Reports put Nike's endorsement deal with the golfer at $100 million. Brian Sozzi, a retail sector analyst at Wall Street Strategies, draws a direct connection between Nike's decision to stick with Woods and its positive earnings and near 52 week high stock price. "Tiger is golf and, over the next 10 years, he will continue to be golf," Sozzi said. "There's a good financial reason that you want your product associated with one of the greatest athletes of our time." 
Share:  Reports put <span class="company">Nike</span>'s endorsement deal with the golfer at $100 million.<span class="sent"> <span class="analyst">Brian Sozzi</span>, a retail sector analyst at Wall Street Strategies, draws a direct connection between <span class="company">Nike</span>'s decision to stick with Woods and its positive earnings and near 52 week high stock price.</span> "Tiger is golf and, over the next 10 years, he will continue to be golf," Sozzi said. "There's a good financial reason that you want your product associated with one of the greatest athletes of our time."....Reports put <span class="company">Nike</span>'s endorsement deal with the golfer at $100 million.<span class="sent"> <span class="analyst">Brian Sozzi</span>, a retail sector analyst at Wall Street Strategies, draws a direct connection between <span class="company">Nike</span>'s decision to stick with Woods and its positive earnings and near 52 week high stock price.</span> "Tiger is golf and, over the next 10 years, he will continue to be golf," Sozzi said. "There's a good financial reason that you want your product associated with one of the greatest athletes of our time.". Tweet this 

Meanwhile, Home Depot ( HD , news , people ), Philip Morris International ( PM , news , people ), and United Technologies ( UTX , news , people ) have also announced billion dollar share repurchase plans."Now that the worst is over and there is light on the horizon, companies are flush with cash and aside from acquisitions looking for ways to put it to work," says David Silver, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Meanwhile, <span class="company">Home Depot</span> ( HD , news , people ), Philip Morris International ( PM , news , people ), and United Technologies ( UTX , news , people ) have also announced billion dollar share repurchase plans."Now that the worst is over and there is light on the horizon, companies are flush with cash and aside from acquisitions looking for ways to put it to work," says <span class="analyst">David Silver</span>, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies.</span> Tweet this 

Meanwhile, Home Depot ( HD , news , people ), Philip Morris International ( PM , news , people ), and United Technologies ( UTX , news , people ) have also announced billion dollar share repurchase plans."Now that the worst is over and there is light on the horizon, companies are flush with cash and aside from acquisitions looking for ways to put it to work," says David Silver, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Meanwhile, Home Depot ( HD , news , people ), Philip Morris International ( PM , news , people ), and <span class="company">United</span> Technologies ( UTX , news , people ) have also announced billion dollar share repurchase plans."Now that the worst is over and there is light on the horizon, companies are flush with cash and aside from acquisitions looking for ways to put it to work," says <span class="analyst">David Silver</span>, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies.</span> Tweet this 

As it turns to dividends and stock buybacks to increase shareholder value, PepsiCo will be getting a pretty good deal of its own. PepsiCo ( PEP , news , people ) announced Monday that it will increase its annual dividend payout to $1.92 per share from $1.80 per share, a 7% jump and its 38th consecutive increase. The beverage company also said it will repurchase $4.4 billion in shares during 2010 and plans to buy back up to $15 billion of its common stock by . Although its share price was lower six months ago, Wall Street Strategies analyst David Silver thinks Pepsi is getting a good deal by stepping up its buyback now, since he expects the price to be higher in a year. 
Share:  As it turns to dividends and stock buybacks to increase shareholder value, <span class="company">PepsiCo</span> will be getting a pretty good deal of its own. <span class="company">PepsiCo</span> ( PEP , news , people ) announced Monday that it will increase its annual dividend payout to $1.92 per share from $1.80 per share, a 7% jump and its 38th consecutive increase. The beverage company also said it will repurchase $4.4 billion in shares during 2010 and plans to buy back up to $15 billion of its common stock by .<span class="sent"> Although its share price was lower six months ago, Wall Street Strategies analyst <span class="analyst">David Silver</span> thinks Pepsi is getting a good deal by stepping up its buyback now, since he expects the price to be higher in a year.</span>...<span class="company">PepsiCo</span> ( PEP , news , people ) announced Monday that it will increase its annual dividend payout to $1.92 per share from $1.80 per share, a 7% jump and its 38th consecutive increase. The beverage company also said it will repurchase $4.4 billion in shares during 2010 and plans to buy back up to $15 billion of its common stock by .<span class="sent"> Although its share price was lower six months ago, Wall Street Strategies analyst <span class="analyst">David Silver</span> thinks Pepsi is getting a good deal by stepping up its buyback now, since he expects the price to be higher in a year.</span> Rival Coca Cola also has plans to continue its share repurchasing plan and increased quar Tweet this 

