America's Car-Mart Inc. (CRMT) saw revenues leap 10.7% in the first quarter as same store sales also jumped 8.4%. The company has surprised on estimates the last 4 quarters by an average of 17.82%. CRMT has attractive value characteristics, with a forward P/E of 12.27.

Company Description

America's Car-Mart is an automotive retailer that focuses on the used car market through its "Buy Here/Pay Here" program. It operates 96 dealerships in 8 states located primarily in small cities throughout the South-Central United States.

America's Car-Mart Beat Big in the Fiscal First Quarter

While many in the auto industry are struggling in this recession, America's Car-Mart continues to see growth.

On Sep 1, the company reported first quarter results that saw revenues jump 10.7% to $83.8 million from $75.7 million in the year ago period. Same store sales rose 8.5% and sales at four new locations added to

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America's Car-Mart Inc. (CRMT) reported fiscal first-quarter results before the opening bell today. The company posted GAAP net income of $7.02 million, compared to $5.29 million in the year-ago period. Earnings per share came in at 60 cents, compared to 45 cents in the year-ago quarter, topping the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 46.3%. America's Car-Mart currently operates 96 automotive dealerships across 8 states in the U.S., and is one of the largest automotive retailers in the country focused exclusively on the “Buy Here/Pay Here" segment of the used car market. The company operates primarily in small cities and rural locations throughout the South Central U.S. and provides financing for most of its customers. The company recorded a 10.7% year-over-year growth in revenues to $83.8 million driven by a 8.5% rise in same-store sales coupled with the launch of new dealerships in Rogers, Arkansas, Okmulgee, Oklahoma and ...

Gold pared gains on Friday as the euro retreated from highs against the dollar in the wake of second-quarter GDP data from the United States.

Spot gold was bid at $935.10 an ounce at 1325 GMT, against $933.30 an ounce late in New York on Thursday. It earlier hit a session high of $939.65. U.S. gold futures for August delivery on the COMEX division of the New York Mercantile Exchange edged up 50 cents to $935.40 an ounce.

The euro gave up ground against the U.S. currency after data released on Friday showed the U.S. economy contracted at a slower-than-expected pace in the second quarter, which analysts said backs views the recession is winding down.

“The U.S. GDP data was fairly good; it is still contracting but at a much slower pace, much better than the first quarter,” said Andrey Kryuchenkov, an analyst at VTB Capital.

“But the personal consumption data wasn’t so good,” he added.

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For U.S.-centric investors who question whether it’s really necessary to invest in “risky” overseas markets, here’s an important fact to consider: It’s China – not the United States – that’s leading us …

Plug-In Electric Vehicles: In Search of the Mass-Produced Hybrid

by David Fessler, Advisory Panelist

We found out that Tesla Motors joined the growing list of automakers receiving federal funds this week. It locked up $465 million to develop and produce battery-powered vehicles.

But as we know too well, large government checks are hardly ever the answer to our problems. And one of the biggest right now is that we’re seeing gas prices climb slowly higher.

While $147-a-barrel oil served as a wake-up call for the car-driving consumer, it was also the catalyst that shifted the plug-in electric vehicles industry into high gear (pun intended).

I’ve talked about Plug-in Hybrid Electric Vehicles (PHEVs) before, and I’ve heard a lot of reader comments on the hybrids on the market right now. So let’s take a look at some of the major car companies’ efforts so far, as well as what lies ahead for consumers

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div style="text-align: justify;"Deutsche Banks is making a catch-up call in span style="font-weight: bold;"CarMax (NYSE:KMX)/span raising their rating to Buy from Hold and bumping price tgt to $15 (prev. $10).br /br /span style="font-weight: bold;"Improvement in wholesale funding market has positive implications for CAF/spanbr /The combination of vastly stronger demand and contracting spreads on Auto ABS deals has mitigated one of our key concerns: That captive (non-bank) finance co's such as Carmax Auto Finance might be structurally impaired. Improving liquidity and lower borrowing costs suggest that this business can once again become an important contributor to KMX earnings (as well as a support to sales).br /br /span style="font-weight: bold;"April deal appears profitable, and the market is now even better/spanbr /KMX completed its first ABS issuance since early July 2008 on April 9, 2009. The gross collateral spread was 7.3%, which was actually the highest on record. While this number does not account ...

Yesterday we wrote about the potential political influence in Germany that could be obtained through a majority stake in the struggling GM car company Opel (never mind that the last thing the Russian economy needs right now is more automotive manufacturing capacity).  Today Reuters has a Q+A on the topic with some background information.

WHY OPEL?

Putin tacitly promotes Russian investment in foreign countries as a way to boost the country's influence abroad. He has repeatedly named Germany alongside Italy as Russia's most important trading partners in Europe.

Flush with the world's third largest foreign currency reserves, the Russian state may be willing to overlook the challenges posed to Sberbank by a shrinking economy, as well as GAZ's debts and lack of success in passenger cars.

"GAZ

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CHINDIA Continues to Lead World Auto Industry Out of SlumpIndian sales of cars were up for the third month in a row, being up 4%. Lower interest rates and government stimulus continues to drive growth. Suzuki sales were up 8%, and is the fastest growing brand in India. Consumers are fuel-price sensitive. Trucks and buses were down 11%, while motorcycles were up 12%.Chinese sales were up 37%, driven by tax breaks to promote smaller cars. China is now the largest new car market in the world. Zacks Investment Research

BEIJING, The People’s Republic of China - At a time when the rest of the global auto sales are experiencing their biggest declines in decades - and are set to drop at least 8% globally - the burgeoning China auto market may grow by 10% or more this year.

With steeply rising disposable incomes and savings rates that approach - and in some cases exceed - 35% a year, it isn’t difficult to see why the China auto market is zooming along. But what may be tough for U.S. consumers to picture - especially as they deal with rising unemployment and a nagging economic malaise - is the intensity with which domestic demand is growing here in China.

Autos are more than just transportation here. They’re a symbol of wealth and success - a sexy status symbol. One’s social position can be determined by the type of vehicle one owns and

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Exactly four years ago, on April 18, 2005, I warned that “General Motors is speeding on a course that could lead to bankruptcy.” In August of that year, I issued a second warning: “Delphi, GM’s former parts subsidiary, has already threatened to file for Chapter 11 bankruptcy by October 17 if its union does not provide relief. Don’t be surprised if one day, in the not-too-distant future, General Motors does the same.” And in October of 2005, my headline was even more direct: “GM Headed for Bankruptcy.” I prayed it would not happen as often as I predicted it. But now, unfortunately, that fateful day is finally arriving: Just This Past Friday, GM CEO Fritz Henderson Announced That a Bankruptcy Filing Is “PROBABLE.” GM and Treasury Department officials will no ...