
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