Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL), a leading global designer and distributor of premium lifestyle products, has decided to relocate some of its distribution business from West Virginia to Piedmont Triad in order to consolidate its operation in the region.  The company plans to close a warehouse and distribution center in Martinsburg, West Virginia in Dec 2010 and shift its children wear distribution operations to Piedmont Triad. The decision is likely to affect approximately 100 employees. Ralph Lauren intends to offer either relocation packages to the retrenched employees or severance-related benefits.  The relocation of the facilities is primarily based on the decision to consolidate the distribution operations of the company. Ralph Lauren already has two facilities in High Point, a city in Piedmont Triad. These include a retail distribution center that was opened in 1991, and a 300,000 square feet distribution and facilitation center opened in 2008. ...

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Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) has recently launched an Apple, Inc. (AAPL) iPhone application that allows users to customize the Rugby brand of shirts. The move is an extension of the so-called "merchantainment" program of the company that blends its merchandising efforts with entertainment. Polo Ralph introduced the Rugby brand in 2004 to primarily target young adults. The new application enables iPhone and iPod touch device users to personalize the Rugby line of shirts including varsity sweaters, rugby shirts, polo shirts and hooded sweatshirts. Customers can now add patches that feature numbers and letters on their shirts, and upload their photos with chosen hairstyles, skin tones and backgrounds. The strategic move is aimed at utilizing popular networking sites to augment sales and establish direct communication with end users. Similar moves had already been taken by diverse companies such as Dell Inc. (DELL) and Starbucks ...

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The Bancorp Inc (TBBK) Barnes & Noble Inc (BKS) Bway Holding Co (BWY) EV Energy Partners LP (EVEP) Forestar Group Inc (FOR) Given Imaging Ltd (GIVN) Guess Inc (GES) Orbitz Worldwide Inc (OWW) Palomar Medical Technologies Inc (PMTI) Polo Ralph Lauren Corp (RL) Quanex Building Products Corp (NX) Rodman & Renshaw Capital Group Inc (RODM) Royal Gold Inc (RGLD) A. Schulman Inc (SHLM) Steak n Shake Co (SNS) Stone Energy Corp (...

Gap, Inc. (...

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – September 3, 2009 – Four free stock picks are being made available today on Zacks.com. The industry’s leading independent research firm highlights one Zacks #1 Rank Strong Buy or a Zacks #2 Rank Buy stock for each of the four main styles of investing: Aggressive Growth, Growth & Income, Momentum, and Value.

The four highlighted picks are: Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN), Lubrizol Corp. (LZ), Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) and Wright Express, Inc. (WXS).      Today, Zacks is promoting its ''Buy'' stock recommendations. Four daily picks are offered free at http://at.zacks.com/?id=5607

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Shares of Polo Ralph Lauren Corp. (RL) are up nearly 2% today as fiscal fourth-quarter adjusted earnings beat Wall Street expectations.

Though EPS declined year over year, the designer of premium lifestyle products reported adjusted earnings of 86 cents per share, 47 cents ahead of the consensus estimate derived from 12 covering analysts.

Revenue declined slightly to $1.22 billion from $1.24 billion as growth in wholesale segment was more than offset by reduction in retail sales and licensing royalties.

Polo stated that it anticipates fiscal 2010 revenue to decline by high single digit rate. The company did not provide an earnings guidance, citing uncertain economic conditions.

Three covering analysts out of 12 pulled back on full-year earnings estimates, while 1 increased, sending the consensus down 6 cents over the past month to $3.48 per share.

RL, a Zacks #3 Rank ("Hold") stock, is trading on extraordinarily high volume

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Luxury jeweler Tiffany & Co. (TIF) yesterday (Thursday) followed in the footsteps of other high-end brands when it announced strong fiscal second quarter results. Tiffany’s net income increased to $80.8 million, or 63 cents per share, in the second quarter, up from $40.5 million, or 29 cents, for the same period a year prior. It was enough to beat mean analyst expectations of 55 cents per share and sent Tiffany shares up 10%. “Tiffany did a lot better than investors feared,” Schick, an analyst with Stifel Nicolaus & Co. (SF), told Bloomberg News in a telephone interview. “Luxury isn’t getting a ton better, but it is hanging in there. People are going to remain concerned about what happens next, given the state of the global economy and the global equity markets.” And there’s the rub. Luxury brands such as ...