This retailer remains vulnerable

Article Excerpt

VICTORIA’S SECRET & CO. $17 is a hold. The company (New York symbol VSCO; Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 77.3 million; Market cap: $1.3 billion; No dividend paid; Takeover Target Rating: Medium; www.victoriassecretandco.com) took its current form in August 2021 when the old L Brands (New York symbol LB) became two separate firms: Victoria’s Secret (lingerie) and Bath & Body Works (personal care products). Investors received one new share of Victoria’s Secret for every three shares of L Brands they held. L Brands then changed its name to Bath & Body Works. In late 2022, Victoria’s Secret paid $391 million for Adore Me Inc. That firm makes intimates apparel and sell those products exclusively online. It will pay an additional $80 million by January 2025, plus up to $300 million over the next two years depending on Adore Me’s performance. Due to that purchase, Victoria’s Secret’s long-term debt rose 30% to $1.27 billion as of July 29, 2023, from a year earlier. That’s a high 98% of…