SAN DIEGO (TheStreet) -- When was the last time you walked into a pharmacy, described your ailment and had a pharmacist whip up a wellness drink designed to treat you on the spot?
That's how 40-year-old Stanley George runs his new, luxury pharmacy in New York City's Lower East Side.
Have a headache? PMS? Had a stress-filled day at work? No problem, Stanley's Pharmacy has custom wellness drinks to address all of it. Stanley's Pharmacy is less CVS, Walgreen's or Eckerd and more new age wellness destination meets old-fashioned neighborhood drug store and soda fountain. "Pharmacies have gone so far away from their roots. I felt a mission to bring that back," says George, a Bronx native. Located at Ludlow and Hester streets, Stanley's combines a wellness bar that specializes in drinks blended by George with the standard prescription services other pharmacies offer and a wellness library stocked with glossy monthly health, fitness and fashion publications -- all in an atmosphere that is California cool meets 1970s retro. The store's trademarked Drinks + Drugs menu features pharmacist-recommended wellness cocktails paired with over-the-counter drugs or an herbal remedy to treat ailments. There are also hot and cold medicinal teas, custom organic sodas made by George, espresso drinks and raw coconut water fresh from Thailand.
Also see: What It's Like Turning Off Your Phone at 'World's Best' Spa>> As for calling it a luxury pharmacy that's less about the prices at Stanley's and more about the overall experience. After all, anyone can go to a sterile local drugstore and buy a bottle of aspirin to treat a hangover. Stanley's is a throwback to the time customers knew their pharmacist by name and got personalized treatment.
Top Tech Companies To Buy Right Now: Herbalife Ltd (HLF)
Herbalife Ltd., incorporated on April 4, 2002, is a global network marketing company that sells weight management, nutritional supplements, energy, sports and fitness products and personal care products through a network of approximately 2.7 million independent distributors, except in China, where the Company sells its products through retail stores. The Company is a network marketing company that sells a range of weight management products, nutritional supplements and personal care products. As of December 31, 2011, the Company sold products in 79 countries throughout the world. Herbalife�� products are grouped in four principal categories: weight management, targeted nutrition, energy, sports and fitness and Outer Nutrition, along with literature and promotional items. The Company�� generates revenue from its six regions: North America, Mexico, South and Central America; EMEA, which consists of Europe, the Middle East and Africa, Asia Pacific (excluding China), and China. On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired a manufacturing facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina.
The Company�� products are manufactured by third party providers and by the Company in its Suzhou, China facility and in its manufacturing facility located in Lake Forest, California, and then are sold to independent distributors who sell Herbalife products to retail consumers or other distributors. As of December 31, 2011, Herbalife marketed and sold 138 products encompassing over 4,400 stock keeping units (SKUs) through its distributors.
Weight Management
Weight Management is the Company�� largest product category representing 62.5% of its net sales during the year ended December 31, 2011. Formula 1, its product, is a healthy meal with soy protein, essential vitamins, minerals, herbs and nutrients that is available in seven flavors and can help support weight management. Personalized Protein Powder is a soy and whey protein product designed as a boost to Formula 1 to personalize a pe! rson�� daily protein intake to help achieve their desired weight and shape. Weight-loss enhancers, including Herbal Tea Concentrate, Total Control and Prolessa Duo address specific challenges associated with dieting, such as lack of energy, hunger and food craving, fluid retention, decreased metabolism and digestive challenges, by building energy, boosting metabolism, curbing appetite and helping to promote weight loss. Healthy snacks are formulated to provide between-meal nutrition and appetite satisfaction.
Targeted Nutrition
Herbalife markets numerous dietary and nutritional supplements designed to meet its customers��specific nutritional needs. Each of these supplements contains botanicals, vitamins, minerals and other natural ingredients and focuses on specific life stages of its customers, including women, men, children and those with health concerns, including heart health, healthy aging, digestive health, or immune solutions. Niteworks is a product that supports energy, circulatory and vascular health and enhances blood flow to the heart, brain and other vital organs. Garden 7 is designed to provide the phytonutrient benefits of seven servings of fruits and vegetables and has anti-oxidant and health-boosting properties. Best Defense is an effervescent drink that helps boost immunity. In 2011, the Company expanded distribution of its Active Fiber line by introducing its Apple flavored Active Fiber Complex in the South and Central America region.
Energy, Sports and Fitness
Herbalife entered into the energy drink with the introduction of Liftoff, an energy drink containing a blend of B-vitamins, guarana, ginseng, ginkgo and caffeine to increase energy and improve mental clarity for better performance throughout the day. It launched H3Otm Fitness Drink to provide hydration, sustained muscle energy plus antioxidant protection for people living a healthy, active lifestyle. It also introduced H30 Pro in EMEA to provide an isotonic drink to indivi! duals par! ticipating in high activity sports.
