Big 5 Sporting Goods Corporation proposes to open about 20 new stores, net of closures and relocations, in 2008. Expansion of store network would enable the company to enhance its reach in the US market, increase the points of interface with the customers, and enables the company to meet diverse customer needs efficiently.

Scope

Contains corporate strategy, value chain presence and SWOT Analysis Provides detailed business description, segment analysis, 5-year financial trends, key products and key competitors Includes information on suppliers/ partners, shareholding structure and key employees with biographies

Highlights

Big 5 is a retailer of sporting goods. The company conducts its business through Big 5 Corporation, a wholly owned subsidiary. Big 5 operates in three segments of the retail value chain: wholesale (procurement of stock), operations and distribution (warehousing) and sales (physical store operations and online sales). The company does not have presence in two other sections of the retail value chain: raw materials and manufacture.

Big 5''s peers have tuned their merchandise mix up-market by focusing on branded and premium products; however, Big 5 still continues to emphasize on value-oriented, discounted merchandise. It collaborates with vendors for developing exclusive products. This enables Big 5 to avoid stocking commoditized products as sold by mass merchandisers.

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Analyst Mike Baker said consumer spending will remain weak through the rest of 2008 and perhaps into 2009, pressuring spending on discretionary products like sporting goods.

As a result, Deutsche Bank reduced its 2008 earnings-per-share estimate to 70 cents from 75 cents, while analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, on average, estimate full-year earnings of 71 cents a share.

The brokerage also lowered its price target to $6 from $7.

Shares of Big 5, an El Segundo, Calif.-based sporting goods retailer, closed Thursday at $7.46. Greg Saulnier gs/vj

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El Segundo, California-based Big 5 is a sporting goods retailer in the western United States, operating 369 stores in eleven states under the "Big 5 Sporting Goods" name.

Big 5 provides a full-line product offering in a traditional sporting goods store format that averages 11,000 square feet. Big 5's product mix includes athletic shoes, apparel and accessories, as well as a selection of outdoor and athletic equipment for team sports, fitness, camping, hunting, fishing, tennis, golf, snowboarding and in-line skating.

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