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The Growing Gap Between Rich and Poor: Recipe for Disaster?

The widening gap between the nation’s rich and poor is leaving the US economy more vulnerable to recurring financial crises and less likely to generate enduring expansions, reports  Bloomberg .

The Occupy Wall Street protesters’ chant of “we are the 99%” is a rising tribute to the unequal distribution of wealth. Social disparity aside, American businesses and the economy have been structured around a system in which the majority of members have free flow income.

Increased inequality therefore shakes the foundations of economic growth and can ultimately affect the “haves” in ways similar to the “have nots.”

“Left unchecked, the decades-long trend toward increasing inequality may condemn Wall Street to a generation of unimpressive returns and even shake social stability, economists and financial-industry executives say.”

Bloomberg reports that between 1993 and 2008, the top 1 percent of families captured 52 percent of total income gains, according to a 2010 analysis of Internal Revenue Service tax data.

Furthermore, in the 30-nation Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, only Turkey and Mexico have more unequal societies than the United States.

The 9.1% unemployment rate has not helped either, and many are of the opinion that it would take drastic political changes to fully address the issue and reduce the nations’ vulnerability to market shocks.

In light of this sullen news, here is a list of companies that serve the shopping, healthcare, and financial needs of low-income families.

List sorted by market cap.

Analyze These Ideas (Tools Will Open In A New Window) Discount, Variety Stores Industry. Market cap of $189.63B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $55.46. Its grocery merchandise consists of a line of grocery items, including meat, produce, deli, bakery, dairy, frozen foods, floral and dry grocery, as well as consumables, such as health and beauty aids, household chemicals, paper goods and pet supplies. Its entertainment merchandise contains electronics, toys, cameras and supplies, photo processing services, cellular phones, cellular service plan contracts and prepaid service. Its hardlines merchandise consists of fabrics and crafts, stationery and books, automotive accessories, hardware and paint, horticulture and accessories, sporting goods, outdoor entertaining and seasonal merchandise. Its apparel merchandise includes apparel for women, girls, men, boys and infants, shoes and jewelry. Its health and wellness includes pharmacy and optical services. Its home includes home furnishings, housewares and small appliances. The stock has gained 6.07% over the last year. Discount, Variety Stores Industry. Market cap of $13.26B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $39.33. Its merchandise includes national brands from manufacturers, such as Procter & Gamble, Kimberly Clark, Unilever, Kellogg's, General Mills, Nabisco, Coca-Cola and PepsiCo, as well as private brand selections. It offers its merchandise at everyday low prices through its convenient small-box (approximately 7,200 square feet) locations. The stock has gained 33.9% over the last year. Discount, Variety Stores Industry. Market cap of $6.49B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $54.4. Its merchandise assortment includes consumables, home products, apparel and accessories, and seasonal and electronics. Family Dollar store is between 7,500 and 9,500 square feet. Its stores are located in urban, suburban, small town and rural markets. Its stores operate on a self-service basis, and its low overhead enables it to sell merchandise at a moderate markup. The stock has gained 19.69% over the last year. Health Care Plans Industry. Market cap of $2.13B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $42.86. As of December 31, 2010, the Company provided a range of products to approximately 1,931,000 members in Texas, Georgia, Florida, Tennessee, Maryland, New Jersey, New York, Nevada, Ohio, Virginia and New Mexico. Might be undervalued at current levels, with a PEG ratio at 0.72, and P/FCF ratio at 5.73. The stock has lost 0.26% over the last year. Credit Services Industry. Market cap of $1.68B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $56.64. These services include secured non-recourse loans, commonly referred to as pawn loans and unsecured consumer loans. Its consumer loan portfolio includes short-term single payment loans, longer-term multi-payment installment loans, credit services and participation interests purchased from third parties in the micro line of credit (MLOC) services channel. Might be undervalued at current levels, with a PEG ratio at 0.94, and P/FCF ratio at 5.09. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 13.1% (equivalent to 10.26 days of average volume). The stock has had a couple of great days, gaining 5.77% over the last week. Discount, Variety Stores Industry. Market cap of $1.52B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $21.56. Merchandise sold in its 99 Cents Only Stores is priced at or below 99.99 Cents per item. As of April 2, 2011, the Company operated 285 retail stores with 211 in California, 35 in Texas, 27 in Arizona, and 12 in Nevada. It also sells merchandise through its Bargain Wholesale division at prices generally below normal wholesale levels to retailers, distributors and exporters. Bargain Wholesale represented 3.1% of the Company’s total sales in fiscal 2011. Exhibiting strong upside momentum--currently trading 9.42% above its SMA20, 14.99% above its SMA50, and 15.14% above its SMA200. The stock has had a couple of great days, gaining 7.68% over the last week. Specialty Retail, Other Industry. Market cap of $1.46B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $28.85. It also operates short-term consumer loan stores in the United States under the EZMONEY brand and in Canada under the CASHMAX brand. As of September 30, 2010, the Company had 390 locations in the United States. Might be undervalued at current levels, with a PEG ratio at 0.86, and P/FCF ratio at 12.22. The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 11.72%. Diversified Utilities Industry. Market cap of $1.42B. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $24.94. Avista Utilities generates, transmits and distributes electricity and distributes natural gas. It also engages in wholesale purchases and sales of electricity and natural gas. Advantage IQ, Inc. provides energy management programs and services for multi-site customers and utilities throughout North America. Its other investments and operations include real estate investments investments in technology venture capital funds and low income housing. The stock has gained 19.14% over the last year. Credit Services Industry. Market cap of $966.44M. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $22.48. Through its retail storefront locations, as well as by other means, such as via the Internet, it provides a range of consumer financial products and services in five countries, Canada, the United Kingdom, the United States, the Republic of Ireland and Poland, to customers who purchase some or all of their financial services from the Company rather than from banks and other financial institutions. Its products and services, principally its short-term consumer loans, check cashing services, secured pawn loans and gold buying services, provide customers with access to cash for living expenses or other needs. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 6.85% (equivalent to 6.34 days of average volume). The stock has gained 42.73% over the last year. Credit Services Industry. Market cap of $502.94M. Price as of Oct/14/2011 at $8.19. As of December 31, 2009, the Company operated 2,553 centers in 32 states in the United States, 21 centers in the United Kingdom, and 13 centers in Canada, and had 71 limited licensees in the United Kingdom. Cash advances are typically small-denomination, short-term, unsecured advances that are due on the customer's next payday. It does not provide pawn lending, title lending or similar services. Might be undervalued at current levels, with a PEG ratio at 0.76, and P/FCF ratio at 3.78. The stock has had a couple of great days, gaining 9.66% over the last week.