Guru Stocks at 52-Week Low: Walgreen, SunTrust Banks Inc., Fifth Third Bancorp, J.C. Penney Company Inc., Gannett Co. Inc.

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Oct 15, 2007
52-week low list can be a great place to find out-of-favor sectors and undervalued stocks, especially if these stocks are already owned value Gurus. We are starting a weekly highlight of 52-week low Guru stocks. Related companies this week: Walgreen (WAG, Financial), SunTrust Banks Inc. (STI, Financial), Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB, Financial), J.C. Penney Company Inc. (JCP, Financial), Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI, Financial).


Walgreen Company (WAG) Reaches the 52-Week Low of $38.82

The prices of Walgreen Company (WAG) shares have declined to the 52-week low of $38.82, which are 21.3% less than the 52-week high of $49.10. Walgreen Company is owned by 7 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 4 have added to their positions during the past quarter, and 3 reduced their positions.

Walgreen Co. operates a chain of drugstores in the United States. These drugstores sell prescription and non-prescription drugs, and general merchandise. Walgreen Company has a market cap of $38.57 billion; its shares were traded at around $38.82 with a P/E ratio of 19.13 and P/S ratio of 0.71.

Higher accounting charges and higher costs are partly to blame for the recent dipping in prices, but there are also tough year-over-year comparisons on generic-drug sales. Last year, Walgreen reaped big profits as Zocor, an anticholesterol drug, hit the stores in June. This summer, however, there were no comparable generic launches to match it, and many think that year-over-year comparisons will remain tough for the next three quarters, although comparisons on expenses should be easier.

Gurus' Positions with WAG


Walgreen Company is owned by 7 Gurus.


1 Guru Initiated Positions in WAG:


Arnold Van Den Berg bought 2,052,035 shares in the quarter ended 06/30/2007, which accounts for 2.64% of the $3.66 billion portfolio of Century Management.


3 Gurus Increased Positions in WAG: Edward Owens, Jean-Marie Eveillard, and Ruane Cunniff.


Edward Owens owns 8,350,000 shares of WAG as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 39.17% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 1.46% of the $24.87 billion portfolio of Vanguard Health Care Fund.


Jean-Marie Eveillard owns 4,932,110 shares of WAG as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 17.52% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 1.49% of the $14.39 billion portfolio of Arnhold & S. Bleichroeder Advisers, LLC.


Ruane Cunniff owns 6,948,710 shares of WAG as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 0.13% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 2.44% of the $12.38 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.


3 Gurus Reduced Positions in WAG: Kenneth Fisher, Dodge & Cox, and George Soros.


Kenneth Fisher owns 11,480 shares of WAG as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 16.25% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $33.9 billion portfolio of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.


Dodge & Cox owns 22,169 shares of WAG as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 45.89% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $138.5 billion portfolio of Dodge & Cox.


George Soros owns 5,561 shares of WAG as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 97.6% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.01% of the $3.15 billion portfolio of Soros Fund Management LLC.


Insiders' Positions with WAG

No Insider has increased its positions in WAG, although CEO Jeffery Rein and other executives have been selling shares.

SunTrust Banks Inc. (STI) Reaches the 52-Week Low of $74.95

The prices of SunTrust Banks Inc. (STI) shares have declined to close to 52-week low of $74.95, which is 21.8% off the 52-week high of $94.18. SunTrust Banks Inc. is owned by 7 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 1 added to their positions during the past quarter. 2 reduced their positions.

SunTrust Banks, Inc. operates as the holding company for SunTrust Bank (the bank), which provides a range of financial services to consumer and corporate customers in the United States. SunTrust Banks Inc. has a market cap of $26.18 billion, its shares were traded at around $74.95 with a P/E ratio of 12.11 and P/S ratio of 3.35.

SunTrust Banks Inc. has more competition now because of an increase of the amount of banks in Atlanta, where it operates. Many of Atlanta’s biggest banks are losing market share, including Bank of America, Wachovia Corp, and SunTrust Banks Inc. SunTrust had the biggest decline; it reported losses of about 3% of the local market from 2006 to 2007, and was the only bank out of the three to report fewer deposits in 2007 than in 2006.