Outer Nutrition
The Company�� Outer Nutrition products complement its weight management and targeted nutrition products and aim to improve the appearance of the body, skin and hair. These products include skin cleansers, toners, moisturizers and facial masks, shampoos and conditioners, body-wash items and a selection of fragrances for men and women. Its Herbal Aloe line is its introductory line providing distributors with cleansers, lotions and soaps that help sooth the skin. NouriFusion Multivitamin skin care products are formulated with antioxidant Vitamins A, C and E. It launched a line of anti-aging products as an extension of its Skin Activator product, an advanced face cream that contains a collagen-building Glucosamine Complex to reduce the appearance of fine lines and wrinkles. It also launched a number of regional products including a Soft Green Body Care line in Brazil, the Whitening Serum under the NouriFusion brand in the Asia Pacific region, and the Lively Fragrances perfume line.
Literature, Promotional and Other Products
Herbalife also sells literature and promotional materials, including sales aids, informational audiotapes, videotapes, compact discs (CDs) and digital versatile discs (DVDs) designed to support its distributors��marketing efforts, as well as start-up kits called International Business Packs for new distributors. It introduced BizWorks, a customizable retail Website for its distributors to enhance the on-line experience.
The Company competes with NuSkin Enterprises, Nature�� Sunshine, Alticor/Amway, Melaleuca, Avon Products, Oriflame, Tupperware and Mary Kay, Weight Watchers, Jenny Craig, General Nutrition Centers and Wal-Mart.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Luke Jacobi]
Herbalife (NYSE: HLF) was also down 6.61 percent to $68.26 despite the New York Post reporting that Bill Ackman had converted 40 percent of his short position to put options.
- [By Roberto Pedone]
Another stock that looks poised to trigger a near-term breakout trade is Herbalife (HLF), a global nutrition company that sells weight management, healthy meals and snacks, sports and fitness, energy and targeted nutritional products as well as personal care products. This stock is off to a hot start in 2013, with shares up sharply by 108%.
If you take a look at the chart for Herbalife, you'll notice that this stock is spiking sharply higher here right off its 50-day moving average of $66.52 a share. That spike is quickly pushing shares of HLF within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade.
Traders should now look for long-biased trades in HLF if it manages to break out above some near-term overhead resistance at $70.33 a share with high volume. Look for a sustained move or close above that level with volume that hits near or above its three-month average volume of 2.67 million shares. If that breakout hits soon, then HLF will set up to re-test or possibly take out its 52-week high at $74.94 a share. Any high-volume move above its 52-week high will then give HLF a chance to tag $85 to $90 a share.
Traders can look to buy HLF off any weakness to anticipate that breakout and simply use a stop that sits right below Friday's low of $65.86 a share, or below $65 to $65 a share. One could also buy HLF off strength once it takes out $70.33 a share with volume and then simply use a stop that sits a comfortable percentage from your entry point.
Infinity Pharmaceuticals
One biotechnology player that's starting to move within range of triggering a near-term breakout trade is Infinity Pharmaceuticals (INFI), which discovers, develops and delivers medicines for the treatment of cancer and related conditions. This stock has been hammered by the bears so far in 2013, with shares down sharply by 59%.
If you take a look at the chart for Infinity Pharmaceuticals, you'll notice that this stock has been downtrending badly over
Best Services Companies To Buy Right Now: Spartan Stores Inc.(SPTN)
Spartan Stores, Inc. operates as a grocery distributor and retailer principally in Michigan and Indiana. The company operates in two segments, Distribution and Retail. The Distribution segment provides approximately 43,000 stock-keeping units, including dry groceries, produce, dairy products, meat, deli, bakery, frozen food, seafood, floral products, general merchandise, pharmacy, and health and beauty care items to approximately 375 independent grocery stores and 96 corporate-owned stores, as well as offers approximately 3,600 private brand grocery and general merchandise items. It also provides value-added services, including site identification and market analyses; store planning and development; marketing, promotion, advertising; technology and information; accounting and tax preparation; human resource; coupon redemption; product reclamation; printing; category management; real estate; and construction management services. The Retail segment operates 97 retail superma rkets in Michigan under the Glen?s Markets, Family Fare Supermarkets, D&W Fresh Markets, VG?s Food and Pharmacy, and Valu Land names; and 25 fuel centers/convenience stores that offers refueling facilities, as well as immediately consumable products under the Glen?s Quick Stop, Family Fare Quick Stop, D&W Fresh Markets Quick Stop, and VG?s Quick Stop names. Its retail supermarkets offer dry groceries, produce, dairy products, meat, frozen food, seafood, floral products, general merchandise, beverages, tobacco products, health and beauty care products, delicatessen items, and bakery goods, as well as pharmacy services. This segment also provides private brand items, including its Spartan brand; Fresh Selections; Top Care, a health and beauty care brand; Valu Time, a value brand; Full Circle, a natural and organic brand; and Paws, a pet supplies brand. The company was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Grand Rapids, Michigan.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Ben Levisohn]
…we believe the conventional grocers in our universe ��namely, Safeway, Supervalu, and SpartanNash (SPTN)��re most at risk from Amazon.com’s expansion. Kroger should fare better due to its very strong price positioning and weighted-average market share positions. In addition, we believe that Kroger may actually end up as a net beneficiary of Amazon.com’s expansion, as grocers with lower market share positions (outside the top 5) are likely to exit/close, leaving more share to top players such as Kroger. The natural/organic specialty players are also better positioned to absorb Amazon.com’s expansion, with Whole Food Markets least at-risk due to its product mix (e.g. prepared foods), differentiated format, strong EBIT margins, and very strong balance sheet.
