Another Wipeout for Zumiez

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If you're an aficionado of some of the board-sports-related stocks, you probably know they've been taking a drubbing lately, even in the absence of concrete news. Today, Zumiez (Nasdaq: ZUMZ) delivered some real news, and it wasn't pretty -- it lowered its 2007 guidance.

Even though Zumiez looked as though it could buck the soft consumer trends back in October, its December same-store-sales results show that it's not invincible. Comps increased, but only by 3.9%, versus an 11.5% jump in the same period last year. The retailer's total sales climbed 15.3% to $72 million. 

This is the second time in just a couple of months that the company has lowered its fiscal 2007 guidance. Back in November, the stock got stomped after Zumiez dropped its annual guidance from $0.94 per share to $0.92. Last month, third-quarter results didn't thrill investors. Now, it's cut guidance again, this time to a range of $0.82 to $0.83 per share. Ouch.

Shares of Volcom (Nasdaq: VLCM), which provides merchandise to retailers such as Zumiez, Pacific Sunwear (Nasdaq: PSUN), and Macy's (NYSE: M), were also notably hit last week. Zumiez's news today probably won't help investor sentiment on Volcom, either.

Times like these may be tough, but they're also great opportunities for investors to look for stocks that have been tossed in the bargain bin. And when it comes to Zumiez and Volcom (both of which are Motley Fool Hidden Gems picks), investors might want to start watching to see whether these stocks have been beaten too soundly. Just for starters, now both have PEG ratios that have dipped below the 1.0 mark -- a quick indication that they may have reached undervalued territory.

I find Volcom more compelling, because of its different channels for distribution and its strong, authentic brand. However, for those who believe that both stocks are just suffering from short-term pressures and are still fundamentally good for the long haul, this sure looks like a good time to consider these stocks.