Sears' Lampert Finds a New Foe

While short-term investors have been hurt, long-term Lampert disciples say he will continue to repurchase shares of Sears at a valuation that he views as favorable while he looks for other plays for the retailer's cash flow.

While Restoration is far too small to become a factor in Sears' valuation, analysts say Lampert may feel he can use the brand the way he used Land's End, which has been a winner for Sears since he took over.

"Like Land's End, Restoration Hardware has been established as a pretty well-regarded brand in terms of the merchandise," says RBC Capital Markets analyst Scot Cicarrelli. "They have a severely damaged supply chain, and Lampert may see an opportunity to move it into the Sears stable at a discount and create synergies with his existing supply chain."