Seeking Alpha: Belle International Fairly Popular Despite Some Core Weakness

It is certainly true that not all retail is the same and that has been quite clear over the last six months in China's retail sector. Food retailers like Sun Art (OTCPK:SURRY) and China Resources Enterprise (OTCPK:CRHKY) are struggling through weak same-store sales growth, but footwear and sportswear retailers like Belle (OTCPK:BELLY), Daphne (OTCPK:DPNEY), and ANTA Sports (OTCPK:ANPDY) are doing quite a bit better despite unimpressive same-store growth in the footwear business.

I have mixed feelings about Belle shares after this better than 10% move since my last update. I think Belle has a very good business (six of the top ten women's footwear brands in China and a long run of double-digit returns on capital), but management still has a lot of work to do with its online strategy. I'm also a little concerned about valuation, as the market seems to already be pricing in at least 8% annual free cash flow growth across the next decade.

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Belle International Fairly Popular Despite Some Core Weakness

Investopedia: China's Sluggish, But Nike's Growing Well Everywhere Else

Nike (NYSE:NKE) gave investors a rare chance to pick up shares at a more reasonable price twice this year, but it looks like it's back to business as usual for the world's biggest footwear company. Although business in China remains sluggish, Nike's overall growth and margin profile continue to look quite strong.

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http://www.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2012/Chinas-Sluggish-But-Nikes-Growing-Well-Everywhere-Else-NKE-UA-LULU-VFC1228.aspx

Investopedia: Nike Still Winning

It seems a little strange that footwear and athletic apparel maker Nike (NYSE:NKE) never quite gets the same respect or admiration that Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO), Microsoft (Nasdaq:MSFT) or Wal-Mart (NYSE:WMT) get from investors and business historians. After all, Nike started at almost the same time as Wal-Mart and is every bit as global (if not more) in its reach and influence.


Perhaps even more to the point for investors, Nike continues to grow at a pace that most other giant consumer products companies struggle to match. With Nike arguably having room for improvement and expansion in multiple areas, there would be seem to be no immediate cause to think Nike cannot continue to grow for many years to come.

A Strong End to the Fiscal Year
Nike reported that sales rose 14% to close out its fiscal year. In topping even the high end of sales estimates, Nike saw footwear sales growth of 19%, apparel growth of near 8%, and equipment growth of 5%. While sales were notably strong in China and emerging markets (and these markets are collectively as important to Nike as Europe), North America was no slouch at 21% reported growth.

To read the full piece, please click below:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Nike-Still-Winning-NKE-FL-FINL-UA-LULU-HBI-COLM0628.aspx

Wait For A Sale On Nike

When is high-quality merchandise not so attractive? When you have to pay up to get it. 

I am a fierce bargain hound, so much so that if I am routinely shopping at your store, you may just have a problem. But that innate cheapness serves me well in the stock market and I think investors who do not already own Nike (NYSE:NKE) should put this one on their "buy when it gets cheaper" watch list.

The Quarter That WasNike had a lukewarm quarter. Revenue was a little light relative to analyst hopes, but still grew about 8% to just over $5 billion. Within that number, footwear sales climbed more than 6% (to about $2.7 billion), while apparel jumped up 13% to $1.3 billion. 

For the full column:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/Wait-For-A-Sale-On-Nike-NKE-ADDYY-FL-FINL-DKS0625.aspx