Financial Results, Expansions and Market Strategies - Research Report on Lowe's, Home Depot, Staples, Lumber Liquidators, and Barnes & Noble

NEW YORK, August 26, 2013 /PRNewswire/ --

Today, Analysts' Corner announced new research reports highlighting Lowe's Companies Inc. (NYSE: LOW), The Home Depot, Inc. (NYSE: HD), Staples, Inc. (NASDAQ: SPLS), Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. (NYSE: LL), and Barnes & Noble, Inc. (NYSE: BKS). Today's readers may access these reports free of charge - including full price targets, industry analysis and analyst ratings - via the links below.

Lowe's Companies Inc. Research Report

On August 21, 2013, Lowe's Companies Inc. (Lowe's) reported its Q2 FY 2014 financial results (period ended August 2, 2013) with sales of $15.7 billion, up 10.3% YoY. Net earnings totaled $941 million, up 26.0% YoY, and diluted EPS grew 37.5% YoY to $0.88, during the quarter. Robert A. Niblock, Lowe's Chairman, President and CEO said, "Home improvement demand was strong during the quarter, and we capitalized on it with improving execution. We drove a healthy balance of ticket and transaction growth, and delivered solid performance across all product categories." For full-year FY 2014, Lowe anticipates total sales to increase 5% and diluted EPS is anticipated to be c.$2.10. The Full Research Report on Lowe's Companies Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/b4cd_LOW]

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The Home Depot, Inc. Research Report

On August 20, 2013, The Home Depot, Inc. (Home Depot) reported its Q2 FY 2014 (period ended August 4, 2013) financial results with reported sales of $22.5 billion, representing a 9.5% YoY increase. Net earnings totaled $1.8 billion or $1.24 per diluted share, in Q2 FY 2014, compared with net earnings of $1.5 billion or $1.01 per diluted share, in Q2 FY 2013. "The second quarter results exceeded our expectations as our business benefited from a rebound in our seasonal categories, continued strength in the core of the store and the recovering housing market in the U.S.," said Frank Blake, Chairman and CEO. The Company further stated that it has raised its full-year FY 2014 sales guidance and now anticipates sales growth of 4.5% and diluted EPS growth of c.20% YoY to $3.60. The Full Research Report on The Home Depot, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/127f_HD]

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Staples, Inc. Research Report

On August 21, 2013, Staples Inc. (Staples) reported its Q2 FY 2014 financial results (period ended August 3, 2013) with total sales of $5.3 billion, down 2.2% YoY. Free cash flow stood at $223.6 million in Q2 FY 2014, compared to $130.6 million in Q2 FY 2013, and diluted EPS was down 11.1% YoY to $0.16 during the quarter. Ron Sargent, Staples' Chairman and CEO said, "We continue to make progress on our strategic plan to reinvent Staples, We drove online sales growth and aggressively managed expenses during the second quarter, but this progress was offset by weakness in our retail stores and international businesses." For full-year FY 2014, Staples expects diluted EPS to be in the range of $1.21 to $1.25 and free cash flow to be more than $900 million. The Full Research Report on Staples, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/fb7a_SPLS]

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Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. Research Report  

On August 21, 2013, Lumber Liquidators Holdings Inc. (Lumber Liquidators) announced the next step in its multi-year supply chain optimization initiative with the planned construction of a new distribution center in Henrico County, Virginia and the leasing of a new West Coast distribution center in Pomona, California. The Company stated that it has agreed to purchase 110 acres of undeveloped land within the White Oak Technology Park in Henrico County, to construct a 1.0 million square foot distribution center to consolidate and improve its current East Coast operations. Additionally, Lumber Liquidators also informed about an agreement to lease a c.500,000 square foot distribution center in Pomona to further strengthen the availability of its entire industry-best product assortment. The Company informed that capex for the construction of the first facility is estimated around $42 to $46 million and that for the lease center to be c.$1.3million to $ 2 million by Q4 2013. Robert M. Lynch, President and CEO, commented, "These investments in our supply chain will provide the foundation for our long-term growth; to continue to expand our footprint and capture additional market share in a recovering macro-environment." The Full Research Report on Lumber Liquidators Holdings, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/f628_LL]

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Barnes & Noble, Inc. Research Report

On August 20, 2013, Barnes & Noble Inc. (Barnes & Noble) reported its Q1 FY 2014 financial results (period ended July 27, 2013). The Company's consolidated revenues totaled $1.3 billion, down 8.5% YoY during the quarter. Consolidated net loss for the quarter was $87 million or $1.56 per share, in Q1 FY 2014, compared to $39.8 million, or $0.76 per share, in Q1 FY 2013. Michael P. Huseby, President of Barnes & Noble and CEO of NOOK Media said, "Our top priority in our operating strategy is to increase all categories of our content revenue. We are working on innovative ways to sell content to our existing customers and are exploring new markets we can serve successfully." The company reaffirms its previously issued full-year 2014 guidance and expects retail comparable store sales to decline in the high single digits. The Full Research Report on Barnes & Noble, Inc. - including full detailed breakdown, analyst ratings and price targets - is available to download free of charge at: [http://www.analystscorner.com/r/full_research_report/9b41_BKS]

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