Andrés Cardenal

While the huge drop in Pier 1 Imports after earnings could be an overreaction from investors, Restoration Hardware and Williams-Sonoma look like much sounder alternatives in the industry.

Concerns over the competitive threat from Coca-Cola and Keurig Green Mountain and a lackluster financial performance in the U.S. are weighing on SodaStream lately. However, the company has the strength to overcome these challenges, and the stock offers big upside potential if things turn for the better.

Groupon is attractively valued in comparison to bigger and more successful companies like Amazon and eBay. Is it a bargain deal or damaged merchandise?

Why a smaller size can be both a major source of risk and an advantage for investors in Lions Gate.

While Vipshop and JD.com are as hot as it gets, investors seem to be underestimating Dangdang lately. Is this a buying opportunity?

Priceline is not paying a cheap price for OpenTable, but the acquisition makes a lot of sense from a strategic point of view.

Even if Abercrombie & Fitch delivered better-than-expected financial performance for the last quarter, sales and margins are still falling. Besides, reports from competitors American Eagle and Aeropostale confirm that industry conditions remain savagely competitive. Maybe it’s too early to bet on a sustainable turnaround from Abercrombie and Fitch.

Investing in dividend stocks can be a simple and powerful strategy for superior returns. Coca-Cola, Procter & Gamble, and Colgate-Palmolive are among the most extraordinary Dividend Aristocrats in the market.

Best Buy faces serious difficulties due to competition from Amazon.com and other online retailers, so management should have waited for a viable turnaround before boosting its dividend.

Lululemon keeps disappointing, and the company does not seem to be leaving its problems behind. Investors looking for alternatives in the sector may want to consider Nike and Under Armour instead.

Restoration Hardware is performing outstandingly well, both on a stand-alone basis and in comparison to competitors such as Bed Bath & Beyond and Williams-Sonoma. This high-growth company looks well positioned to deliver substantial gains in the years ahead.

Beauty is on the eye of the beholder, but Ulta Salon looks quite pretty after its recent earnings report.

Industry headwinds and increased competitive pressure from the likes of Yum! Brands and Chipotle Mexican Grill are hurting McDonald's. On the other hand, the stock looks undervalued. Is this a buying opportunity, or is it time to sell?

Even if Expedia and Google are relevant competitive risks to watch, online travel leader Priceline is positioned to continue going places in the years ahead.

Billionaire investor Carl Icahn seems to be on his way to another successful investment with Family Dollar.

Phillip Morris, British American Tobacco, and Altria are being hurt by falling demand, and their dividend payout ratios don´t offer much upside room. Dividends from tobacco companies don´t smell very well.

Walgreen, Costco, and AutoNation delivered remarkably strong sales performance in May. Their ability to outperform the industry in difficult times says a lot about these companies and their competitive strengths.

Unless Wal-Mart is willing to invest more financial resources on its employees, the company may continue losing market share to competitors such as Costco and Amazon.

Why the big plunge in Rite Aid could be a buying opportunity for investors.

In spite of the short-term risk from players such as Wal-Mart and Sprouts Farmers Market, the long-term growth story in Whole Foods Market is still intact. Is the dip in Whole Foods a buying opportunity for your portfolio?