Ralph Lauren Corp Stock Buy Recommendation Reiterated (RL)

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

NEW YORK (TheStreet) -- Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) has been reiterated by TheStreet Ratings as a buy with a ratings score of A+ . The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its growth in earnings per share, increase in net income, revenue growth, largely solid financial position with reasonable debt levels by most measures and expanding profit margins. Although no company is perfect, currently we do not see any significant weaknesses which are likely to detract from the generally positive outlook.

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Highlights from the ratings report include:

• RALPH LAUREN CORP has improved earnings per share by 29.8% in the most recent quarter compared to the same quarter a year ago. The company has demonstrated a pattern of positive earnings per share growth over the past two years. We feel that this trend should continue. During the past fiscal year, RALPH LAUREN CORP increased its bottom line by earning $7.13 versus $5.76 in the prior year. This year, the market expects an improvement in earnings ($8.05 versus $7.13).
• The net income growth from the same quarter one year ago has significantly exceeded that of the S&P 500 and the Textiles, Apparel & Luxury Goods industry. The net income increased by 27.6% when compared to the same quarter one year prior, rising from $169.00 million to $215.70 million.
• Despite its growing revenue, the company underperformed as compared with the industry average of 4.7%. Since the same quarter one year prior, revenues slightly increased by 2.2%. Growth in the company's revenue appears to have helped boost the earnings per share.
• RL's debt-to-equity ratio is very low at 0.07 and is currently below that of the industry average, implying that there has been very successful management of debt levels. Along with the favorable debt-to-equity ratio, the company maintains an adequate quick ratio of 1.44, which illustrates the ability to avoid short-term cash problems.
• The gross profit margin for RALPH LAUREN CORP is rather high; currently it is at 59.30%. It has increased from the same quarter the previous year. Along with this, the net profit margin of 11.68% is above that of the industry average.

Ralph Lauren Corporation engages in the design, marketing, and distribution of lifestyle products. Ralph Lauren has a market cap of $10.35 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector and consumer non-durables industry. The company has a P/E ratio of 22.3, above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 15.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday.

You can view the full Ralph Lauren Ratings Report or get investment ideas from our investment research center.

--Written by a member of TheStreet Ratings Staff.

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