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.



Please follow this link for the full piece:
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2011/Can-Chicos-Be-Chic-Again-CHS-JCP-BAL-HBI-RL-LULU-KSS0228.aspx.

No Recession In High-End Goods

The regular cornerstone franchises of most American malls like Dillards (NYSE:DDS) or J.C. Penney (NYSE:JCP) may not be seeing great consumer interest, but the luxury side of retail seems to be making a solid comeback. This is why, with an update on third-quarter sales Thursday, it's pretty clear that French luxury giant LVMH (Nasdaq:LVMUY.PK) is once again doing well among the well-to-do. 

Double Digits Across the Board
While LVMH only gave a partial update (sales, not profits), that update was nonetheless very positive. Total sales climbed nearly 24% as reported, with organic sales growth of 14%. That was a fair bit better than the already-healthy analyst expectation of 11% organic growth.


Please click below for the full story: 
http://stocks.investopedia.com/stock-analysis/2010/No-Recession-In-High-End-Goods-LVMUY-COH-JWN-DEO-TIF-MOV-JCP1015.aspx