Barnes & Noble, Inc. (BKS), J.C. Penney Company, Inc. (JCP): Not Exactly a Page-Turner

The housing market is booming, and with new construction comes heightened demand for new appliances. Several companies reporting ahead of Sears Holdings Corporation (NASDAQ:SHLD) confirmed the trend of strong appliance sales. There’s something seriously wrong when even a silver lining at Sears is tarnished.

5. There’s never an “easy” button when you need one
The market gave Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) the business after the office-supply superstore chain disappointed investors with fresh financials. The stock tumbled 15% on Wednesday after the retailer posted declining sales and profitability.

The market’s known for some time that the operator’s overseas business is struggling, but now Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS) is revising its outlook even lower. Staples is eyeing a decline in revenue and no more than $1.25 a share in earnings for the year. Its earlier view was calling for a modest increase in sales on earnings of $1.30 to $1.35 a share.

This would seem to be a good time to be Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ:SPLS). Corporate America’s hiring again. New small businesses are starting up. Two smaller rivals have combined in a move that should firm up product pricing. However, the retailer just isn’t getting the job done. Staples sells staple removers, but this week it was investors removing Staples.

The article This Week’s 5 Dumbest Stock Moves originally appeared on Fool.com.

Longtime Fool contributor Rick Munarriz owns shares of LightInTheBox. The Motley Fool owns shares of Staples. 

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