Shares of RadioShack
The meandering small-box retailer has been the center of speculative attention before. Several private equity firms were presumably competing for RadioShack's affections last year. It turned up empty then. Why should it turn out any better for RadioShack this time around?
The pool of possible bidders is already drying up. Best Buy
RadioShack's best shot at landing a suitor would likely come from the private equity space, but who is up for trying to catch a falling steak knife? Shares of RadioShack hit a fresh 52-week low last week.
Three months ago, analysts figured that RadioShack would earn $2.15 a share this year and $2.37 a share come 2012. Now they believe the retailer will earn just $1.73 a share for 2011 and $1.90 a share next year. Wall Street has also taken down its profit targets for Best Buy and hhgregg
Private equity firms don't mind swooping in as vultures, but only if they think they can sell their downtrodden purchases for more in the future. It's hard to see that happening for RadioShack, especially after watching Circuit City and countless other smaller consumer electronics specialists implode.
So who exactly is buying RadioShack?
Yesterday it just happened to be speculators who didn't know any better.
Add RadioShack to your free, personalized stock watchlist here at Fool.com. Then scroll down to the comments section on this page to let your fellow Fools know whether you think RadioShack will be bought out this year.