Boston, MA 05/22/2014 (wallstreetpr) – Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:SHLD) is no longer at ease. Its days of glory in the retail business seem to have long gone and even what remains of the business seems to be fast-fading. From regular decline in sales to analysts dropping the coverage of the stock, all is bad news for the company. However, it may not be the time to write off the retailer because the management is not sleeping and keeps bringing new perspectives to keep the company’s head above the water.
Retail business has undergone numerous changes in the past decades, and operators have little to do than adjusting accordingly. However, the adjustments require money and time, and that makes the difference between companies that make a successful turnaround and those that drag in their progress.
The case at Sears is similar in many other retail stores in the U.S., where shopping habits have changed while economic hardship is keeping people away from stores as they opt for cheaper alternatives online.
Folding up stores and selling stake
The cash trapped Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:SHLD) has made many adjustments in its operations in the past few years during which losses have become commonplace. In addition to selling underperforming stores, Sears can also be seen reducing stake in certain investments in efforts to cut costs and raise money.
In the latest move, the company wants to reduce its stake in Sear Canada, a retail business in which it owns a majority stake at 51 percent. The company originally owned 95 percent stake in the business as of 2012 but unloaded its share to raise money. Sear has already tapped a bank to explore strategic alternative for its stake in the Canadian retail business. Sear Canada has about $1.5 billion in market value.
Analysts abandon Sear
Analysts at Morningstar, Inc. (NASDAQ:MORN) are the latest to remove Sears Holdings Corp (NASDAQ:SHLD) from the list of stocks they cover. The development comes hot on the heels of a decision by the rating firm to assign the lowest ranking about Sear’s ability to fend off competition in its market. Just a handful of analysts is covering Sears currently because many have opted out in recent times.
