J.C. Penney Tops Expectations

Article Excerpt

J.C. PENNEY CO. INC. $38 (New York symbol JCP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 222.1 million; Market cap: $8.4 billion; WSSF Rating: Average) continues to do a good job controlling its inventories and other costs in the face of weaker consumer spending. In the three months ended August 2, 2008, earnings per share fell 33.3%, to $0.52 from $0.78 a year earlier. However, the latest earnings exceeded consensus forecasts of $0.50 a share. Sales fell 2.3%, to $4.3 billion from $4.4 billion, while same-store sales fell 4.3%. The stock fell below $28 in July 2008, but has gained 30% since. It now trades at 11.0 times the $3.44 a share it will probably earn in its current fiscal year. The company’s success in keeping its costs down should also let it keep paying its $0.80 dividend (2.1% yield). J.C. Penney is a buy. buy…