Liz shuts down money-losing outlet stores

Article Excerpt

LIZ CLAIBORNE INC. $4.76 (New York symbol LIZ; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 94.5 million; Market cap: $449.8 million; Price-to-sales ratio: 0.2; No dividends paid since December 2008; WSSF Rating: Extra Risk) will close its 87 “Liz Claiborne” outlet stores over the next few months. These stores sell heavily discounted clothing and accessories. The company has sold many of its less-profitable brands over the past few years. As well, it has signed exclusive deals that let it sell its clothing through other retailers. These moves have left the Liz Claiborne outlet stores with less merchandise to sell. The company will likely record a $7-million non-cash charge for writedowns of goodwill and other intangible assets. It lost $35.9 million, or $0.38 a share, in the first quarter of 2010. The company also expects cash charges to terminate leases and pay severance to employees. It will finalize these charges in the next few weeks. Liz Claiborne is a hold. hold…