Investopedia: Can Chico's Be Chic Again?

Women's retailer Chico's (NYSE:CHS) was a great growth stock for almost a decade, profiting off its relatively fashionable offerings for working women and ability to differentiate itself from the likes of Gap (NYSE:GPS), Limited Brands (NYSE:LTD) as well as mall anchors like JCPenny (NYSE:JCP) and Dillards (NYSE:DDS). But then Chico's experienced what almost all retailers experience - merchandising missteps, overexpansion, questionable acquisitions and a customer base that just wants to shop somewhere else for a change. 

The good news for retail investors is that there are certainly second acts in retailing (as well as third, and fourth). The question, though, is whether Chico's has whipped itself into shape in time to take advantage of an improving market. (For related reading see 5 Retail Stocks For 2011.)

An Iffy End to the Year
Chico's did not report especially exciting numbers for the fourth quarter, but the market was expecting worse so it all netted out to a "positive quarter", especially as the company gave encouraging sales growth guidance for fiscal 2011.



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