Gurus' Positions with STI


SunTrust Banks Inc. is owned by 7 Gurus.


1 Guru Increased Positions in STI


Kenneth Fisher owns 10,429 shares of STI as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 16.69% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $33.9 billion portfolio of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.


4 Gurus Kept Positions in STI Unchanged: Brian Rogers, Warren Buffett, Dodge & Cox and Chris Davis.


Brian Rogers owns 2,201,000 shares as of STI of 06/30/2007, which accounts for 0.74% of the $25.48 billion portfolio of T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund.


Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway owns 3,204,600 shares of STI as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for 0.45% of the $61.08 billion portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway.


Chris Davis owns 15,000 shares of STI as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for less than 0.01% of the $93.61 billion portfolio of Davis Selected Advisers.


Dodge & Cox owns 5,516 shares of STI as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for less than 0.01% of the $138.5 billion portfolio of Dodge & Cox.


2 Gurus Reduced Positions in STI: Ruane Cunniff and David Dreman.


Ruane Cunniff owns 38,624 shares of STI as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of -0.93% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.03% of the $12.38 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.


David Dreman owns 44,244 shares as of STI as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of -25.7% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.02% of the $19.55 billion portfolio of Dreman Value Management.

Insiders' Positions with STI

• Director Hyatt J Brown bought 12,000 shares of STI stock on 04/19/2007 at the average price of $84.03, and the price of the stock has decreased by 10.81% since.

Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) Reaches the 52-Week Low of $33

The prices of Fifth Third Bancorp (FITB) shares have declined to close to 52-week low of $33.0399, which is 24.0% off the 52-week high of $43.32. Fifth Third Bancorp is owned by 3 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 1 has added to their positions during the past quarter. 1 reduced their positions.

Fifth Third Bancorp, through its subsidiaries, operates as a diversified financial services company. Its Commercial Banking segment provides traditional lending and depository products and services; and offers a range of other services. Fifth Third Bancorp has a market cap of $17.68 billion; its shares were traded at around $33.0399 with a P/E ratio of 15.53 and P/S ratio of 3.81.

Many banks are reporting losses in earnings, and this is the reason that they are declining in price. With the downturn in credit and housing markets, banks find it increasingly difficult to sell loans. And because of this, many banking companies are not doing so well. FITB has now also reached its 5-year low.

Gurus' Positions with FITB


Fifth Third Bancorp is owned by 3 Gurus.


1 Guru Increased Positions in FITB


Charles Brandes owns 22,942,250 shares of FITB as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 15.88% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 1.56% of the $58.32 billion portfolio of Brandes Investment.


1 Guru Kept Positions in FITB Unchanged


Brian Rogers owns 6,250,000 shares of FITB as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for 0.98% of the $25.48 billion portfolio of T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund.


1 Guru Reduced Positions in FITB


Ruane Cunniff owns 168,225 shares of FITB as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 1.58% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.05% of the $12.38 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.

Insiders' Positions with FITB

• Executive Vice President Malcolm D Griggs sold 404 shares of FITB stock on 06/07/2007 at the average price of $41.78, the price of the stock has decreased by 20.92% since.

There are no other Insider Buys or Sells.

J.C. Penney Company Inc. (JCP) Reaches the 52-Week Low of $62.29

The prices of J.C. Penney Company Inc. (JCP) shares have declined to close to 52-week low of $62.29, which is 29.4% off the 52-week high of $87.18. J.C. Penney Company Inc. is owned by 4 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 1 has added to its position during the past quarter, 5 reduced their positions.

J. C. Penney Company, Inc., through its subsidiary, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., sells merchandise and services to customers through its department stores and catalog/Internet channels. J.C. Penney Company Inc. has a market cap of $13.81 billion; its share is traded at around $62.29 with a P/E ratio of 11.97 and P/S ratio of 0.69.

