News

EBay Beats Estimates as CEO Pushes Mobile Commerce

Bloomberg TV (New York)

- EBay Inc., operator of the world’s largest online marketplace, reported fourth-quarter revenue that beat some analysts’ estimates after record holiday sales on the Web and mobile devices. Cory Johnson reports on Bloomberg Television's "Street Smart." Telsey Advisory Group's Tom Forte also speaks.

To view the video, please click on the following link: Bloomberg TV, January 16, 2013

How to Play EBay Ahead of Earnings

Bloomberg TV (New York)

- On today's "Three Vs. Trish," Telsey Advisory Group's Tom Forte, Bloomberg's Bill Maloney and KeeneOnTheMarket.com's James Ramelli preview Ebay's earnings. They speak on Bloomberg Television's "Street Smart."

To view the video, please click on the following link: Bloomberg TV, January 16, 2013

Cash Crunch Hits Retail Space

CNBC.com (New York)

- Cash flow concerns are hitting well-known retailers like Best Buy and JC Penney. Joe Feldman, Telsey Advisory Group analyst, discusses whether other retailers are facing similar issues.

To view the video, please click on the following link: CNBC, January 14, 2013

Safeway CEO Burd to Retire After 20 Years at Grocery Chain

Bloomberg (New York)

- Safeway Inc. (SWY), the second-largest U.S. grocery-store chain, said Chief Executive Officer Steven Burd, 63, will retire in May after 20 years at the company.

While Burd helped turn around the business, he’s “come under a little fire in recent years,” said Joe Feldman, a New York-based analyst at Telsey Advisory Group. “There’s still opportunity to drive improved performance within the core supermarkets.”

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Bloomberg, January 3, 2013

Apple to Release Something Never Thought Up

Bloomberg TV (New York)

- Telsey Advisory Group's Tom Forte discusses what he expects from Apple in 2013. He speaks with Deirdre Bolton on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop."

To view the video, please click on the following link: Bloomberg TV, December 31, 2012

Holiday retail sales numbers don't match up

CBS News

- Sales figures from the holiday shopping season paint a conflicting picture of the robustness of consumer spending and its impact on the economy. Retail analyst Dana Telsey helps us understand.

To view the video, please click on the following link: CBS News, December 29, 2012

Fiscal Cliff May Bring More Pain for Consumer-Finance Firms

DowJones Newswires

- Credit-card lenders, already facing headwinds in the new year, will be under added pressure if the set of tax increases and spending cuts known as the "fiscal cliff" takes effect.

Michael Taiano, an analyst with Telsey Advisory Group, said American Express likely faces more pressure than Visa and MasterCard because it has more exposure to the U.S. economy.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: DowJones Newswires, December 28, 2012

Retailers' Run May Be Over: Analyst

CNBC (New York)

- After a strong 20 percent run-up in consumer discretionary stocks this year, one analyst is predicting a more challenging 2013.

Dana Telsey of Telsey Advisory Group said consumer confidence will be important for retailers next year. "We need stability and some decisive actions to get the consumer comfortable again," she told CNBC.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: CNBC, December 27, 2012

Stores' pain is shoppers' gain: Where the biggest sales are

CNBC (New York)

- Sluggish holiday sales might give retail industry investors a headache, but they could prove to be a boon to consumers hunting for post-holiday bargains.

“It seems like sales didn’t turn out as well as what we expected going into the holiday,” said Joe Feldman, managing director and senior research analyst at Telsey Advisory Group.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: CNBC, December 26, 2012

Holiday retail sales fall short of high expectations

CBS News (New York)

- There's more disappointing news about holiday retail sales.

"Whether it was Hurricane Sandy and the need to spend on the home, whether it was the tragedy in Connecticut and took away the feel good factor -- it was a confluence of events that led to a 'it should have been better' holiday season," said Dana Telsey, a retail analyst."

To view the full article, download the PDF here: CBS News, December 26, 2012

Happy Holiday for Retailers?

Fox Business – Closing Bell

- Telsey Advisory Group Managing Director Joe Feldman on the state of the retail sector.

To view the video, please click on the following link: Fox Business – Closing Bell, December 24, 2012

Retailers hope last minute Christmas shoppers bring good cheer

Reuters

- Retailers limped into Christmas with last-minute blowout deals on everything from TVs to celebrity-branded clothing, after a disappointing few weeks of sales led many analysts to lower their expectations for the holiday season.

"The season will be an OK season, it won't be as strong as last year but it won't be maybe as bad as feared heading into it," said Joseph Feldman, managing director and senior research analyst at Telsey Advisory Group. "Christmas comes every year."

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Reuters, December 24, 2012

Talk of Rekindled Google-Groupon Romance: Our Bucket of Cold Water

Forbes

- The share price of Groupon (GRPN) surged 23% on Friday, closing at its highest level in weeks, on remarks by an Internet analyst that Google (GOOG) is circling the social commerce company. Deteriorating fundamentals in the online coupon distributor’s core business and a less-than transparent balance sheet, however, suggest a bid won’t be forthcoming.

The 73% decline in market value since the November 2011 IPO could make the daily deal site “a takeout candidate,” said Telsey Advisory Group’s Tom Forte. Groupon had allegedly rebuffed a $6 billion offer from Google the year prior to its public debut.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Forbes, December 19, 2012

Cerberus to shed its 95% stake in gun maker Freedom Group

Los Angeles Times

- The private equity firm takes action in response to the Connecticut school shootings. Retailers also pull back on sales of assault weapons.

