STARS
Coca-Cola Enterprises
Yesterday's close: $26.50 U.S., up $1.07 over week
Remember that Coke commercial with all the people on the hillside singing, "I'd like to teach the world to sing, in perfect harmony"? Well, now that the acid has worn off, the world's still a complete mess - except if you own shares of Coca-Cola Enterprises. The world's biggest Coca-Cola bottler hiked its forecast this week, citing strong sales of glaceau, FUZE, and Campbell's brands, giving the stock plenty of fizz.
DOGS
Harry Winston Diamond
Yesterday's close: $34.39 U.S., down $5.80 over week
Nothing says "I love you, and I'll never cheat on you with your younger sister again" like a big diamond. Unfortunately, jeweller Harry Winston isn't selling rocks like it used to. Now that the big swinging dudes of Wall Street are tapped out because of the credit crunch, sales at Harry's U.S. stores plunged 22 per cent in the third quarter, prompting the company to slash its dividend. Diamonds aren't forever, after all.
American Dental Partners
Yesterday's close: $5.07 U.S., down $14.98 over week
You know when you're sitting in the dentist's chair and he's been drinking and he slips and drills right through your cheek? That hurts. What hurts more is owning shares of ADP. The company, which provides management services for dentists, was ordered to pay $130.6-million to a group of dentists in Minnesota who had sued, alleging it mishandled their money. Investors are reaching for the laughing gas.
Select Comfort
Yesterday's close: $6.21 U.S., down $4.24 over week
Select Comfort makes those adjustable "Sleep Number" beds that are supposed to give people a good night's rest. So why are shareholders waking up screaming in the middle of the night? Because the company said its quarterly sales will be below year-earlier levels, citing a "volatile consumer environment." Worse, it expects the tough times to last into next year, which means plenty of sleepless nights ahead.
Office Depot
Yesterday's close: $14.44 U.S., down $3.02 over week
What's worse than working in a cramped office? Try owning shares of Office Depot. The office supplies chain has been hammered by the housing slump and competition, prompting it to issue a bleak forecast this week. A whistleblower complaint that led to a restatement of results from the third quarter of 2006 through the second quarter of 2007 hasn't done much for investor confidence, either.
SOURCE: DATASTREAM
Note: Change is from previous Friday
John Heinzl