Vera Bradley, Inc. (VRA)

Profitable firms with debt-free balance sheets are going to be around for the next up cycle, and Vera Bradley is one such stock.

I think the quarantine has gone too far, with unintended consequences that will be tallied later.

Chico's FAS showed some signs of life, but a number of other retailers were down in the dumps.

The 2020 Double Net Value Portfolio includes a half-dozen offenders from the previous iteration of the portfolio.

The 22 stocks in the Double Net Value Portfolio collectively outperformed the value components of the Russell 2000 and Russell Micro indices.

Most of the 22 largely small-cap stocks that make up the portfolio are now in positive territory, with Hibbett Sports leading the way.

The portfolio of 22 smaller names has slid into negative territory, showing the pressure the market has put of late on smaller-cap stocks.

A visit to western Pennsylvania provides insight into how various retailers may be faring and also turns up a county fair controversy.

As we enter the dog days of summer, with lower volume and perhaps more volatility, portfolio performance may get interesting.

Investment suggests that for now, the bag maker is focused on revitalizing its brand.

This is the first inception-to-date period that the portfolio has not outperformed its benchmarks.

They're cheap, have lots of cash, and/or have fairly strong brand names.

These 22 stocks in the aggregate are still outpacing the Russell 2000 and Russell Microcap indices, but by a narrower margin than before.

The fourth quarter's dreadful performance may seem like a distant memory, but it was quite brutal.

These 22 stocks in the aggregate continue to outpace the Russell 2000 and Russell Microcap indices as all but three are in positive territory.

The maker of handbags and accessories posted better-than-expected results this week and has forecast results for this fiscal year that are ahead of the consensus.

When high expectations are not met, that's when overpaying (for a player or a stock) really stings.

Titan Machinery is the top performer so far in 2019, up 38% since portfolio launch.

The 22 names in the portfolio as a group are outpacing the value components of the Russell 2000 and Russell Microcap indices.

Those names in the green are not what one might expect, including some specialty retailers from my double-net value portfolio.

Despite disappointing performance this year, the strategy has shown solid return in the past.

Easier said than done: They also have to turn sales around.

The longest line we witnessed was outside the Nike store; now that was a line.

Triple nets are companies trading between 2 and 3 times net current asset value; here are several of these value names.

Thoughts on the Colin Kaepernick "Just Do It" choice, the bid for Zoe's and Vera Bradley's earnings.

Dick's Sporting Goods and Foot Locker are among the specialty retailers that bounced back after a butt-whooping last summer.

The sale of FOSL and CATO, and a partial HIBB, have significantly reduced my overall exposure.

Specialty retail is indeed a tough area, but in classic form, markets have overly punished a number of them.