Saks, Inc. (NYSE:SKS)

Do customers at this retailer really feel the pinch of a recession? Same store sales up 22% in April. Outperform.

Saks clientel are , for the most part, recession proof. Maybe not "depression" proof but we are not in a depression (yet).

trading it short waiting for earnings

solid play, great name, takeover likely

rumor, rumor, rumor.

fast money, playing the holliday season

High end retail will end the year with a bang

If you have to worry about the price of gas then don't worry about shopping here because you can't. Finally divested of all their department stores this company is on the right track. They bought back stock, paid off debt and updated their computer networks allowing each associate to be more productive than ever. A little known fact is that their flagship store in Manhattan is the #1 tourist attraction in NYC. Over 200,000 people pass through their doors per day during the holiday selling season. Their +15% comps last month were about the best in retail. They are expanding their high selling shoe department to an entire floor presently. Most importantly, their customers don't run out of money.

It's a southern sweetheart. That's not THE reason to buy it but it helps. It's big in SA too.

As long as the Republicans have the Presidentcy..the rich will get richer and will continue to freely spend their tax free capital gains on Rolexes and Prada.

Great vanguard for the mass retailer turnaround.

bruch sherman pick

12/8/06. Saks is undergoing a major restructuring. In the past year SKS has sold off brands peripheral to its core enterprise. SKS management has chosen to distribute the sales proceeds to share-holders to the tune of $8/share--now isn't that a novel concept!!? SKS has also trimmed the executive suite and announced international expansion of the Saks Fifth Avenue brand into China and Mexico. In choosing these markets over wealthier Europe, SKS is clearly targeting emerging wealth (growth). Short term, by concentrating on its core Saks brand, shifts toward the strong high-end retail environment. Dow highs means Sak's clientele is living larger than ever. Medium term SKS will benefit from a weaker dollar as the tide of Euro tourists floods in. Since SKS does not have a european presence, SKS arguably will be better positioned (higher on the Euro-tourist shopping list) to benefit from Euro tourism than competitors, like Tiffany, which already have significant European presences. For the long term, the China expansion is particularly exciting. Thanks to its close alliance with PORTS 1961, SKS may have an insider's edge over other western brands competing in China. PORTS has chinese production facilities, opening the possibility that SKS can short cut the long arduous process of developing chinese production for Saks branded product (avoids steep import duties).

So there are short, medium, and long term growth drivers for SKS. But it isn't all a bed of roses. SKS could have much better P/E and P/S numbers. The stock, when adjusting for the cash distributions, has actually run up significantly over the past year, indicating that current share price anticipates future performance improvement. None-the-less, if SKS executes well going forward, the stock should be rewarding.

Late again, but in the game! Yours, gr8iml8

A great upscale department store that should have a good run this holiday.

Tiny boost before NEW YEAR. After that I would be very surprised if this stock can reach 22$.More likely to see this company trading below 17$ in 6 months.

Saks. Christmas 07. Need I say more?

This one has a special $4 dividend payable 11/30 to shareholders a/o 11/15 - this should support the price until 11/15. Then...ouch!