Each week, TheStreet.com takes an in-depth look at a particular market sector. Sector Spotlight shines a light on the issues that face the companies in that industry and how they affect valuations. What new technology is on the horizon? Who's winning the big contracts? How will changes in the economic climate affect this sector? A TSC industry expert will answer these questions and more.
This Week in Sector Spotlight
Tim Arango checks out the
retail sector, where women's wear is looking like a good place to invest.
Previously in Sector Spotlight
Eileen Kinsella looks at the core
brokerage businesses, which continue to suffer with the depressed market.
George Mannes examines the competitive situation between
satellite TV companies EchoStar and Hughes Electronics.
George Mannes takes a look at
video-on-demand, which continues to fall short of fans' hopes and dreams.
Tim Arango checks out the
specialty apparel retailers, which have been swimming upstream against a tide of bad news.
Adam Feuerstein examines
drug companies, whose fundamentals remain strong, with patent expirations the one worry.
George Mannes looks at
Internet advertising, which could stabilize and even grow after further consolidation, layoffs and shutdowns.
Tom Lepri examines the good news and the bad news for
PC makers. Adrienne Sanders looks at
software companies, such as
Microsoft, that are tying their future to the Net.
Caroline Humer takes a look at
semiconductor companies, whose future looks even worse since the telecos have pulled back on spending.
Eileen Kinsella examines the
banks, whose balance sheets could be even more strained by disappointments at the likes of Lucent.
Joe Bousquin looks at
business software companies, whose stocks are beginning to return to
normal. Carolyn Koo examines the
wireless infrastructure sector, where Ericsson, Nortel and their ilk will be stung by wireless carriers' delay in ramping up third-generation networks.
Tim Arango takes a look at the
retail sector, which is starting to show new life after the Fed's rate cuts.
George Mannes looks at
vertical portals, which are discovering that a narrow focus is not the way to a high stock price.
Tom Lepri examines
data storage companies, which claim that their growth is showing no signs of abating.
Scott Moritz looks at the
networking sector, which is planning on a second-half bounce that may not materialize.
Adrienne Sanders sizes up the opponents in the battle for the
video console market.
Caroline Humer examines the
semiconductor sector, which is looking to flash memory for strength as demand for other chips slows.
Dan Colarusso examines the
big brokerages and how they'll survive now that IPOs and stock action is diminished.
Eileen Kinsella looks at the
banking sector, which is facing increasing problems as the economy slows.
Joe Bousquin examines the
B2B sector, which is no longer looking like it can weather these tough times.
Carolyn Koo looks at telecom companies that make handsets so consumers can upgrade their
mobile phones. Dane Hamilton looks at biotech companies that specialize in creating
cancer vaccines.
George Mannes checks out how
Internet content companies like Akamai and Inktomi are locked in a battle over standards.
Tom Lepri looks at the
specialty semiconductor makers and how even they are struggling with the product and business cycles.
Katherine Hobson checks out the
e-tailers as they head into what will likely be a make-or-break fourth quarter.
Scott Moritz examines the
optical-component industry, where consolidation will ultimately reduce a crowded field.
Caroline Humer looks at
e-finance infrastructure firms, which show mixed results but attract attention.
Peter Eavis looks at
banks' third-quarter numbers. Most big institutions will be fine, in an uninspiring sort of way.
Justin Dini looks at how fears of an advertising slowdown is affecting
media stocks.
Katherine Hobson looks at the
retail situation, and how some upscale clothiers are boosting sales by stepping out of casual duds.
Joe Bousquin examines how
B2B companies are increasingly looking to alliances to stay ahead of the game in e-commerce.
Tally Goldstein looked at the lull in
wireless merger action in anticipation of the next wave.
Dan Colarusso looked at the move toward Europe among U.S.
investment banks. George Mannes examined consolidation among
online customer-service players. Tom Lepri looked at why even Salomon Smith Barney is on board with the near-term consensus on
semiconductors. Catherine Valenti looked at why
consumer products makers may turn to the time-honored tradition of mergers and acquisitions.
Katherine Hobson examineed
retailers as they posted lousy earnings in the second quarter.
Dane Hamilton looked at the rally in
biotechs as most signs pointed toward stronger stock prices in this sector.
Dane Hamilton examined the
pharmaceutical industry and the possible impact on big drug makers of legislation allowing wholesalers to import low-cost drugs, as well as that of upcoming patent expirations.
Caroline Humer took a look at the
online brokerages, which have suffered in the wake of recent market volatility and resultant falling volumes.
Scott Moritz looked at the
long distance phone business. Tom Lepri examined the
semiconductor industry's up-and-down ride.
Tally Goldstein explored the intense competition to develop
wireless Internet services. George Mannes endeavored to answer the question of whether
free Internet service is viable for providers.
TSC Staff
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