Christopher & Banks Corp (NYSE:CBK)

Sales rose 13.9%
Closed 100 stores
Earnings of 10 cents a share
Where is growth?!?!

As per technical analysis, the trend is down side...

Earnings Estimates Revised Downward

Good balance sheet, good dividend yield but poor management. Once new management comes in hopefully this store rebounds or gets bought out by private investors. I still think this stock rises as the economy starts to rebound.

(41,28,16)
32,28,24

I believe they have found a management team that will lead them back to the top with merchandise their customer base likes.

Overvalued compared to industry. Earnings prospects are tenuous at best.

I have just started researching this company. I became interested because it is a favorite of both my wife and many of her peers. When I shop there (for Christmas and birthday gifts for my wife) the service is helpful and friendly, there appear to be many other shoppers, and the merchandise is attractive.

When I first looked at the key statistics in Yahoo! Finance, I was presently surprized that the company has no debt and lots of cash (in fact, at one point it looked like at its lowest market cap it was trading at about the value of its cash on hand but unfortunately it has appreciated since then), is profitable, and it pays a decent dividend now.

I have just started to read its latest 10K and so far am comfortable with its business plans. It is doing the right things to support future growth (i.e. upgrading its computer system, adding some inventory tracking and predicting software, expanding its buyer supplier networks, etc.). It is suffering along with all other retailers.

At the present time, it markets to women of the baby boomer generation, which is a large and affuent demographic group, thus ensuring a fairly good market segment. However, as more and more of this group retire, their fixed incomes may or may not support the same level of spending. The 10K did not mention any plans to expand its marketing to other demographic groups.

The management appear to be conservative and seasoned (although there have been some recent changes).

I believe that the company is worth more now than its present market cap of $155M. With a P/B of only 0.67 it seems to present the classic Graham value stock (where one can buy shares for less than its liquidation value--it carries no goodwill and little intangible assets on its balance sheet). The big question mark is its future sales. Sales fell in the last quarter compared to the same period last year. How long will this economic climate affect sales? I don't know. However, with a current ratio over 3, shareholder equity greater than the market cap (shareholder equity is about 72% of assets and P/B of 67%), and free cash flow positive, this looks like a company that can weather a protracted recession.

CBK has been beaten down enough. It will recover.

Depressed price due to overselling. Entire industry is down. Once the economy turns watch this one bounce back. Women love this store and the stock has a pretty good div. to boot. It's near the 42 week low. I'm getting in and you should to. Look for this to bounce back up to $16 by the end of 1st quarter 2009.

The price is right on this stock now. This store has great selection and when I am shopping there the women often aren't buying one shirt or pair of pants. They are buying wardrobes. One lady I overheard say she comes twice a year because she has to drive so far, but it's worth it. From the look of it I was glad I wasn't buying her stack of stuff. (But I am buying this stock.)

The ladies love to shop this store!

beaten down, ZERO debt, healthy cash flow and good dividend

Women love this store for quality, price & great sales.

Has suffered some bad times, but will bounce back

Recently, stock bounced off lower 5-yr trend line. I don't love their clothes but my mom does, and she's the target market.

Great clothing line for spring fasions.

Retailer's price seems to have bottomed out and back on the upward trend.

Christopher and Banks is a specialty retailer operating under the Christopher and Banks, C.J. Banks, and Acorn names. Christopher and Banks and C.J Banks stores offer assortments of sportswear and sweaters whereas Acorn stores offer upscale women’s fashions along with complementary jewelry and accessories. The company operates 524 Christopher and Banks, 218 C.J Banks and 37 Acorn stores across U.S.

Many U.S retailers target baby boomers, which today form 29% of the U.S population. With more disposable income and longer life spans, women from baby boomers generation outpace average women apparel spending by 13%. This paints a good picture about the company, which targets female baby boomers. Yet, third quarter performance was mediocre, as novelty and embroidered assortments did not work well for the company. However, management has identified the earlier missteps and will offer more cotton rich and casual assortments for 2007.

Further, the company plans to open 80 new stores in 2007. Majority of the openings are dedicated to C.J Banks as management senses an opportunity to open more stores in areas where these stores already have a strong brand presence. C.J banks, which contributes good percentage to overall revenues, has shown decent performance, so far, in this fiscal. Overall, the company has been able to achieve double-digit revenue growth over the years.

Looking at the merchandising initiatives, CBK Sport line will be launched in 150 stores in March 2007. The company is upbeat on travel knits and expanded its assortment from 20% to 40% of the store base. Moreover, Jacket business, where the company wants to expand its offerings has been a star performer. Further, the company is planning to upgrade its point of sale system, which will bring in efficiencies in their inventory management. Considering all these factors, the scrip looks good enough to bank on.