1-Star Stocks Poised to Plunge: La-Z-Boy?

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Based on the aggregated intelligence of 135,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, furniture maker La-Z-Boy (NYSE: LZB) has received the dreaded one-star ranking.

With that in mind, let's take a closer look at La-Z-Boy's business and see what CAPS investors are saying about the stock right now.

La-Z-Boy facts

Headquarters (Founded)

Monroe, Mich. (1927)

Market Cap

$210.25 Million

Industry

Home Furnishings

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$1.23 Billion

Management

President/CEO Kurt Darrow (Since 2003)

CFO Louis Riccio Jr. (Since 2006)

Return on Equity (Average, Past Five Years and TTM)

(4.5%) and (32.1%)

3-Month Return

266%

Competitors

Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT)

Home Depot (NYSE: HD)

Costco (Nasdaq: COST)

CAPS Members Bearish on LZB Also Bearish on

Centex (NYSE: CTX)

CAPS Members Bullish on LZB Also Bullish on

Citigroup (NYSE: C)

Bank of America (NYSE: BAC)

Sources: Capital IQ (a division of Standard & Poor's) and Motley Fool CAPS.

On CAPS, 106 of the 188 members who have rated La-Z-Boy -- some 56% -- believe the stock will underperform the S&P 500 going forward. These bears include wolfhounds and All-Star TSIF, who is ranked in the top 1% of our community.

Just last week, wolfhounds tried to put La-Z-Boy's turnaround hopes to rest:

Cutting expenses 15%, cutting dealer network, cutting whatever they can to get cash. That they did. Unfortunately, the consumer cut themselves out too. Big time. Without sales pickup very soon, [La-Z-Boy] will not survive.

In a pitch from one day later, TSIF also predicted a reclining price:

Returning to profitability spurred it to unrealistic highs. … Inventory is still high, accounts receivable may also have some clients who are bankrupt. Returning to almost half your market cap when you have a fraction of your earnings is a bit much after two quarters of record losses. Granted La-Z-Boy's cash/debt position is better than most in this recession, especially in furniture. La-Z-Boy's chairs are priced at a point that consumers can add them without a huge dent to their cash flow, but I'm skeptical with all the foreclosures and unemployment still mounting that a La-Z-Boy chair is on many peoples radar, especially in the middle of summer. Maybe I'm wrong, but I think the musical chair share price will soon leave someone without a seat.

What do you think about La-Z-Boy, or any other stock for that matter? Make your voice heard on Motley Fool CAPS today. More than 135,000 investors are waiting to hear what you have to say. CAPS is 100% free, so get started!

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Fool contributor Brian Pacampara owns no position in any of the companies mentioned. La-Z-Boy is a Motley Fool Income Investor pick. Wal-Mart, Home Depot, and Costco are Inside Value recommendations. Costco is also a Stock Advisor selection, and the Fool owns shares of it. The Fool's disclosure policy always gets a perfect score.

Comments from our Foolish Readers

Help us keep this a respectfully Foolish area! This is a place for our readers to discuss, debate, and learn more about the Foolish investing topic you read about above. Help us keep it clean and safe. If you believe a comment is abusive or otherwise violates our Fool's Rules, please report it via the Report this Comment Report this Comment icon found on every comment.

  • Report this Comment On June 23, 2009, at 11:20 AM, pondee619 wrote:

    Brian:

    Have you set up the CAPS player for your :Poised to" stocks yet? If so, what is that players name?

    Thanks:

  • Report this Comment On June 24, 2009, at 3:09 PM, pondee619 wrote:

    Brian:

    You there, Brian? You said the "Poised to" CAPS player was a good idea. Where is it? What is it's CAPS name?You there, Brian?

  • Report this Comment On June 24, 2009, at 6:02 PM, angel1966 wrote:

    La-z-boy is soon to get what they asked for, afte firing all the experienced executives and sales consultants, and after they lost 40% of sales in six months, what do you espect?, cutting expenses can help you for a little while but you have to sale or produce in order to make money. when are they going to start selling? now they have new personal, with no experience, no knowledge of the product, and no interest in the company.

  • Report this Comment On June 25, 2009, at 3:01 PM, pondee619 wrote:

    Has anyone seen Brian? I'm Still waiting for an answer to my question. I am begining to think that he is either rude or lazy

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