Kmart, once traded on the stock market ad KMRT and operating
as Kmart Holdings Corporation is now a part of the Sears Holdings
Corporation and is now traded on the stock market as SHLD. Kmart sold
to Sears 54 stores for $621 million in cash. With over three thousand
retail stores in the U.S., Kmart, along with Sears enjoyed revenue of
$55 billion last year alone.
The symbol “K” was derived from the first letter of its founder’s name,
Sebastian Spering Kresge. Over one hundred years ago, he opened its
first store in Detroit, which was unlike anything its stores are today.
Back then, every time was either 5 cents or 10 cents. Consumers enjoyed
the cheap prices and soon he was able to open more stores. The yearly
earning for 1912 were more than $10 million.
The first discount store was opened in Garden City, Michigan in 1962,
with more stores that followed quickly behind it. The first Kmart
Supercenter opened its doors in Medina, Ohio in 1991, offering both
groceries and general merchandise, and even a new name, “Big Kmart”.
Although prices have drastically changed over the years, one thing has
remained the same, and that is their continued customer service to
their consumers and employees. Today Kmart mails out more promotional
flyers to homeowners than any other company.
In 2003, Kmart came back from a Chapter 11 bankruptcy, reducing its
debt and strengthening its finances to $2 billion. Kmart will continue
to operate its stores throughout this year, though selling others and
transfer its employees to Sears, should they wish to work there.
Kmart will still continue to be a large retailer with over 1400 stores
nationwide and $20 billion in earnings, though now operating under the
parent company of Sears Holdings Corporation, who has more than $50
billion in yearly earnings.
With various store closings, Kmart’s unsteady growth continued to be a
bit rocky throughout the last quarter of 2004. Once Kmart began being
traded on the stock exchange under the Sears family, its value began
rising along with a few ups and downs along the way. Today its stock is
selling as Sears at $154.60 per share, down by 1.89 points, which
averages to about 1.21%. There is an earning of $10.73 per share. The
Sears’ outstanding shares are over 164 million at a market value of
over $25 billion. To buy a share of Sears Holdings Corporation stock
today would be a risk and a gamble, but also a recommendation. Though
its stock has been consistently up and down, stock forecasters still
see the Sears Holdings Corporation stock as a strong buy. This week
last, its stock was selling for $163.50 per share. It is expected that
it will sell for about $174.50 within the twelve months, but that is
only an estimate of future earnings.
Proven Investment Advice
Get Dow Theory Forecasts - the acclaimed investing newsletter on buying, selling and holding common stocks. Build and preserve your wealth. Subscribe now and get three free reports.
Other investing articles of
interest
Stock Cost Basis This information that is known as the stock cost basis is required by the United
States Internal Revenue Service to determine the amount of tax that is
owed on
your stock options. This information is used to determine how much
income you
made or lost (Continue Reading)
Understanding Stock Exchange
Symbols When you see pictures of the stock exchange on the television you often
see a jumble of confusing numbers and letters moving across a board
above the room. Some of these symbols have simple explanations and
other symbols have multiple meanings. The follow (Continue Reading)
Vulture Investors Circle Caving Companies Vulture bonds or vulture trading consists of dealing in
companies that are in or near default or bankruptcy. While the
companies are weakening and are sliding farther and farther into debt
without a hope of every paying it off, vulture investors can gain
(Continue Reading)
UALAQ: the United Airlines Stock
Symbol It’s a little long, it’s a little
complex, but
there it is: the United Airlines stock symbol is UALAQ, though most
people
assume it’s UAL.
