• Most Popular
  • Most Shared

Foot Locker stock could rally in next year-Barron's

Sun Jul 5, 2009 11:20am EDT

Stocks

   

* Foot Locker's shares could rise to $15-Barron's

* Company's price-to-earnings ratios are below rivals

NEW YORK, July 5 (Reuters) - Foot Locker Inc's (FL.N) shares could rise up to 50 percent in the next year as a reorganization of the athletic shoe retailer positioned it to sprint when the U.S. economy starts to recover, Barron's said.

Foot Locker has been reshuffling its merchandise, closing stores and slashing costs over the last two years anticipating a downturn in the U.S. economy.

Now, the company -- that is trading below its book value of $12.58 per share -- could see its stock jump to $15 from $10 in the next year if the U.S. economy starts to grow, the weekly business publication said in its July 6 edition.

Foot Locker's price-to-earnings multiple of 14 times its fiscal 2009 estimated earnings is below the 15.1 times of Finish Line (FINL.O) and the 17.3 times of Dick's Sporting Goods (DKS.N), leaving Foot Locker in a more attractive position than its rivals.

Foot Locker, which operates more than 3,600 stores around the world, reported a better-than-expected profit in the first quarter as improved margins from recent the cost cuts helped offset a decline in sales. (Reporting by Juan Lagorio; Editing by Maureen Bavdek)



More from Reuters

A male polar bear cannabalizes a polar bear cub in an area about 300km (186 miles) north of the Canadian town of Churchill November 20, 2009. Credit: REUTERS/Iain D. Williams

Polar bear turns cannibal

As the world focuses on climate change in Copenhagen, the animal that has come to represent global warming is turning cannibalistic as the Arctic ice melts their hunting grounds, a U.S.-led global scientific study said.  Slideshow | Full Article 

    Emmanuel Roy, a suspect in a mortgage-fraud scheme is escorted by FBI agents after being taken into custody in New York, October 15, 2009. REUTERS/Brendan McDermid

    Sowing seeds of corruption

    Corruption, whether it's crooked officials, financial fraudsters or philandering sports stars, is the country's No. 1 criminal threat, says the FBI.  Full Article 

    President Barack Obama delivers remarks at Lehigh Carbon Community College in Allentown, Pennsylvania, December 4, 2009. REUTERS/Jim Young

    No price tag on jobs boost

    "There are those who claim we have to choose between paying down our deficits on the one hand, and investing in job creation and economic growth on the other. But this is a false choice."  Full Article