Weekly CFO Buys Highlight: Ann Taylor Stores Corp., Cott Corp., OMNI Energy Services Corp., Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.

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Mar 21, 2009
According to GuruFocus Insider Data, the largest CFO buys during the past week were Ann Taylor Stores Corp., Cott Corp., OMNI Energy Services Corp., and Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc.


For the complete list of stocks that bought by their CFOs, go to: Insider Buys.


Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN, Financial): EVP & CFO Michael J Nicholson Bought 100,000 Shares


EVP & CFO of Ann Taylor Stores Corp. (ANN) Michael J Nicholson bought 100,000 shares on 03/13/2009 at an average price of $3.48 the price of the stock has increased by 17.82% since. AnnTaylor Stores is a national retailer of upscale women's clothing. Its stores offer a full range of apparel and accessories under the names Ann Taylor Ann Taylor Studio ATdenim and Ann Taylor Petites. The company targets college-educated women between the ages of 25 and 55 who areemployed in professional and managerial positions. Ann Taylor Stores Corp. has a market cap of $234.3 million; its shares were traded at around $4.1 with and P/S ratio of 0.1. Ann Taylor Stores Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 7.5% over the past 10 years. GuruFocus rated Ann Taylor Stores Corp. the business predictability rank of 3.5-star.


Ann Taylor Stores Corp. Recently announced fiscal results for the fourth quarter 2008 ended January 31, 2009. Excluding impairments and restructuring charges, the Company reported a net loss in the quarter of $58.1 million, or $1.03 per diluted share, compared with net income of $11.5 million, or $0.19 per diluted share, in the fourth quarter of 2007. Net sales were $483.4 million, compared with net sales of $600.8 million in the fourth quarter of fiscal 2007. Commenting on the results, Ann Taylor President & Chief Executive Officer Kay Krill stated, "The fourth quarter of 2008 was a particularly challenging period for both the overall retail industry and our Company, reflecting extremely weak macroeconomic fundamentals, including historically low consumer confidence and a broad-based decline in consumer spending -- particularly on women's apparel .”


Buy: Director James J Jr Burke sold 79,883 shares of ANN stock on 12/02/2008 at the average price of $4.05. He bought 100,000 shares of ANN stock on 01/09/2009 at the average price of $5.61, and 125,000 shares of ANN stock on 03/18/2009 at the average price of $4.32.


Cott Corp. (COT, Financial): CFO Juan R Figuereo Bought 300,000 Shares


CFO of Cott Corp. (COT) Juan R Figuereo bought 300,000 shares during the past week at an average price of $0.8. Cott Corporation is one of the world's largest non-alcoholic beverage companies and the world's largest retailer brand soft drink provider. The Company commercializes its business in over Sixty countries worldwide with its principal markets being the United States Canada the United Kingdom and Mexico. Cott markets or supplies over two hundred retailer and licensed brands and Company-owned brands including Cott RC Vintage Vess and So Clear. Its products include carbonated soft drinks sparkling and flavored waters energy drinks sports drinks juices juice drinks and smoothies ready-to-drink teas and other non-carbonated beverages. Cott Corp. has a market cap of $61.1 million; its shares were traded at around $0.85 .


Cott Corp. recently reported fiscal results for the fourth quarter 2008 ended December 27, 2008. Total revenue declined 10.1% versus prior year to $371.4 million. The company reported a net loss per diluted share of $0.19 for the quarter versus a loss per share of $1.05 in the prior year fourth quarter. “We are glad to put 2008 behind us,” commented David Gibbons, Cott's Chairman. “We are now starting to see the positive results of our efforts to refocus on our private label customers in North America, the engine of our business. I believe we are healthier today than we have been in the recent past. While the overall category continued to decline in the U.S., market share for our customers in the U.S. Nielsen grocery channels increased 1.2 percentage points during the fourth quarter .”


COT is in the portfolios of Charles Brandes of Brandes Investment, PRIMECAP Management, Jean-Marie Eveillard of Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder Advisers, LLC.


Buy: Director Gregory R Monahan bought 547,400 shares of COT stock on 03/19/2009 at the average price of $0.79; the price of the stock has increased by 7.59% since. Buy: Director Eric Rosenfeld bought 547,400 shares of COT stock on 03/19/2009 at the average price of $0.79; the price of the stock has increased by 7.59% since.Buy: Director David T Gibbons bought 150,000 shares of COT stock on 03/11 through 03/13/2009 at the average price ranging from $0.68 to $0.77; the price of the stock has increased by 10.39% since.


