Limited Brands Inc. (LTD), a specialty retailer of women’s apparel, beauty and personal care products, recently raised its third-quarter 2009 earnings guidance but warned on below-expectation October comparable-store sales trends. The operator of the Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works store chains now expects its earnings per share between break-even and a loss of 4 cents. Earlier, Limited had forecasted a loss of 7 cents to 12 cents a share. Limited also notified that it now expects free cash flow in the range of $500 million to $600 million for the fiscal year 2009, up from the $350 million to $450 million previously anticipated. Despite an optimistic outlook, the retailer lowered its comparable-store sales guidance for the month of October 2009. The company cautions investors about the downtrend seen in the sales. Limited now expects comps to be negative low-to-mid single digits, slightly up ...

In The Forbes Growth Investor, quantitative analyst Vahan Janjigian eyes Limited Brands, which owns several leading retailing chains including Victoria’s Secret.

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“Limited Brands owns and operates several specialty retailers including Victoria’s Secret, La Senza, Bath & Body Works, C.O.Bigelow, White Barn Candle Co., and Henri Bendel. In aggregate, the company has 2,992 stores across the U.S.and Canada.

“The Victoria’s Secret segment,  which accounted for 64.7% of first-half fiscal 2009 sales,is a leading marketer of intimate women’s apparel.

“Remodeled stores offset a drop in comparable store sales. Victoria’s Secret sales climbed 2.9% despite a 7% decline at comparable stores.

“Recent cost reduction initiatives have improved inventory management and reduced SG&A expense as a percentage of sales. LTD also divested 75% of its ownership in Express and Limited Stores, removing itself as a major player in the retail clothing industry.

“The company is preparing a number of marketing initiatives for the

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These days, times are tough in the middle market of the retail business. Luxury companies like Louis Vitton are doing just fine, as the rich keep spending regardless of the economic climate. And discount retailers like Wal-Mart are benefiting big-time from tight budgets in the lower and middle classes as consumers look to cut costs on discretionary items as their gas and food bills soar. But the middle men - companies like American Eagle Outfitters, The Gap, and Tween Brands - are suffering as their customers choose low cost alternatives, or make do with last year’s wardrobe. View the TWB WikiChart on Wikinvest On Tuesday, Tween Brands announced that it will shift its focus from its more established Limited Too stores to its newer, cheaper Justice Brand. In response, investors crushed Tween’s stock price - it fell 17% in that day’s ...