Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS)

DKS is very cheap now at 9X earnings. The dividend of 3.6% has shown good growth. While many retailers are experiencing consumer slowdowns, DKS has a 'theft' issue. Theft is the driving force behind Dick's Sporting Goods' 23% EPS drop in 2Q and lowered guidance for the full year, as sales trends were only slightly below expectations in the quarter. Management's revised outlook for fiscal 2023 non-GAAP EPS suggests growth of about 2.5% in 2H vs. 1H's 4% decline as the retailer remains focused on maintaining elevated gross margin, implements a cost-cutting plan and expands its store footprint. Gains in 2H may be more heavily weighted toward seasonally strong 4Q vs. 3Q. The company's unchanged projection for same-store sales to be flat to 2% higher this fiscal year suggests further deceleration in 2H from 2Q's 1.8%, which marked a four-quarter low, as year-over-year comparisons get tougher. Short sellers do often 'pick on' weakness, and it is likely also a short target just for its consumer exposure, as many short sellers expect a recession. Short interest is 12% now. The balance sheet is fine, and we do not think recent issues are fatal. It is priced well, but a recovery is going to take some patience. We would consider it a HOLD.
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Shares just slid 25% after a bad quarter. Earnings were down 23% YOY and slashed their earnings forecast 11%, but the stock was oversold. There were positives: they're gaining market share, and July sales were accelerating. Okay, margins were ugly. Excess inventory and theft were to blame. He's happy with the 3.6% dividend. He likes them unveiling House of Sports stores which include batting cages, artificial turf to try on cleat shoes and rock-climbing walls. These stores are experiences. Their golf sales tap into the rise in gold. Their new app for kids, Game-Changer, could become a major money-maker, worth over $1 billion by his research.

It reports next week. It's one of the best retail stocks. He targets $150, just $4 off, so he might sell before the report. Trades at 10-11x PE, not that cheap, really. Expects a good quarter.

He's buying this week's dip. Dick's is down on today's Nike news about supply chain constraints. Dick's stock is very cheap and the managers offered good guidance.

Still likes this. Had a mishap, which was largely golf related. Have taken some pretty drastic steps in curtailing the floor space allocated to golf and let go of a lot of their golf professionals in the stores. This was unfortunate as the rest of the business performed extremely well last quarter. They still had positive earnings and positive same-store sales. Trading at around 15-16 times earnings. Very well-managed company.

(Top Pick Mar 27/13, Up 11.84%) Still growing.

Great company. Sold off a couple of weeks ago on some lowered guidance, which brought it into a buying range at 14X next year’s earnings. Operates in excess of 500 stores. Growth plans over the next 4 or 5 years to get to 1000 stores. Have been growing mid-teens for the last several years. Wouldn’t be surprised to see it in the mid-$50’s before the end of the year.