Weapons retailers aren't suggesting that guns be banned, but they are questioning whether semiautomatic rifles and other high-impact weapons are appropriate in their stores, said Joe Feldman, a senior research analyst with Telsey Advisory Group.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Los Angeles Times, December 18, 2012

Who Eats at McDonald’s on Christmas?

Bloomberg Businessweek

- After seeing the results from having kept numerous locations open on Thanksgiving, McDonald’s (MCD) wants franchisees to do the same on Christmas Day. It does raise the question: Who wants a Happy Meal on Christmas?

Those with few better options, for starters. “It’s probably people who are stuck on the road, traveling to family,” says Peter Saleh, restaurant analyst for Telsey Advisory Group. “If you’re open and other people are not, you tend to get more business.”

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Bloomberg Businessweek, December 18, 2012

8 Things That Will Cost You More This Holiday Season

The Fiscal Times

- It's hard enough to scrimp up enough discretionary cash to pay for holiday gifts. But for Ben Tischler of New York City, getting ready for the holidays also means preparing to wed his fiancee, Alicia.

"It's the new razor-blade model," says Joe Feldman, a senior analyst for the Telsey Advisory Group in New York City, referring to how razor companies make money off the blades, not the razor itself.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: The Fiscal Times, December 14, 2012

Time for Best Buy to finally go private?

- Shares of Best Buy Co. (BBY) surged 15% Thursday, becoming the biggest gainer on the S&P 500 Index, following a Minneapolis Star Tribune report that its founder will make a fully financed offer for the struggling retailer by the end of the week.

"Anything is possible," said Telsey Advisory Group analyst Joe Feldman. "This is really coming down to the wire. We continue to hear mixed reports about Schulze's ability to put together a deal."

To view the full article, download the PDF here: MarketWatch, December 13, 2012

Holidays Saved By The 1%

h3>Rapaport Magazine

- Low-single-digit gains are projected for overall retail sales, with double-digit increases for online sales.

David Wu, luxury analyst for Telsey Advisory Group (TAG), a New York City–based research and brokerage firm that focuses on the consumer market, expects brick-and-mortar jewelry retailers to make healthy gains in single digits this holiday, thanks to solid demand for watches and for colored diamond fashion jewelry. “Strong product innovation in jewelry and watches will drive the market this year,” he said. “It’s all about innovation this holiday.”

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Rapaport Magazine, December 2012

Buying Groupon Hard for Anyone as Growth Slows: Real M&A

Bloomberg (New York)

- Even at half the price Google Inc. (GOOG) bid two years ago, Groupon Inc. (GRPN) is no deal for potential buyers.

The advance was spurred by speculation that Mountain View, California-based Google may still be interested in the company, Telsey Advisory Group LLC’s Tom Forte said last week.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Bloomberg, December 11, 2012

McDonald’s Posts Surprise Monthly Store Sales Gain in U.S.

Bloomberg (New York)

- McDonald’s Corp. (MCD) posted a surprise gain in U.S. same-store sales last month after a decline in October as the world’s largest restaurant chain increased advertising for less expensive items.

“You saw McDonald’s going on TV and pushing a lot more value” in the U.S. last month, Peter Saleh, a New York-based analyst at Telsey Advisory Group, said in an interview. “The numbers in the U.S. were particularly strong.”

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Bloomberg, December 10, 2012

Fiat, Chocolate Giveaways in Fight for Holiday Traffic

CNBC (New York)

- As the holiday season chugs through its traditionally slower period following the Black Friday rush, retailers are pulling out all the stops — even Fiat giveaways — to drive consumer traffic to brick-and-mortar stores.

"We have seen a big focus for retailers doing everything they can to generate more traffic in the stores," said Dana Telsey, the CEO and chief research officer at Telsey Advisory Group.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: CNBC, December 9, 2012

Groupon stock up over new Google rumor

Chicago Sun-Times

- Will Chicago become home to a mashup of Google and Groupon after all? Groupon’s stock skyrocketed 23 percent Friday, up 88 cents to $4.69 a share, after an analyst speculated that Internet search giant Google could once again try to take over the beleaguered Chicago-based daily deals site.

A Telsey Advisory Group spokesman confirmed Friday a Bloomberg News report that Telsey analyst Tom Forte speculated that Google might be interested in acquiring Groupon now that Groupon is worth roughly half Google’s first offer.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Chicago Sun-Times, December 7, 2012

Is Apple Losing Share of the Tablet Market?

Bloomberg TV (New York)

- Telsey Advisory Group's Tom Forte discusses Apple's tablet market share and his investment strategy. He speaks on Bloomberg Television's "In The Loop."

To view the video, please click on the following link: Bloomberg TV, December 6, 2012

Disney World’s $300 Million Makeover Means No Wait for Dumbo

Bloomberg Businessweek

- Walt Disney Co. (DIS) opens an expanded section of its Magic Kingdom today with the aim of drawing more visitors to a Florida park battling stagnant attendance for the past five years.

Reducing wait times for rides frees guests to spend money elsewhere in the park and should lead to higher profit eventually, according to Jaison Blair, an analyst with Telsey Advisory Group in New York.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Bloomberg Businessweek, December 6, 2012

Disney’s Netflix Deal Gives Top Billing to Online Movies

Bloomberg (New York)

- Netflix Inc. (NFLX)’s deal with Walt Disney Co. (DIS) to stream new releases, including those from Pixar and Marvel, signals online viewing has become mainstream and poses a major threat to traditional pay TV.

“This is a big win for Netflix,” Jaison Blair, an analyst with Telsey Advisory Group in New York, said in a telephone interview.

To view the full article, download the PDF here: Bloomberg, December 5, 2012