Spinoff prepares Gap for future markets

Article Excerpt

GAP INC. $18 (New York symbol GPS; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 378.0 million; Market cap: $6.8 billion; Dividend yield: 5.4%; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.gap.com) is a multi-brand apparel retailer based in San Francisco. It operates 3,335 stores under the following banners: The Gap (1,234), Old Navy (1,160 stores), Banana Republic (600), Athleta (165), Janie and Jack North America (140), and Intermix (36). Franchisees operate a further 514 stores. Gap’s sales fell 5.6%, from $16.4 billion in 2015 to $15.5 billion in 2017 (fiscal years end January 31). That’s mainly because the company closed its 53 Old Navy stores in Japan as part of a plan to focus on its more-profitable North American businesses. Gap’s sales then rebounded 2.2% to $15.9 billion in 2018, before then rising a further 4.6% to $16.6 billion in 2019. The company’s earnings, before store-closure costs and other unusual items, fell 35.0%, from $1.24 billion in fiscal 2015 to $807 million in 2017. Due to fewer shares outstanding, earnings per…