A value play
Shares of Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) have been under pressure lately because of its earnings miss in the recent quarter. The retailer mainly caters to the poor and middle class population, which has been financially crunched due to rising gasoline and natural gas prices. Management confirmed that the coming quarters could be stressed if its clientele continuously bears inflationary pressures.
But, with the oversupply of crude, its prices have plunged to below $100, which has relaxed travelling expenses by up to 10%. Although crude prices may head north over the longer run, analysts estimate that its oversupply could drag Brent crude prices down to around $95 over the short term.
Furthermore, the pending minimum wage bill, which demands a 37% hike in minimum wages, could further relax the middle and poor-class population. Since the U.S. economy is showing signs of recovery, on the back of higher consumer spending, it’s highly unlikely that the minimum wage bill would be knocked off the table.
Altogether, these factors would increase the disposable income of the average Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) customers, which would eventually begin to show up in its financials. In my opinion, the positive effects of lower oil prices could be seen almost immediately in the coming quarters.
A growth play
Even Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) seems well-poised for an upside. The store chain operates with over 1,700 stores, mainly spread in the U.S. and Canada. Its management announced that it would be remodeling 100 of its existing stores this year to improve the shopping experience and allow efficient product placement. Furthermore, Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) would be investing $2.3 billion to open around 124 new stores in the U.S., which would eventually boost net sales by up to 8%.
Besides that, the company is also reporting record mobile traffic. For the recent quarter, mobile purchases accounted for 7% of total sales, while mobile traffic accounted for around 25% of overall digital traffic. It’s a well-known fact that mobile payment solutions are catching up fast, due to their timely and convenient mode of transactions. But, that’s not all. As its mobile payment solutions gain greater acceptance, Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) would be able to indulge in direct advertising, at virtually no cost.
A dud!
However, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) seems to be expanding at a sluggish pace. The company opened 16 new stores last year and its management plans to open 27 to 30 new stores in 2013. This rate seems pretty slow for a company with over 600 stores spread in North America, Asia, Australia, and Europe.
With such a diversified global presence, the company generates consistent cash flows. But, it’s this very geographical diversification that has been weighing down financial results. The strengthening Canadian and U.S. dollars have lowered revenue and earnings from Japan and European nations. For the recent quarter, Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) reported 6% sales growth in the U.S., while international sales rose by just 2%.
Wrap up
Since the U.S. dollar is expected to strengthen further, I don’t think investing in Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) would be a good idea. Sure, the company is planning to add store footage, but its management doesn’t seem to have a radical plan to offset inflationary pressures and reduce forex losses. However, Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE:WMT) and Target Corporation (NYSE:TGT) appear to be good investments, and analysts estimate their annual EPS to grow by 9.04% and 11.87%, respectively, for the next five years.
The article A Value Play, A Growth Play, And A Dud! originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Piyush Arora.
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