sales

5 Surprising Stocks Hitting New Lows

The Dow Jones Industrial Average hit a new all-time high last week, but not every stock went along for the ride. In fact, a whopping 221 stocks hit fresh 52-week lows on the NYSE and Nasdaq exchanges. Let's go over some of the surprising names on the list of underachievers.

Market Minute: J.C. Penney Brings Back Sales

The struggling department store chain this week will begin adding back some of the hundreds of sales it ditched last year in hopes of luring shoppers who were turned off when the discounts disappeared, says J.C. Penney CEO Ron Johnson.

Despite Strong December Sales, a Mixed Holiday Season for Retail

The retail industry is reporting some much-needed good news in the form of stronger-than-expected December sales figures. But those numbers seem to have come as a result of desperate last-minute discounting, suggesting reduced profit margins and an increasingly hard-to-please American shopper.

Post-Christmas Deals Abound After Disappointing Retail Season

The day after Christmas is probably not a great day to be hitting the mall. But there are some good sales to be found today and over the next couple of days, and in many cases they're online sales that don't require you to brave the mall. Here are a few to check out.

McDonald's November Sales Figure Rises

McDonald's said Monday that a key sales figure rose in November, as U.S. customers snapped up the world's biggest hamburger chain's breakfast offerings and limited-time Cheddar Bacon Onion sandwiches. The increase follows a decline in October.

Free Smartphone With That Suit? The Best Deals This Weekend

This weekend represents something of a lull in the holiday season. Black Friday is behind us, and any lingering Cyber Week sales are wrapping up. The remaining big shopping days won't come until later in December. Still, there are deals to be found this weekend. Here are a few.

No Sale: J.C. Penney Reports Worse Than Expected Quarterly Loss

J.C. Penney reported a bigger-than-expected loss in the third quarter on plummeting sales as customers continue to reject its move get rid of blockbuster sales in favor of everyday low pricing. It's the third consecutive quarter of losses and steep sales declines.

Walmart's Black Friday 2012 Will Start at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving

Black Friday sales have been starting earlier and earlier, and now, Walmart is pushing the retail craziness even further: It will open its doors at 8 p.m. on Thanksgiving, before the evening's football game between the Jets and the Patriots even kicks off.

Apple Earnings Fall Short, and Amazon's Miss Too

Apple can no longer be counted on to beat Wall Street's profit targets. The world's most valuable tech company posted mixed quarterly results after Thursday's market close. Though net sales soared 27%, this marked the third miss in the five quarters that CEO Tim Cook has been at the helm.

What JCP's CEO Has to Say About Falling Sales and Rising Cynics

Nearly a year after taking over as CEO of J.C. Penney, Ron Johnson seems all too aware that his image as a retailing miracle worker has been seriously tarnished. But he's not worried about the backward thinking naysayers -- and he's still determined to prove the skeptics wrong.

Wall Street Watch Friday: Mattress Firm's Shares Sag

Wall Street can be pretty stingy: Mattress Firm seems to have posted strong quarterly results on Thursday night, but the stock still tumbled on the report. Sales were up, earnings were high -- so what went wrong?

Fortune's Fastest-Growing Companies

If you're looking for investment opportunities, check out the twenty companies profiled here. There are a few familiar names on the list, but many more you may never have heard of.

Wall Street Watch Friday: Zumiez Wipes Out

Skateboarding is all about keeping your balance and avoiding the always-embarrassing face-plant. But that's exactly what edgy teen apparel retailer Zumiez failed to do with Thursday afternoon's earnings report.

Green Mountain Brews Up a Bitter Pot for Investors

Shares of Green Mountain Coffee Roasters crashed after an abysmal quarterly report Wednesday night. The company behind the Keurig coffeemaker and the single-service K-Cup failed to live up to its guidance, and its 2012 outlook is even more disappointing.

5 Reasons Best Buy Stockholders Should Dread Thursday

The holidays may have come and gone, but when Best Buy posts its quarterly earnings, it's going to very publicly relive them -- whether it wants to or not. Wall Street analysts are generally optimistic, but there reasons for investors to worry.

Taco Bell's Doritos-Flavored Shells: Loco or Ingenioso?

The new iPad wasn't the only big thing to be unveiled last week: Taco Bell had a big launch, too -- a new taco shell that's made with Doritos nacho chips. Taco Bell is hoping consumers will scarf down "Doritos Locos Tacos" and drive a turnaround in its lackluster sales.

How J.C. Penney Just Might Transform the Way We Shop

New CEO Ron Johnson's plan to revamp J.C. Penney is seriously ambitious. No more coupons, almost no more sales, and a complete rethink of the department store model. So why does he think he can pull it off -- and with a chain that has lagged its rivals? Because maybe he can. Here's why:

5 Reasons You're Not Buying Video Games Anymore

The latest news on the video game front isn't pretty. Media tracker NPD Group's data reveals that industry sales plunged 21% last month. It's clear that the industry is undergoing a radical shift, but for investors, the more important issue is why.

Record Super Saturday Sales Signal a Consumer Rebound

Following a record Black Friday, retail sales hit new heights on Dec. 17 -- the penultimate shopping Saturday before Christmas and a day when retailers trot out themed promotions. It's a sign that many consumers have rebounded from the recession and unleashed their pent-up buying demand.

3 Holiday Predictions You Can Invest On

It's going to be another interesting holiday shopping season as retailers jockey for position for the seasonal spending sprees. Where will buyers go? What will they buy? Let me go out on a limb and predict a few things.

Cyber Monday: A Big Deal at Real World Stores Too

For great deals on Cyber Monday, turn off the computer and go bargain-hunting in brick-and-mortar stores. Between retailers desperate to compete and websites starting sales earlier, e-commerece's big day is losing its online luster.