The closings are important, but what is more important is the strategic direction they are going to take going forward, ... How are they going to improve profitability at existing stores?

156

The departure could not have come at a more inopportune time.

150

In our opinion, the next six months represent a critical time for Kmart, and we would not be surprised if the company were to file Chapter 11 bankruptcy if trends do not improve.

138

Clearly they're losing share to the specialty guys, and they're suffering really from a downturn in the economy. ...Unfortunately Saks is at the high end and the moderate end and both of those have suffered. On top of that, you have significant exposure to New York and the metropolitan region, so it's a double whammy with the economy and September 11.

123

Within the past 24 hours, they've opened a number of different options that weren't available 24 hours ago, ... They could reemerge as a smaller, more competitive company with stable cash flow. If I were Wal-Mart, I would be more concerned now than if Kmart hadn't filed.

122

[Kmart has] a very aggressive timetable, ... It will be interesting to see if they can pull it off.

83