Exclusive deal will help both

Article Excerpt

J.C. PENNEY CO. INC. $33 (New York symbol JCP; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 235.9 million; Market cap: $7.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.5; WSSF Rating: Average) has entered into a 10-year alliance with clothing maker LIZ CLAIBORNE INC. $5.69 (New York symbol LIZ; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 95.1 million; Market cap: $541.1 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.2; WSSF Rating: Extra Risk). Under the terms of the deal, J.C. Penney will become the only U.S. department store selling Liz Claiborne’s women’s clothing brands. The deal also includes accessories, shoes, household products and men’s clothing. J.C. Penney will start selling these lines next fall. This arrangement should help draw traffic to J.C. Penney’s stores, and cut Liz Claiborne’s risk. J.C. Penney is a buy. However, Liz Claiborne is still a hold. hold…