Posts about Best Buy
Michael Pachter really doesn't like Best Buy stock
Posted by: Thomas Lee Updated: May 15, 2013 - 4:14 PM
Since joining Best Buy last September, CEO Hubert Joly has launched a major campaign to win back Wall Street. He has given detailed information about the company’s poor performance to analysts and his plans to correct it. He has hired former Williams-Sonoma executive Sharon McCollam, a darling among Wall Street, as chief financial officer.
Best Buy even managed to eek a slight gain domestic same store sales during the fourth quarter. Joly’s efforts have mostly paid off: since December 2012, Best Buy stock has more than doubled to over $26 per share.
But there is one analyst who has proven himself immune to Joly’s charm offensive: Michael Pachter of Wedbush Securities.
Of the 26 analysts tracked by Bloomberg who have issued ratings on Best Buy stock in 2013, Pachter is only one of two who recommend investors dump the stock.
Even more startling is Pachter’s 12 year price target for BBY: $9 per share. (The next lowest estimate was $21 by S&P Capital’s Ian Gordon.)
$9!!!
That means that when Best Buy stock (which had once surpassed $50 a few years ago) tumbled to as low as $11.20 in early December, Pachter still thought the stock was overvalued.
He did not return a call seeking comment.
Pachter, a long time Best Buy bear, is known for his…uh…strongly worded opinions on the retailer in both his research reports and quotes in the media. He was particularly harsh on former CEO Brian Dunn, whom he called completely unqualified for the job. (Many analysts privately said the same thing but Pachter had no problem saying it publicly.)
But not even a complete leadership change has softened Pachter. He called Joly’s credentials “unimpressive,” especially to turn around a struggler retailer like Best Buy. Joly is a former CEO of travel and hospitality giant Carlson.
Pachter did profess strong words of praise for McCollam. But Pachter said he continues to doubt Best Buy’s turnaround strategy.
Fair enough. A little skepticism is not unwarranted, given Best Buy’s struggles in recent years.
But Pachter’s research note in February, just before Best Buy released fourth quarter and fiscal 2013 earnings, makes you wonder if the analyst will ever change his mind about BBY.
His estimates weren’t just wrong. They were REALLY wrong.
Pachter predicted Best Buy would earn $1.35 per share in the fourth quarter. The company earned $1.64 per share.
Pachter predicted Best Buy’s profit margins would fall 170 basis points in the quarter. Best Buy said margins declined 10 basis points. He did say the “magnitude of the decline is only a guess.”
But McCollam in January already indicated that gross margins would not dramatically fall. So either Pachter was not aware of the guidance or simply wasn't moved by it.
When Best Buy releases its first quarter earnings next Tuesday, Pachter will no doubt be watching.
But no matter what Joly and McCollam say, don’t expect him to change his mind about the stock.
Anderson and Lenzmeier's role on Best Buy board of directors
Posted by: Thomas Lee Updated: April 25, 2013 - 9:24 AM
Brad Anderson and Al Lenzmeier have officially rejoined the board of directors at Best Buy Co.
But what exactly will they be doing?
A closer read of the company’s recent proxy statement gives an important clue: the two ex-Best Buy executives will both serve on the Finance and Investment Policy committee.
According to the proxy statement, the committee “advises the Board regarding our financial policies and financial condition to help enable us to achieve our long-range goals. It evaluates and monitors the: (i) protection and safety of our cash and investments; (ii) achievement of reasonable returns on financial assets within acceptable risk tolerance; (iii) maintenance of adequate liquidity to support our activities; (iv) assessment of the cost and availability of capital; and (v) alignment of our strategic goals and financial resources.”
That’s a lot of fancy corporate speak. But in a nutshell, this committee will oversee deal making at Best Buy, whether it’s selling something or buying something.
Best Buy declined to comment.
It’s no accident that Anderson and Lenzmeier belong to this committee. The two directors represent the company’s largest investor and founder Richard Schulze.
Schulze, you may remember, tried to take the company private but ultimately gave up and rejoined Best Buy as chairman emeritus.
Should Schulze consider using his 20 percent stake to attempt another deal in the future, Anderson and Lenzmeier could supply Schulze with valuable intelligence.
Anderson “is as much there to keep on an eye on what’s going on in there for Dick,” said David Strasser, an analyst with Janney Capital Management. “There are not a lot of issues but that could change in about a year.”
That’s because Best Buy still faces a precarious situation. Though the company seems to have stabilized its core business, some investors wonder if Best Buy can consistently string together several quarters of growth in sales at stores open for at least a year.
A sudden downturn in Best Buy’s performance could pressure the nascent alliance between Schulze and CEO Hubert Joly.
In addition, the committee would also evaluate any proposal to sell Best Buy assets. For example, many analysts expect Joly to eventually dissolve Best Buy’s joint venture with Carphone Warehouse in Europe and find a buyer for its Five Star operation in China.
And should Best Buy tried to sell anything else off, say leases to any of the 1,000 big box stores in North America, Schulze, through Anderson and Lenzmeier, will no doubt have a say in that.
Best Buy names new board director
Posted by: Thomas Lee Updated: April 18, 2013 - 5:34 PM
Best Buy Co. said Thursday that it appointed Russell Fradin to its board of directors.
Fradin will replace Ron James, who will not stand for re-election.
Fradin, 57, brings much needed technology and operations experience to Best Buy's board. He is president and CEO of SunGard, a software and technology services company that generates about $4.5 billion in annual sales.
He is also a former CEO of Aon Hewitt, a management consulting firm, and served as an executive with BISYS Group, Inc., Automatic Data Processing, and McKinsey & Company, where he was a senior partner.
