Arden Group, Inc. (NASDAQ:ARDNA)

Garranova (92.46) Submitted: 4/6/2011 12:50:56 PM : Start Price: $77.85 ARDNA Score: +12.24

I think management is telegraphing what they think of valuation by purchasing its own shares.

Value1000 (82.26) Submitted: 12/4/2010 10:52:12 AM : Start Price: $84.87 ARDNA Score: -22.08

The company is essentially owned and controlled by one man - Bernard Briskin, age 85. At the risk of sounding callous the man at some point in the not to distant future will be unable to run the company. With nobody in a position to run the company it will likely be taken private. With a market cap of $250M, no debt, a TNW of $80M and a free cash flow yield of 10% based on its 2009 annual financial statements this firm should get a healthy premium from any interested PE shops. In addition, this firm provides an excellent way to play the Southern California real estate market as all of its (Owned) stores are in that market. While investors wait for a sale they can enjoy a 1.3% yield.

smith972 (86.10) Submitted: 8/12/2010 4:05:44 PM : Start Price: $86.37 ARDNA Score: -22.43

Arden looks cheap to submit here in caps. I will be watching this one for future real position.

cibient (86.12) Submitted: 2/10/2010 12:51:21 PM : Start Price: $90.90 ARDNA Score: -28.81

Steady decline since July '09 while the S&P has gone up nicely. Valuation and balance sheet look very nice. 85 year old CEO holds most of the company. Betting it either gets taken private or acquired at some point.

xserver (98.86) Submitted: 12/29/2009 3:26:13 PM : Start Price: $91.88 ARDNA Score: -23.57

Operates upscale grocery stores in LA, also owns some real estate. Fundamentals look great, but where's the future growth?

Asianabere (94.96) Submitted: 9/9/2008 7:00:27 PM : Start Price: $150.53 ARDNA Score: +53.85

Everyone seems to be optimistic on this one. Gonna use the seer's powers to call a peak

iStockInvestor (38.30) Submitted: 7/12/2008 9:47:21 PM : Start Price: $132.24 ARDNA Score: -44.36

New screen; from 3 stars three months ago, 4 stars two months ago, and five stars this month

austin2307 (74.89) Submitted: 3/20/2008 8:01:40 PM : Start Price: $139.93 ARDNA Score: -41.95

History of performance & great profit margin. With the mortgage issues, this company is going to perform very fast.

pencils2 (99.87) Submitted: 11/12/2007 7:52:58 PM : Start Price: $127.67 ARDNA Score: -28.26

Through its subsidiaries Arden-Mayfair and Gelson's Markets, operates 18 higher-end supermarkets in Southern California. The company also owns some real estate properties through its subsidiary, Mayfair Realty.

Reasons to be interested:

1. Company has been growing earnings at a very quick pace lately (in most recent quarter earnings grew 57%), yet the stock has a P/E of approximately 15.

2. Cash flow production is consistent and increasing and is fueling the business's growth. With this cash flow production the balance sheet has grown to $74.31 million in cash with only $1.27 million in cash. The company has been able to pay a consistent dividend every quarter since 2003 as well.

3. Despite the company's superb financial growth and strong fundamentals, no analysts follow the stock. Wall Street doesn't know who the Arden Group is! This has kept the stock down at what are very attractive levels.

Main risk:

1. As with pretty much all grocery stores, Arden faces plenty of competition, although the company does have stronger margins than most competitors.

http://www.pencils2.com/companysummaries/ardengroup.html

Adizrael (93.51) Submitted: 11/8/2007 12:16:08 PM : Start Price: $127.10 ARDNA Score: -26.94

It's the trend and the positive opinions at this date, that make me rate "outperform".

Just a darn good company.

NetscribeServcs (63.75) Submitted: 2/15/2007 7:31:06 AM : Start Price: $116.96 ARDNA Score: +22.88

Arden Group Inc through its subsidiaries Arden-Mayfair Inc and Gelson’s Markets, operates supermarkets in Southern California and also owns certain real estate properties. The company operates 18 supermarkets, carrying perishable and grocery products, of which 17 are operated under Gelson’s brand name and the remaining under Mayfair brand. The target audience includes people mainly from elite class, who value superior products.

The retail grocery market in US is highly competitive with business in supermarkets dependent upon quality and price of merchandise products, store location, service, brand awareness and supply chain management. Many of the biggest super market chains are highly organized. The stores of the national and regional chains are generally larger than Gelson’s stores which, in some cases, enable them to offer more products. Further, the slow down in the US economy could also adversely affect the retail industry.

Gelson is highly dependent on its largest supplier United Western Grocers for all its supplies. Almost 18% of purchases are made from this supplier. Any loss from Unified is likely to impact the revenues and profitability of the company. A few of the company’s stores offer in-store banks and pharmaceutical products. However, most of the company’s stores are not large enough for such additional facilities. The stock price for Arden Group seems to be fully valued at current levels. In absence of any major triggers in near term and with lack of earnings visibility, the stock is losing investor’s attention.