Retail sales dropped 0.4% to a seasonally adjusted $418.3 billion for March, according to a Commerce Department report (link opens in PDF) released today.
After jumping a revised 1% for February, this latest report failed to signal any significant advances. Analysts had expected steady sales, but were disappointed by the report's sector-sweeping declines. The latest figure is 2.8% above the March 2012 number.
From February to March, gas station sales dropped the most (-2.2%), while miscellaneous store retailers managed a 0.8% increase. Motor vehicle & parts dealers sales fell 0.6%. Of the 13 major business categories measured by the Commerce Department, six posted month-over-month gains.
Comparing sales from 2013's first three months to that period in 2012, nonstore retailers' 14.5% increase takes the cake. Motor vehicle & parts dealers sales are up 7.1% so far this year compared to the first quarter of 2012, followed by a 6.5% increase for sporting goods, hobby, book & music stores. Department stores lag with a 4.9% drop, while electronics & appliance stores have taken a 0.8% hit. Across all businesses, sales in the first three months of 2013 are 3.7% larger than the number from the previous year.�
Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: Sears Holdings Corporation(SHLD)
Sears Holdings Corporation operates as a specialty retailer in the United States and Canada. The company?s Kmart segment operates stores that sell merchandise under Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer labels; and Sears brand products, such as Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard. This segment?s stores provide consumer electronics, seasonal merchandise, outdoor living, toys, lawn and garden equipment, food and consumables, and apparel, as well as operate in-store pharmacies. Its Sears Domestic segment operates stores that sell merchandise under the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard, Lands? End, Covington, Apostrophe, and Canyon River Blues brand names. This segment?s stores provide appliances, consumer electronics, tools, sporting goods, outdoor living, lawn and garden equipment, home fashion products, automotive products, apparel, footwear, jewelry, accessories, health and beauty products, pantry goods, household products, and toys. The Sears Domestic segment also provides clothing, acces sories, footwear, and soft luggage; appliances and services to commercial customers in single-family residential construction/remodel, property management, multi-family new construction, and government/military sectors; premium appliance and plumbing fixtures to architects, designers, and new construction or remodeling customers; parts and repair services for appliances, lawn and garden equipment, consumer electronics, floor care products, and heating and cooling systems; and home improvement services. The company?s Sears Canada segment engages in the retail of apparel and other softlines. Sears Holdings Corporation operates approximately 2,172 full-line stores and 1,338 specialty retail stores in the United States; 500 full-line and specialty retail stores in Canada, as well as operates 17 floor covering stores, 1,734 catalog pick-up locations, and 108 travel offices; and kmart.com and sears.ca Websites. The company was founded in 1899 and is based in Hoffman Estates, Illi nois.
Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: Skilled Healthcare Group Inc.(SKH)
Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates skilled nursing facilities, assisted living facilities, hospices, home health providers, and a rehabilitation therapy business. Its skilled nursing facilities provide specialty care, such as chemotherapy, enteral/parenteral nutrition, tracheotomy care, and ventilator care, as well as offers various services, including room and board, special nutritional programs, social services, recreational activities, and related healthcare and other services. These skilled nursing facilities include Express Recovery, a unit that provides skilled nursing care and rehabilitation therapy for patients recovering from conditions, such as joint replacement surgery, and cardiac and respiratory ailments. The company?s assisted living facilities provide residential accommodations, activities, meals, security, housekeeping, and assistance in the activities of daily living to seniors who are independent or who require some support , but not the level of nursing care provided in a skilled nursing facility. Skilled Healthcare Group also offers ancillary services, such as physical, occupational, and speech therapy, as well as rehabilitation therapy service to third-party skilled nursing operators. In addition, the company offers hospice services comprising palliative and clinical care, education, and counseling with a focus on the physical, spiritual, and psychosocial needs of terminally ill individuals and their families. As of December 31, 2010, it owned or leased 78 skilled nursing facilities and 22 assisted living facilities, together comprising 10,830 licensed beds in California, Texas, Iowa, Kansas, Missouri, Nevada, and New Mexico. The company has a joint venture with APS?Summit Care Pharmacy, LLC that operates a pharmacy in Austin, Texas. Skilled Healthcare Group, Inc. is based in Foothill Ranch, California.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Beacon Equity]