- [By Seth Jayson]
Calling all cash flows
When you are trying to buy the market's best stocks, it's worth checking up on your companies' free cash flow once a quarter or so, to see whether it bears any relationship to the net income in the headlines. That's what we do with this series. Today, we're checking in on Spartan Stores (Nasdaq: SPTN ) , whose recent revenue and earnings are plotted below. - [By Seth Jayson]
Margins matter. The more Spartan Stores (Nasdaq: SPTN ) keeps of each buck it earns in revenue, the more money it has to invest in growth, fund new strategic plans, or (gasp!) distribute to shareholders. Healthy margins often separate pretenders from the best stocks in the market. That's why we check up on margins at least once a quarter in this series. I'm looking for the absolute numbers, so I can compare them to current and potential competitors, and any trend that may tell me how strong Spartan Stores's competitive position could be.
- [By Jeremy Bowman]
What: Shares of Nash-Finch (NASDAQ: NAFC ) and Spartan Stores (NASDAQ: SPTN ) jumped as much as 16% and 15%, respectively, after Spartan said it would buy Nash-Finch, primarily for its military stores.
Best Services Companies To Buy Right Now: American Public Education Inc.(APEI)
American Public Education, Inc., together with its subsidiary, American Public University System, Inc., provides online postsecondary education focusing on the needs of the military and public service communities. The company operates through two universities, American Military University (AMU) and American Public University (APU) serving approximately 110,000 students in the United States and internationally. The universities share a common faculty and curriculum, which includes 87 degree programs and 69 certificate programs in disciplines related to national security, military studies, intelligence, homeland security, criminal justice, technology, business administration, education, nursing, and liberal arts. The company was founded in 1991 and is headquartered in Charles Town, West Virginia.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By James Brumley]
American Public Education (APEI) has been one of the biggest victims of the DOE’s partial shutdown. The 41,000 individual online classes scheduled to begin a few days ago were reduced by 13,000 when many military and government employees lost their tuition assistance as of October 1st.
Best Services Companies To Buy Right Now: Sears Holdings Corporation(SHLD)
Sears Holdings Corporation operates as a specialty retailer in the United States and Canada. The company?s Kmart segment operates stores that sell merchandise under Jaclyn Smith and Joe Boxer labels; and Sears brand products, such as Kenmore, Craftsman, and DieHard. This segment?s stores provide consumer electronics, seasonal merchandise, outdoor living, toys, lawn and garden equipment, food and consumables, and apparel, as well as operate in-store pharmacies. Its Sears Domestic segment operates stores that sell merchandise under the Kenmore, Craftsman, DieHard, Lands? End, Covington, Apostrophe, and Canyon River Blues brand names. This segment?s stores provide appliances, consumer electronics, tools, sporting goods, outdoor living, lawn and garden equipment, home fashion products, automotive products, apparel, footwear, jewelry, accessories, health and beauty products, pantry goods, household products, and toys. The Sears Domestic segment also provides clothing, acces sories, footwear, and soft luggage; appliances and services to commercial customers in single-family residential construction/remodel, property management, multi-family new construction, and government/military sectors; premium appliance and plumbing fixtures to architects, designers, and new construction or remodeling customers; parts and repair services for appliances, lawn and garden equipment, consumer electronics, floor care products, and heating and cooling systems; and home improvement services. The company?s Sears Canada segment engages in the retail of apparel and other softlines. Sears Holdings Corporation operates approximately 2,172 full-line stores and 1,338 specialty retail stores in the United States; 500 full-line and specialty retail stores in Canada, as well as operates 17 floor covering stores, 1,734 catalog pick-up locations, and 108 travel offices; and kmart.com and sears.ca Websites. The company was founded in 1899 and is based in Hoffman Estates, Illi nois.
Advisors' Opinion:- [By Wallace Witkowski]
It was a big after-hours session for retailers. Shares of Sears Holdings Corp. (SHLD) �dropped 14% to $36.50 on heavy volume after the retailer reported weak holiday sales and a quarterly forecast well below Wall Street expectations.
- [By Paul Ausick]
Sears Holdings Corp. (NASDAQ: SHLD)�reported second-quarter 2013 results before markets opened on Thursday. The company posted an adjusted earnings per share (EPS) loss of $1.46 on revenues of $8.9 billion. In the same quarter a year ago, Sears posted an EPS loss of $1.06 on revenues of $9.5 billion. The consensus estimates from Thomson Reuters called for an EPS loss of $1.10 on revenues of $9.01 billion.
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