Tractor Supply Company (TSCO)

There are a lot of companies out there that continue to struggle to balance cost effective and customer service. My info tells me that ratings from an unbiased outside agency have them at the highest levels of customer service of niche retailers even with the lowered payroll.

If you look just simply at their performance, earnings and growth they are consistent and predictable. They continue to return a profit for the investors and to watch the bottom line.

I have seen older ratings and posts on here about the fact they are top heavy or overspending at the corporate level but I can't see any evidence of it. The company's executives even fly on commercial airlines instead of owning a company jet like most companies of their size.

They have easily weathered the housing slump and as home and land sales continue to increase it opens up more areas for expansion and catering to their niche customer. That customer is a small land owner of 5-50 acres, the hobby/small farmer, horse owners and any pet owners.

Those "specfic" complaints seem to sound more like bashing than truth from a "former" employee.

This company has weathered the storm of recession and downfall of many companies need for a bailout, it is strong in the employment market and continues to grow adding new stores, productline and a high standard of customer service. I am buying stock at this time and i feel good about this investment, this is my first time buying stock and I feel i have picked a winner.

Frachise position, they are out there and they are just about the only one. And they try hard.

NTMF

long term pick on improving economy.

Good niche. Customer service must remain strong.

Specialty retailers will see thier business improve into 2009. Especially if the housing, and financial markets bottom out near the end of 2008.

boiseidfool's tip on BetterInvesting 5/26/08 Growth Screen in January 2008.

This company is one of 62 listed on the BetterInvesting Growth Screen in January 2008. It met 4 criteria: it is projected by Value Line to double earnings in the next five years, has actually doubled earnings in the past 5 years, is selling at price-earnings multiples (P/E’s) that are 110 percent or less of Value Line’s projected earnings growth rate and has a safety rating of average or better. It was listed in the March 2008 BetterInvesting magazine.

Strong agricultural product resource stock. In the past it has had great dividends as well. Great P/E ration. It's been a strong performer for years.

Same store sales up

I feel that TSC has some serious issues at both the leadership role at headquarters, and at the store manager level. The problem is they are not paying their store managers a competitive wage, and are losing them left and right. Forget about what you hear from company documents, turnover is well over what they admit. To be successful, I believe that you must keep your top preforming managers.

Also, this company is way to "top-heavy". Way to much money is spent at the posh corporate headquarters in Nashville...while the stores are understaffed and not adequately supplied with payroll.

Although this stock is trading near 52 week lows. I believe there is many other companies with much more upside than TSCO. Try Citigroup, Tesoro, or Six Flags. Good Luck.

Sales of expensive farm-like equipment to baby boomers does not look good to me over the short term.

I like this store. I trust this store. They carry farm and pet supplies I can't get at the big hardware chains. They carry a good selection of items at a decent price. Excellent customer service.

Even some "old time" candies at the checkout I don't see anywhere else.

TSCO..This is the season for earnings to rise with Tractor Supply...

our local stores are doing well according to buzz amongst management.

Overvalued relative to future outlook. Recession worries will likely negatively impact any growth prospects in the farming industry.

I have seen this popping up in more and more rural locations than most supply stores. As the older generations of farmers loyal to the "local" store hand on the business and large corporate farming is pushed aside for organic and local grown crazed crowds, Tractor Supply will be there to supply both the farmer and the urban cowboy what he needs. I can only see more and more coming from this company.

Recent price pullback and affluence of customer base should provide opportunities to enhance margins and grow top line.