Share |

Wednesday, November 21, 2007

Happy Thanksgiving - Black Friday

Happy Thanksgiving!

Finally after days of downhill slides in the major indices, we finally could get a break and focus on spending some money instead of seeing the cash evaporates from the stock market.

Although the retailers this year are more conservative about the holiday sales than before, they are still trying the best to attract buyers by offering incredible deals on the still very anticipated Black Friday.

The following are list of links to Black Friday ads for those public traded retailers:
  • Best Buy Co. Inc. (BBY): the Black Friday sale includes 32" Flat-Panel LCD TV for $449.99 and Sony VAIO Lapto for only $399.99. The stock has just came out from 52 weeks low and looks like maybe ready for a holiday season rally.
  • BJ's Wholesale Club Inc. (BJ): the sale on Friday began at 7:00 am and includes 42" LCD HDTV for $699.99 and Nikon Digital Camera for $189.99. The stock has not been hurt by the recent down turn and is still trading at the same price as the beginning of the year at $33.92 per share.
  • Carters Inc. (CRI): on Friday go to the children's clothing retailer and you may have a chance to win as much as $50 in savings from the instant scratch-off coupon and also a free photo book. The stock is now trading near 52 weeks low of $20.22 per share but seems to be ready to go up again.
  • Circuit City Stores Inc. (CC): the Thanksgiving sale for the electronics retailer include $150 savings in Nikon digital SLR camera and $172 for a miniDV camcorder. The stock has been struggling for the year, losing 75% for the year and is now trading at $5.45 per share.
  • Costco Wholesale Copr. (COST): the Thanksgiving sale for the discount warehouse includes $500 off for a 58" LCD TV and discount for various memory sticks. The stock has been doing well for the year rising almost 20%. The recent subprime blow has yet to hurt the stock.
  • Target Corp.(TGT): the Black Friday sale includes $49 digital photo frame, $549 37" LCD TV and 50% off on 14K gold pendant. The stock has just bounced back from 52 weeks low of $50 and is now trading at $54 per share. The highest of the year was $70 in July.
  • Wal-Mart Stores Inc. (WMT): Thanksgiving deal includes $100 digital camera, $198 DVD camcorder and various discount on LCD TV. The stock hasn't move much this year and is now close to $45, about $1 off from the price in January.

Friday, November 2, 2007

Babyboomer Market

It was a while back when baby boomers is the main topic of the stock market. However emerging markets, alternative energy and natural resources took over and became the main targets that the investors are chasing after.

So have the time for the baby boomers gone? On the contrary, it has just begun because at this moment the baby boomers are just about for retirement and we should probably see other industries on sharp growth due to the increasing demand from the boomers.

One of the industries that could benefit a lot from the retiring baby boomers is the senior housing industry. The following are some companies worth looking:
  • Senior Housing Properties Trust (SNH): this is a real estate investment trust (REIT) which focuses on investment in senior apartments, living properties and nursing homes. The company owned 196 properties in 32 states as of end of 2006. Contrary to other risky REITs that focuses on residential properties, the stock performance of SNH has been stable throughout the year and could be a save investment for the long term not to mention its quarterly 34 cents per share dividends.
  • Brookdale Senior Living (BKD): the Chicago based senior living facilities operator owns 546 facilities in 35 states that can hold over 51,000 senior residents. The revenue has almost doubled from 2005 to 2006 and has been rising steadyly for the past few quarters. The stock is now trading around 52 weeks low of $35.99 per share.
  • Capital Senior Living corporation(CSU): the Dallas, Texas based company manages 64 senior living communites in 23 states with total capicity of 9,500 residents. The company has shown steady growth in revenue for the past couple of years. Although the stock hasn't been doing well for the past two years, for investors who bought the stock back in 2003 still enjoyed return of close to 300%. With demand expecting to soar, this should be a great stock to get.
  • Sunrise Senior Living Inc. (SRZ): this senior living services provider operates 397 communities United States, 11 in Canada, 2 in Germany and 5 in United Kingdom with total resident capacity of 51,000. The company is getting close to $2 billion in revenue for the end of 2005 with income of $80 million dollars. The stock for this year actually gained more than 15% and is now trading at $35.7 per share.
  • Emeritus Corporation (ESC): the Seattle based company operates 203 assisted living communites in 35 states with total capicity of 20,149 residents. The company has shown steady growth in revenue for the past few years. The stock for the past 3 months has been on the rise from $20 to $32 recently.
  • Five Star Quality Care, Inc. (FVE): the senior living communities operator manages 162 communites with 18,117 living units. The revenue growth is a bit slower but should be near or at $1 billion this year. The stock has been on the rise for the past three months as well but is still 30% off it's high earlier this year.