1-Star Stocks Poised to Plunge: Hot Topic?
Based on the aggregated intelligence of 180,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, specialty retailer Hot Topic (NAS: HOTT) has received the dreaded one-star ranking.
With that in mind, let's take a closer look at Hot Topic's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.
Hot Topic facts
Headquarters (Founded) | City of Industry, Calif. (1988) |
Market Cap | $385.6 million |
Industry | Apparel retail |
Trailing-12-Month Revenue | $715.1 million |
Management | Chairman/CEO Lisa Harper |
Return on Equity (Average, Past 3 Years) | 1.2% |
Cash/Debt | $63.6 million / $0 |
Dividend Yield | 3.6% |
Competitors | Abercrombie & Fitch |
Sources: S&P Capital IQ and Motley Fool CAPS.
On CAPS, 46% of the 386 members who have rated Hot Topic believe the stock will underperform the S&P 500 going forward.
Just last week, one of those Fools, jed71, succinctly summed up the Hot Topic bear case for our community:
[T]his is a very high price for a very risky stock. Trading at 27 times earnings and 13 times cash flows. This company is attempting to compete in a very tough industry. In addition, teen and young adult unemployment continue to be at very high levels across the country. Do they really have the extra $$ to spend in stores such as this? My guess is no but maybe Mommy and Daddy are making up for the lack of cash in most teens' pockets.
I expect margins to continue to get squeezed across the clothing industry. Mostly due to higher cotton and material costs (driven by high soft commodity and oil prices). I did not look at their website for long but it looks very grungy and maybe a little Goth. How many teens still adhere to this style?
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The article 1-Star Stocks Poised to Plunge: Hot Topic? originally appeared on Fool.com.
Fool contributorBrian Pacamparaowns no position in any of the companies mentioned. Try any of our Foolish newsletter servicesfree for 30 days. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe thatconsidering a diverse range of insightsmakes us better investors. The Fool'sdisclosure policyalways gets a perfect score.
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