I sold my Foot Locker position today at $11.95. I bought FL in 2007 at an average cost of $18.93, so it has been a loser. Not as bad as the two Japanese consumer lenders, but that's cold comfort.
Actually, since FL has a solid balance sheet and pays a good dividend I'd normally be tempted to hold it. But there are at least three stocks out there on my radar that I believe are better. I might put the FL proceeds in one of them in the next few days, or wait and see if the market corrects a bit. Stay tuned (and, no, I don't mention stocks I'm looking at, for the most part).
Since the cash in my brokerage accounts pays nothing (or less than nothing), I certainly don't see my cash balance as something I want maintained for long.
Some gold observers (bulls at that) are thinking gold will correct. If so, I might boost my GLD exposure. Then again, GLD is a double position for me already, so I may just ride any correction out.
Things feel fluid. Let's see what happens going forward.
Are you turned off of shoe retailers altogether? If not, DSW may become attractive at a lower price point. It's a well run company--they sold stock at heady prices in 2006 to buyback debt--and their products appeal to bargain seeking 25+ year olds. If the economy recovers in the next two or three years, DSW should resume a nice growth path.
Posted by: Alex | September 30, 2009 at 12:37 PM
@Alex: No, this isn't a sector call or anything. Thanks for the DSW tip.
Posted by: John | October 02, 2009 at 01:33 PM