How is it possible to go from used cars to maternity clothes? I am not sure of the connection but they are both retail firms and the clue to their success comes in their SAME STORE SALES numbers.
Emphasis ADDED because it is one of the MOST important parts of picking a successful retail investment. I am continued to be tempted to post Aeropostale in this location, but they actually missed a year of revenue growth, I believe from 2000 to 2001...and also their SAME STORE SALES recently reported for May are negative.
Anyhow, you could deliver a baby in the time it took me to say all of that!
According to CNN.money, Mothers Work, Inc. "is a specialty retailer of maternity clothing in the United States. As of 3/03, the Company operates 949 retail store locations offering a full range of career, casual and special occasion maternity wear."
After another pregnant pause, let me continue: MWRK is having a great day..up $2.43 to $25.55 which is a 10.51% gain on the day....not exactly TWINS but pretty nice anyway. One could say that the APGAR scores on this stock are definitely tops.
What made this stock move today was the announcement......get this.....of SAME STORE SALES for May! They reported that net sales increased 13.5% to $47.0 million from $41.4 million reported in the month of May, 2002. Comparable store sales for May 2003 increased 4.7% (based on 836 locations).
This is outstanding retail numbers in a relatively anemic retail environment.
Last quarter, MWRK reported net income of $0.3 million or $.06/share compared to net income last year of $.1 million or $.02/common share (diluted).
Net sales increased 6.1% to $111.3 million during this latest quarter from $104.9 million in the same quarter the preceding year.
Looking at Morningstar, we see STEADY and CONSISTENT growth each year from $299.0 million in 1998, to $299.7 million in 1999, $366.3 million in 2000, $388.3 million in 2001, $453.2 million in 2002 and $465.1 million in the trailing twelve months.
Overall, free cash flow has improved from $5 million in 2000 to $16 million in the trailing twelve months.
Assets/Liabilities are fairly well balanced.
This stock looks nice. And an important point is that VALUATION is good. Trailing p/e is only 11.67. Stock is moving UP from a DEPRESSED level, and very small market cap of $134.3 million with only 5.257 million shares outstanding.
Bob