"His background in operations, streamlining cost structures, executive compensation and strategic consulting will be beneficial to Best Buy as it continues its Renew Blue transformation," chairman Hatim Tyabji said in a statement.. "We look forward to Russ offering his insights in support of management's work to transform Best Buy and make it the preferred destination and authority for technology products and services."
Fradin is the third new director to join Best Buy's board this week. The company also seated former CEO Brad Anderson and former president and vice-chairman Al Lenzmeier.
James, the CEO for Ethical Business Cultures, has served on the board since 2004.
Richard Schulze still looms large at Best Buy
Posted by: Thomas Lee Updated: April 18, 2013 - 10:19 AM
He may have a honorary title but Richard Schulze reminded employees at Best Buy that he plans to be an active force in the company.
During an all-employee town hall meeting at its corporate headquarters in Richfield, Schulze, now chairman emeritus, offered a list of Best Buy's top ten priorities on a Power Point presentation, sources tell the Star Tribune.
One assumes that CEO Hubert Joly or even chairman Hatim Tyabji would perform that task. As chairman emeritus, Schulze acts an advisor to the company but his role seems considerably larger.
He gets monthly financial reports plus a briefing from CEO Hubert Joly and CFO Sharon McCollam every quarter. Not to mention a salary, health benefits, an office and secretary.
The meeting marked the first time Schulze, Joly, and Tyabji all shared the stage since Schulze left the company last year under a cloud.
The show of unity comes one day after former CEO Brad Anderson and former president and vice chairman Al Lenzmeier officially rejoined the board of directors as Schulze’s representatives.
That Schulze and Tyabji should even speak to one another, never mind share the same space, seemed unlikely a year ago when the board ousted Schulze as chairman after an investigation concluded the founder withheld allegations about then CEO Brian Dunn’s personal conduct.
After Tyabji replaced Schulze, the two briefly waged a battle of press releases after the board initially refused Schulze’s request for financial information so he could launch a buyout campaign.
Joly, Schulze, and Tyabji spoke about their reconciliation and took questions from employees.
“I’ve always had respect for our board,” Schulze recently told the Star Tribune. “They do believe in what’s best for the interest of shareholders.”
Best Buy CEO and Dick Schulze talk up a storm
Posted by: Thomas Lee Updated: March 15, 2013 - 1:05 PM
Best Buy founder Richard Schulze’s bid to purchase the company may have ended in disappointment but that doesn’t mean Schulze plans to go into exile anytime soon.
Last Friday, Schulze visited the retailer’s headquarters in Richfield and spoke at some length with CEO Hubert Joly, according to a source close to Schulze.
The company declined to comment.
Perhaps Schulze gave Joly some clue about whether he will rejoin the board of directors. He is entitled to fill the two board seats the company granted him because of his 20 percent stake.
Schulze, the source said, remains “disappointed” that he failed to retake control of the the company. After abandoning an outright buyout bid last month, Schulze and his private equity partners went to Plan B: Texas Pacific Capital, Cerberus Capital Management, and Leonard Green would purchase minority stakes in Best Buy, entitling them each to one board seat.
Combined with Schulze’s two seats, the allies would essentially control more than half of Best Buy’s 11-member board and perhaps restore Schulze back to chairman. But the board resisted Schulze’s campaign for chairman and ultimately rejected bids by the private equity firms to pay between $400 million to $700 million for minority stakes in the company.
In a regulatory filing, Schulze said he hasn't yet decided whether to fill his board seats. If he doesn’t nominate anyone, the company will nominate its own candidates.
As a director, Schulze would need to demonstrate a certain degree of obedience to Best Buy’s leadership. But as an outsider, Schulze could make yet another attempt at a later time to remake the board to his liking and reclaim his position as chairman, experts say.
The source close to Schulze said he “doubts” the founder will rejoin the board.
Nevertheless, Schulze seems to enjoy at the very least a cordial relationship with Joly.
After initially distrusting the Frenchman, Schulze has warmed up to Best Buy’s new CEO. Friday’s meeting marked the second time in recent months the two chatted in person. The day before Thanksgiving, Joly talked strategy with Schulze and former CEO Brad Anderson and former vice chairman Al Lenzmeier.
In the regulatory filing, Schulze said the company “deserves a chance to implement its own plan.”
Whether Schulze will have any direct role in that plan remains to be seen.
Parlez-vous francais? For Target to win in Quebec, the answer better be "oui."
Posted by: Thomas Lee Updated: February 24, 2013 - 3:40 PM
Okay, let’s first set the record straight.. The French equivalent of Target Corp. is not Chez Target (roughly pronounced shay tarjay). Someone invented the phrase to describe Target’s cheap chic esthetic.
Point of Sale only makes this point because of the issues that Target must confront as it prepares to open stores this year in Quebec, Canada.
To put it mildly, the province is quite protective of its French culture, particularly its language. In fact, Quebec law requires all business names be in French. That’s why Kentucky Fried Chicken is “Poulet Frit Kentucky” and Staples is “Bureau en Gros.”
Parti Quebecois, the conservative nationalistic party that runs the government, now wants to tighten the law to force retailers like Wal-Mart and Gap to either Frenchify their names or somehow add a French word to the brand. Since there is no real French equivalent for “Wal-Mart,” you can see how this can be problematic.
Last fall, Wal-Mart, along with Richfield-based Best Buy Co., filed a lawsuit seeking to block the government’s move. (A spokeswoman for Best Buy confirmed the company had joined the lawsuit but declined further comment.) The case is still pending.
Target officials would only say they are working with the local officials to respect the language law but also protect their brand’s integrity.
Target and Best Buy have good reason to protect their brands, in part, because they don’t particularly translate well into French.
Best Buy would be “Le Meilleure Achat.” Target translates into “cible,” “but,” or “objectif.”
Somehow, it just doesn’t sound the same.
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