Skilled Healthcare Group Inc. (NYSE: SKH) shares got a boost on news of possible sale. The company has retained J.P. Morgan Securities LLC to explore options for the company. At last check, the stock was up 9.91% to $15.41 on volume of over 971K shares. The stock has put in a new 52-week high of $15.93 early in the session. (NYSE:SKH), (SKH)
Top 10 China Stocks To Watch For 2014: Marathon Oil Corporation(MRO)
Marathon Oil Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an international energy company with operations in the United States, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, Oil Sands Mining, and Integrated Gas. The Exploration and Production segment explores for, produces, and markets liquid hydrocarbons and natural gas. The Oil Sands Mining segment mines, extracts, and transports bitumen from oil sands deposits in Alberta, Canada; and upgrades the bitumen to produce and market synthetic crude oil and vacuum gas oil. The Integrated Gas segment markets and transports products manufactured from natural gas, such as liquified natural gas and methanol. The company was formerly known as USX Corporation and changed its name to Marathon Oil Corporation in July 2001. Marathon Oil Corporation was founded in 1887 and is based in Houston, Texas.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Skousen]
Marathon Oil (MRO) has been downgraded by TheStreet Ratings from buy to hold. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its robust revenue growth, reasonable valuation levels and good cash flow from operations. However, as a counter to these strengths, we find that the stock has had a generally disappointing performance in the past year.
Marathon Oil Corporation, through its subsidiaries, operates as an international energy company with operations in the United States, Canada, Africa, the Middle East, and Europe. It operates through three segments: Exploration and Production, Oil Sands Mining, and Integrated Gas. The company has a P/E ratio of 8.1, above the average energy industry P/E ratio of 5.6 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Marathon Oil has a market cap of $18.9 billion and is part of the basic materials sector and energy industry. Shares are up 4.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Friday.
Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: Ingles Markets Incorporated(IMKTA)
Ingles Markets, Incorporated operates a supermarket chain in the southeast United States. Its supermarkets offer food products, including grocery, meat and dairy products, produce, frozen foods, and other perishables; and non-food products, such as fuel, pharmacy products, health and beauty care products, and general merchandise, as well as provides private label items. The company?s stores also offer products and services, such as home meal replacement items, delicatessens, bakeries, floral departments, video rental departments, and greeting cards, as well as a selection of organic, beverage, and health-related items. In addition, it engages in the fluid dairy processing and shopping center rental businesses. The company operates 203 supermarkets, including 74 in Georgia, 69 in North Carolina, 36 in South Carolina, 21 in Tennessee, 2 in Virginia, and 1 in Alabama. As of September 24, 2011, it operated 74 in-store pharmacies and 70 fuel centers; owned and operated 70 shop ping centers of which 58 contain an Ingles supermarket; and owned 94 additional properties that contain a free-standing Ingles store; and owned 13 undeveloped sites. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Black Mountain, North Carolina.
Top 5 Consumer Service Companies To Own For 2014: North Group Finance Limited (NOR.V)
North Group Finance Limited engages in investing and merchant banking businesses in Canada and Germany. It makes long-term investments in Internet technologies/e-commerce and undervalued companies; and short-term investments. The company also provides bridge loans, which offer tailored lending solutions to companies in need of access to short-term financing for capital investment or to further a company's business and/or restructuring plans. Its merchant banking operations include financial and management services for corporate finance transactions comprising mergers and acquisitions, venture capital, and corporate restructurings. The company was formerly known as North Group Limited and changed its name to North Group Finance Limited in December 2005. North Group Finance Limited is based in Vancouver, Canada.
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