OMNI Energy Services Corp. (OMNI, Financial): SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CFO Ronald Mogel Bought 25,000 Shares


SENIOR VICE PRESIDENT & CFO of OMNI Energy Services Corp. (OMNI) Ronald Mogel bought 25,000 shares on 03/16/2009 at an average price of $0.72. OMNI Energy Services Corp. is an oilfield service company specializing in providing an integrated range of onshore seismic drilling and survey services to geophysical companies operating in logistically difficult and environmentally sensitive terrain in the United States. The company's primary market is the marsh swamp shallow water and contiguous dry land areas along the U.S. Gulf Coast primarily in Louisiana and Texas where it is the leading provider of seismic drilling services. OMNI Energy Services Corp. has a market cap of $14.2 million; its shares were traded at around $0.69 with a P/E ratio of 0.5 and P/S ratio of 0.1. OMNI Energy Services Corp. had an annual average earning growth of 54.9% over the past 5 years.


OMNI Energy Services Corp. recently reported fiscal results for the fourth quarte r 2008. Total revenue was $50.4 million, an increase of 22.0% over the fourth quarter of 2007. Fourth quarter net income was $2.5 million, or $0.13 per diluted share before an impairment charge. This compares to fourth quarter 2007 net loss of $1.5 million, or $0.08 per diluted share (there was no impairment charge in 2007). Brian J. Recatto, President and Chief Executive Officer of OMNI, commented, "Notwithstanding challenging market conditions, we were pleased with our strong results in the fourth quarter and feel we achieved our performance goals established at the beginning of the year, which included geographic expansion, refinancing of our debt and enhanced integration of our operational business units. While we have experienced some reduced activity in early 2009, we will make every effort to maintain market share, operating margins and cash flow while striving for improved execution at the work location. We have been aggressively moving to align our cost structure with the current market conditions. ”


Buy: President & CEO Brian Recatto bought 25,000 shares of OMNI stock on 03/17/2009 at the average price of $0.7; the price of the stock has decreased by 1.43% since. Buy: VP & Chief Accounting Officer Greg B Milton bought 7,000 shares of OMNI stock on 03/17/2009 at the average price of $0.7; the price of the stock has decreased by 1.43% since.


Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (SBGI, Financial): Exec. VP & CFO David B Amy Bought 20,000 Shares


Exec. VP & CFO of Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. (SBGI) David B Amy bought 20,000 shares on 03/13/2009 at an average price of $1.04. Sinclair Broadcast Group is a diversified broadcasting company that owns or provides programming services pursuant to local marketing agreements to television stations than any other commercial broadcasting group in the United States. Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. has a market cap of $76.2 million; its shares were traded at around $0.94 with a P/E ratio of 1.3 and P/S ratio of 0.1.


Sinclair Broadcast Group Inc. recently reported fiscal results for the fourth quarter 2008 ended December 31, 2008. The company reported a preliminary net income of $20.3 million in the fourth quarter versus net income of $13.0 million in the prior year fourth quarter. revenues from continuing operations were $164.4 million for the three months ended December 31, 2008, a decrease of 0.8% versus the prior year period result of $165.7 million. Total revenues were $164.4 million for the fourth quarter versus the prior year period result of $165.7 million. Commenting on the quarter, David Smith, President and CEO of Sinclair, stated, "In the fourth quarter 2008, in response to a deepening economic recession and going into a non-election year where there would be an absence of political revenues, we took steps to reduce our 2009 operating costs and to preserve liquidity, and we are currently re-evaluating how best to utilize our cash flow. Among some of the initiatives implemented, we drastically cut capital expenditures, are limiting our outside investments, reduced corporate overhead and TV station expenses, including reducing staffing levels and freezing salaries."


SBGI is in the portfolios of David Einhorn of Greenlight Capital Inc.


Buy: Director, 10% Owner Robert E Smith bought 320,000 shares of SBGI stock on 02/26/2009 at the average price of $1.13, 1,924 shares of SBGI stock on 03/09/2009 at the average price of $1.08, 93,723 shares of SBGI stock on 03/11/2009 at the average price of $1.06, 89,140 shares of SBGI stock on 03/13/2009 at the average price of $1.03, and 75,000 shares of SBGI stock on 03/16/2009 at the average price of $1; the price of the stock has decreased by 6% since.