Investopedia: Staples Seems Stuck

Eventually, even the best-run companies run out of levers to pull when it comes to producing more growth. Staples (Nasdaq:SPLS) is a fine retailer in many respects, and I don't believe that there are many (or perhaps "any") retailers that have built a quality

Unfortunately, Staples is stuck in an oversaturated North American market that just isn't likely to grow fast enough, while the ongoing economic problems in Europe have turned the international operations into a loss-maker. While these shares do indeed look meaningfully undervalued, they could stay undervalued for a quite a while yet, unless management can sell the Street either on new growth plans or a more aggressive cost-cutting strategy.

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Investopedia: The Market's Bipolar Vistaprint Disorder

Small business service provider Vistaprint (Nasdaq:VPRT) is the gift that keeps giving for both market traders and financial writers. This stock seems to swing wildly between enthusiasm and dejection, a response no doubt due in part to the company's changing business model and the significant risks inherent in the current strategy. While Vistraprint is a consummate second-chance stock, right now does not look like the best time to take a flyer on this name.

The Third Quarter Looked Smudged  
Although Vistaprint's stock did well in the immediate aftermath of the earnings announcement, that may have been due in part to relief that the company met numbers and did not lower guidance again. The results that the company actually reported did not seem so worthy of such enthusiasm.  

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Investopedia: Are Companies Replanting Their Cube Farms?

For employees stuck in uninspiring cube farms, the office equipment sector may have all the appeal of thumbscrews. For investors, though, there are definite signs of life after several years of recession-induced doldrums. Even though companies are not yet hiring workers in large numbers, it looks as though an equipment refresh cycle has begun, and that could mean better days for shares in companies like Steelcase (NYSE:SCS) and Herman Miller (Nasdaq:MLHR).


A Surprisingly Strong May Quarter
While Steelcase and Herman Miller operate on different fiscal calendars, their quarters nevertheless coincide. What also coincides is surprisingly strong performance, order growth and revenue results well in excess of analyst expectations.

For the quarter Steelcase reported organic revenue growth of 23% and order growth of 25%. To keep this in perspective, though, investors should realize that the revenue for the comparable quarter in 2008 was 29% higher still, so the company has a while to go before regaining prior peak levels. Although Steelcase has seen higher input costs, gross margin was flat and the company reported a major improvement in adjusted operating income.


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