Meanwhile, Home Depot ( HD , news , people ), Philip Morris International ( PM , news , people ), and United Technologies ( UTX , news , people ) have also announced billion dollar share repurchase plans."Now that the worst is over and there is light on the horizon, companies are flush with cash and aside from acquisitions looking for ways to put it to work," says David Silver, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies. 
Share:  <span class="sent">Meanwhile, Home Depot ( HD , news , people ), <span class="company">Philip Morris International</span> ( PM , news , people ), and United Technologies ( UTX , news , people ) have also announced billion dollar share repurchase plans."Now that the worst is over and there is light on the horizon, companies are flush with cash and aside from acquisitions looking for ways to put it to work," says <span class="analyst">David Silver</span>, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies.</span> Tweet this 

Furthermore, Wall Street Strategies analyst Brian Sozzi believes that Ann Taylor may have pricing problems when it returns "to full price business longer term." Finally, Sozzi also takes issue with ANN's recent run up, calling it "the richest multiples..ithin our specialty apparel sector coverage." 
Share:  <span class="sent">Furthermore, Wall Street Strategies analyst <span class="analyst">Brian Sozzi</span> believes that <span class="company">Ann Taylor</span> may have pricing problems when it returns "to full price business longer term."</span> Finally, Sozzi also takes issue with ANN's recent run up, calling it "the richest multiples..ithin our specialty apparel sector coverage."....<span class="sent">Furthermore, Wall Street Strategies analyst <span class="analyst">Brian Sozzi</span> believes that <span class="company">Ann Taylor</span> may have pricing problems when it returns "to full price business longer term."</span> Finally, Sozzi also takes issue with ANN's recent run up, calling it "the richest multiples..ithin our specialty apparel sector coverage.". Tweet this 

That boosted earnings per share to 61 cents, swinging back from a year earlier loss of 22 cents. J. Crew Group ( JCG , news , people ) beat analysts earnings estimate of 46 cents per share, but shares continued to dip after hours following a 0.9% fall to $46.99 before the closing bell. The International Council of Shopping Center's weekly retail snapshot on reported that sales at chain stores increased steadily with a 2.9% gain week over week. The increase suggests that consumers are finally headed to the stores to snap up spring merchandise, and J. Crew isn't the first retailer to climb out from a poor finish to 2008 to report strong numbers for the end of 2009. "It's quite depictive of pent up demand being unleashed, and much in line with the demand trends expressed by the management teams" in quarterly earnings reports, says Brian Sozzi, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies. 
Share:  That boosted earnings per share to 61 cents, swinging back from a year earlier loss of 22 cents. <span class="company">J. Crew Group</span> ( JCG , news , people ) beat analysts earnings estimate of 46 cents per share, but shares continued to dip after hours following a 0.9% fall to $46.99 before the closing bell. The International Council of Shopping Center's weekly retail snapshot on reported that sales at chain stores increased steadily with a 2.9% gain week over week. The increase suggests that consumers are finally headed to the stores to snap up spring merchandise, and J. Crew isn't the first retailer to climb out from a poor finish to 2008 to report strong numbers for the end of 2009.<span class="sent"> "It's quite depictive of pent up demand being unleashed, and much in line with the demand trends expressed by the management teams" in quarterly earnings reports, says <span class="analyst">Brian Sozzi</span>, an analyst with Wall Street Strategies.</span> Tweet this 

While most retailers refrained from issuing first quarter guidance, it is evident that consumers began purchasing full priced spring merchandise during the month, an encouraging sign for the quarter. As numbers continue to improve, investors should be focusing on those retailers that are raising dividends (Wal Mart ( WMT Quote ) did so today) and repurchasing shares, Wall Street Strategies analyst Brian Sozzi wrote in a note. Read on for company by company same store sales breakdowns.. 
Share:  While most retailers refrained from issuing first quarter guidance, it is evident that consumers began purchasing full priced spring merchandise during the month, an encouraging sign for the quarter.<span class="sent"> As numbers continue to improve, investors should be focusing on those retailers that are raising dividends (<span class="company">Wal Mart</span> ( WMT Quote ) did so today) and repurchasing shares, Wall Street Strategies analyst <span class="analyst">Brian Sozzi</span> wrote in a note.</span> Read on for company by company same store sales breakdowns.. Tweet this 

"In my mind, the biggest winner was General Motors," David Silver of Wall Street Strategies writes in a note to investors. 
Share:  <span class="sent">"In my mind, the biggest winner was <span class="company">General Motors</span>," <span class="analyst">David Silver</span> of Wall Street Strategies writes in a note to investors.</span> Tweet this 

Last week, upscale department store chain Saks ( SKS , news , people ) and jewelry retailer Zales also showed improved quarterly results on trimmed costs and tighter inventory controls. Wall Street Strategies analyst Brian Sozzi noted that this return to basics approach was important for retailers navigating the sluggish economy (See " Good Execution For Saks And Zales .") . 
Share:  Last week, upscale department store chain <span class="company">Saks</span> ( SKS , news , people ) and jewelry retailer Zales also showed improved quarterly results on trimmed costs and tighter inventory controls.<span class="sent"> Wall Street Strategies analyst <span class="analyst">Brian Sozzi</span> noted that this return to basics approach was important for retailers navigating the sluggish economy (See " Good Execution For <span class="company">Saks</span> And Zales .") .</span> Tweet this