The following video is part of our "Motley Fool Conversations" series in which consumer goods editor/analyst Austin Smith and industrials editor/analyst Brendan Byrnes discuss topics across the investing world.

Sears. It's perhaps the most contentious company in our office today. The battle lines are drawn with the "love it" team calling Sears misunderstood, and the "leave it" team calling it a sinking ship. Which is it? Today Austin runs through the bear case to see if Sears really is as doomed as many are saying it is.

Sears recent hardships are indicative of a paradigm shift in the retail sector. The industry dynamics are literally changing right in front of our eyes. To learn about which companies will thrive, and which will die, I invite you to read our special free report:"The Death of Retail," which highlights two companies hand-picked by Fool analysts that are set to dominate the future. To check out these two companies and learn more about the future of retailing, click here now -- it's free!