Shares of department stores from Dillard's Inc. Dillard Department Stores, Inc, JC Penny, Nordstrom, and Macy’s all declined, a day after they reported lower-than-expected September same-store sales. Because the sales are doing so well, the stock prices dropped.

Gurus' Positions with JCP


J.C. Penney Company Inc. is owned by 8 Gurus.


1 Guru Increased Positions in JCP


Kenneth Fisher owns 7,484 shares of JCP as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 95.25% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for less than 0.01% of the $33.9 billion portfolio of Fisher Asset Management, LLC.


2 Gurus Kept Positions in JCP Unchanged: Chris Davis and Dodge & Cox


Chris Davis owns 140,350 shares of JCP as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for 0.01% of the $93.61 billion portfolio of Davis Selected Advisers.


Dodge & Cox owns 6,062 shares of JCP as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for less than 0.01% of the $138.5 billion portfolio of Dodge & Cox.


1 Guru Reduced Positions in JCP


Ruane Cunniff owns 154,884 shares of JCP as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 3.64% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.09% of the $12.38 billion portfolio of Ruane & Cunniff & Goldfarb Inc.


4 Gurus Sold Out JCP:


David Dreman, Ken Heebner, Robert Olstein, and George Soros all sold out their holdings in the quarter that ended on 06/30/2007.


Insiders' Positions with JCP


There are no Insider Buys or Sells regarding JCP.


Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI) Reaches the 52-Week Low of $44.31

The prices of Gannett Co. Inc. (GCI) shares have declined to close to 52-week low of $44.31, which is 31.3% off the 52-week high of $63.5. Gannett Co. Inc. is owned by 8 Gurus we are tracking. Among them, 3 have added to their positions during the past quarter. 3 reduced their positions.

Gannett Co., Inc. operates as a news and information company primarily in the United States and the United Kingdom. The company operates in two segments, Newspaper Publishing and Broadcasting. Gannett Co. Inc. has a market cap of $10.32 billion; its shares were traded at around $44.31 with a P/E ratio of 8.74 and P/S ratio of 1.32.

GCI reached its 5-year low, like Fifth Third Bancorp. Susie Ellwood of GCI says that the decrease in price “has to do with the business climate and the newspaper industry and, certainly, the economic environment here in Michigan," where the business operates.

Gurus' Positions with GCI


Gannett Co. Inc. is owned by 8 Gurus.


3 Gurus Increased Positions in GCI: Brian Rogers, Arnold Van Dan Berg, and Charles Brandes.


Brian Rogers owns 3,750,000 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 87.5% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.81% of the $25.48 billion portfolio of T Rowe Price Equity Income Fund.


Arnold Van Den Berg owns 2,925,641 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 14.5% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 3.78% of the $3.66 billion portfolio of Century Management.


Charles Brandes owns 19,934,584 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, an increase of 4.13% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 1.88% of the $58.32 billion portfolio of Brandes Investment.


2 Gurus Kept Positions in GCI Unchanged: John Rogers and Warren Buffett.


John Rogers owns 3,276,601 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for 1.18% of the $13.23 billion portfolio of ARIEL CAPITAL MANAGEMENT LLC.


Warren Buffett owns 3,447,600 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, which accounts for 0.31% of the $61.08 billion portfolio of Berkshire Hathaway.


3 Gurus Reduced Positions in GCI: Chris Davis, Bruce Sherman, and David Dreman.


Chris Davis owns 2,806,990 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 0.11% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.15% of the $93.61 billion portfolio of Davis Selected Advisers.


Bruce Sherman owns 3,807,486 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 41.85% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.98% of the $21.42 billion portfolio of Private Capital Management.


David Dreman owns 73,010 shares of GCI as of 06/30/2007, a decrease of 63.09% from the previous quarter. This position accounts for 0.02% of the $19.55 billion portfolio of Dreman Value Management.

Insiders' Positions with GCI


There are no Insider Buys or Sells regarding GCI.