More bad news from J.C. Penney today in its share price. The sharks are gathering and betting on whether the retailer will or will not emerge from its rapidly falling sales base intact.
The one thing no company can manage successfully for long is declining sales. If there's no top line stability, let alone growth, the bottom line has no chance. Falling sales due to a lack of a company's competitiveness has a tendency to scare away investors --- permanently.
And that seems to be what more and more investors are saying as they continue to vote with their feet by selling Penney's stock and heading for the exits.
J.C. Penney's stock slump persists has the fast deteriorating picture of Penney's stock:
"J.C. Penney Co.
JCP
-9.06%
, whose stock declined about 5% after reporting a 26% third-quarter
same-store sales decline on Friday, slumped another 9% to $18.82 on
Monday to a three-year low after Credit Suisse cut its rating on the
stock to underperform from neutral. It also lowered its price target on
the retailer to $15 from $25 a share.
Analyst Michael Exstein said he's
concerned that Penney won't be able to "stabilize its business in a
timely fashion." Penney "must find a way to significantly slow the sales
decline within the next six months, and if it doesn't, management's
attempt to 'bet the company' could become more problematic."
While the
company highlights the improved sales per square foot at locations with
its new in-store shops, he said the "struggles in the 89% of the store
that hasn't been transformed are only becoming more glaring.""
SUMMING UP
As Penney loses its customer base, look for Target and Wal-Mart to be the ones who gain the most this holiday season and beyond.
At least that's my view.
Thanks. Bob.
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