Conference Calls: The Good, the Bad, the Misunderstood

When I summarized the Dick's Sporting Goods' conference call on RealMoney Silver , I wrote:

If you want to see what a model growth retailer looks like, take a look at Dick's Sporting Goods. The company is growing in the right geographies and through strategic acquisitions like Galyan's and Golf Galaxy. Heavier reliance on private-label sales helps to increase margins. The company is one of the best, if not the best at managing inventories. I have written about the company on this site for years, and I have to reiterate my opinion that Dick's is a great growth vehicle in retail. On top of that, it is less vulnerable to a consumer pullback than a general merchandiser. Even during the deep dark years of the Jimmy Carter recession, kids played sports, and sports fans still hung on to their Pittsburgh Steelers and Boston Celtics.

To listen to an archive of Dick's Sporting Goods' Nov. 20, 2007, call, click here (registration required).

To listen to an archive of Research In Motion's Dec. 20, 2007, call, click here (registration required).

To listen to an archive of Apple's Oct. 22, 2007 call, click here.

Good conference calls such as these do exactly what's expected: they report a solid quarter and have a good "story" to tell for future growth. As an investor, you cannot ask for anything more.

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You can listen to a wide-range of earnings conference calls via TheStreet.com Earnings Release section. Just click here.