Topic: How To Invest

What do you think about MarineMax?

Article Excerpt

MarineMax, Inc., $10.53, symbol HZO on New York (Shares outstanding: 21.9 million; Market cap: $231.0 million), is the largest recreational boat and yacht retailer in the U.S., with 55 stores in 18 states. The company also sells boat-related services, such as insurance, repair, maintenance and storage. MarineMax first sold shares to the public for $12.50 each in June 1998. Consumers are continuing to put off big discretionary purchases like boats because of the weak economy. That has pushed down demand for MarineMax’s products. As well, the company gets 45% of its revenue from Florida; the state’s poor housing market has hurt consumer confidence and further dampened MarineMax’s sales. In response, the company has closed 40% of its stores across the U.S. since 2007. In its first quarter, which ended December 31, 2009, MarineMax’s sales fell 0.2%, to $100.2 million from $100.4 million a year earlier. The company closed 20 stores over the past year, so its same-store sales rose 13%. However, MarineMax was forced…