52-Week Low Club (BIG, BONT, CHS, M, OMX, SSI, HOT, ZLC, RT, F, WM, BSC)

We didn’t include only retail names on the 52-week lows today, but it could have been easy to do.  The retail scene just didn’t do too hot over Christmas and these are pying the price.  The good news is that many of these names bounced back above their 52-week lows.

Here are the retail names alone:

• Big Lots (NYSE: BIG) still slurping.
• Bon Ton Stores (NASDAQ:BONT)
• Chico’s FAS (NYSE: CHS)
• Macy’s (NYSE: M)
• Office Max (NYSE: OMX)
• Stage Stores (NYSE:SSI)
• Starwood Hotels (NYSE: HOT)
• Zale’s (NYSE: ZLC)

Ford (NYSE: F) merely touched on its 52-week lows but didn’t put in any new 52-week lows.  Maybe this one isn’t quite retail, but it sure reflects a weak consumer. 

Ruby Tuesday (NYSE:RT) is in the same boat as it isn’t a retail store but is consumer discretionary (and the food is nothing special).

A couple surprise financial names are on today’s list, although maybe it isn’t that large of a surprise.  Bear Stearns (NYSE: BSC) didn’t stay that low, but it was looking dismal this morning.  Washington Mutual (NYSE:WM) also didn’t stay that low but this morning was looking a bit harsh for WA-MU.

Jon C. Ogg
December 26, 2007