L Brands Inc. $71 – New York symbol LB

Article Excerpt

L BRANDS INC. $71 (New York symbol LB; Aggressive Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 287.5 million; Market cap: $20.4 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 1.7; Dividend yield: 3.4%; TSINetwork Rating: Average; www.lb.com) owns lingerie chain Victoria’s Secret as well as Bath & Body Works stores. They sell soaps, shampoos and other personal care products. The company’s other retail chains include La Senza (lingerie) in Canada and Henri Bendel (jewellery and accessories) in the U.S. In the three months ended April 30, 2016, L Brands’ sales rose 4.1%, to $2.6 billion from $2.5 billion a year earlier. Overall same-store sales increased 3%. That reflects a 2% gain at Victoria’s Secret and a 6% increase at Bath & Body Works. Earnings in the quarter fell 4.3%, to $173.7 million from $181.5 million. Due to fewer shares outstanding, per-share earnings declined 3.3%, to $0.59 from $0.61. The latest earnings exclude costs related to L Brands’plan to boost sales and profits. Those actions include dropping slower-selling…