Topic: How To Invest

Pat: I have a question on the following equity: Aeropostale. What do you think of this one?

Article Excerpt

Aeropostale Inc., $19.77, symbol ARO on New York, (Shares outstanding: 66.8 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion) is a mall-based, specialty retailer of casual apparel and accessories, targeting 14 to 17 year-old women and men. The company provides high-quality, active-oriented fashion merchandise at value prices. Aeropostale maintains control over its proprietary brands by designing, sourcing, marketing and selling all of its own merchandise (including on-line sales). Young women’s fashions make up about 71% of Aeropostale’s sales; young men’s fashions make up the remaining 29%. Aeropostale first sold shares to the public at $12 (split-adjusted) and began trading on New York in May, 2002. The New York City-based company currently operates 905 stores, including 863 Aeropostale stores in 48 states, 28 in Canada, and 14 Jimmy’Z stores in 11 states. Jimmy’Z Surf Co. is a California-lifestyle clothing brand, which targets woman and men aged 18 to 25. In the three months ended November 1, 2008, sales rose 16.8%, to $482 million from $412.6 million a..