1-Star Stocks Doomed to Drop: Gap

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Based on the aggregated intelligence of 120,000-plus investors participating in Motley Fool CAPS, the Fool's free investing community, apparel retailer Gap (NYSE: GPS) has received the dreaded one-star ranking. Our data has shown that one-star stocks woefully lag the market average; conversely, five-star stocks outperform the S&P by a significant margin.

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

Gap facts

Headquarters (Founded)

San Francisco, Calif. (1969)

Market Cap

$8.8 Billion

Industry

Apparel Stores

Trailing-12-Month Revenue

$15.1 Billion

Management

CEO Glenn Murphy (Since July 2007)

CFO Sabrina Simmons (Since January 2008)

Annual Revenue Growth (Average, Past Five Years and TTM)

(0.6%) and (5.5%)

Competitors

Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE: ANF)

American Eagle Outfitters (NYSE: AEO)

CAPS Members Bearish on GPS Also Bearish on:

General Motors (NYSE: GM)

Ford Motor (NYSE: F)

CAPS Members Bullish on GPS Also Bullish on:

Apple (Nasdaq: AAPL)

Google (Nasdaq: GOOG)

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

Over on CAPS, 313 of the 653 members who have rated Gap -- some 48% -- believe the stock will underperform the S&P 500 going forward. These Fools include CharlieBombay and CAPS All-Star Polarimetric.

Just yesterday, CharlieBombay spelled out the simple short case (for the short term, at least):

"Biggest retail day of the year coming up. Worst retail year in decades. Stock up a bunch in the last week."

In an earlier pitch from last month, Polarimetric shared that bearish sentiment and wrote:

"In the smallest of economic downturns, Gap will be one of the first ones to fall. Their prices are absolutely ridiculous and for no reason. People have less money, and they don't have the money anymore to spend on that $70 top. Gap will have their lunch eaten by cheaper retailers like J.C. Penney easily. Old Navy is their only hope of success at the moment, and even they're going out of style."

What do you think about Gap, or any other stock for that matter? Make your voice heard on Motley Fool CAPS today. More than 120,000 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. Gap is a Motley Fool Inside Value and Stock Advisor selection. American Eagle and Apple are Stock Advisor picks. Google is a choice of Rule Breakers. The Fool owns shares of American Eagle, and its 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 November 26, 2008, at 3:18 PM, paultupelo wrote:

    This is what i have to say about this article. It's pure CRAP! GAP is the only company to post a profit last quarter. Yes they cut costs but the still posted a profit. GAP's clothing might be expensive but they also have unbelievable deals that no one else offers. I can't tell you how many times i've walked by ANF, AEO or JCrew to see to my supprise, no shoppers! I walk by the GAP and you gotta wait in line with 4 registers going because people are buying everything. Those of you that write these types of columns are totally out of touch with the american people. GAP is will never go away, it's the American Pie in the retail world..

  • Report this Comment On November 26, 2008, at 3:20 PM, paultupelo wrote:

    also, since when is american eagle and abercrombie still GAP competition. GAPs clothing looks so much nicer, fits much nicer, oh wait, and it doesn't have holes in it. GAP is so much higher than either of these two which is why they performed horribly last quarter. J Crew is just an over priced place for young republican wannabe's to shop.

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The Gap, Inc.

CAPS Rating 1/5 Stars

$12.92

-0.64 (-4.72%)

Outperform345

Underperform320

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