Earnings Preview: Polo Ralph Lauren's EPS, Revenue Expected to Rise

Polo Ralph Lauren RL unveils its next round of earnings this Wednesday, August 10, 2011. Get prepared with Benzinga's ultimate preview for Polo Ralph Lauren's first quarter earnings.

Earnings and Revenue:

Ahead of the company's earnings announcement, analysts are expecting a positive EPS reading of $1.45/share and revenues of $1.43 billion. Investors will be keen to see how this quarter's numbers compare against the year-ago quarter's EPS of $1.21/share on revenues of $1.15 billion. We'll have to wait for Wednesday to see if Polo Ralph Lauren has accomplished the estimated 19.8% rise in EPS and 24.3% increase in revenues on a year-over-year basis.

Here's how the company's reported EPS has stacked up against analyst estimates in the past:

Stock Performance:

As of August 4, 2011, Polo Ralph Lauren's current share price was $120.27. Shares are up 8.8% year to date. For a full 12 months, the return has risen by 28.9%. Given that these returns are generally positive, long-term shareholders are probably satisfied going into this earnings release.

• Long-term shareholders are already enjoying 12-month gains prior to the announcement

Average Stock Rating:

The average rating by analysts for Polo Ralph Lauren is a Moderate Buy. The strength of this rating has risen over the past three months.

Competitors:

Wondering how some of the other consumer discretionary companies are doing? Here are a few of Polo Ralph Lauren's peers in that sector.

• Coach COH: Moderate Buy with a $0.68 recent quarter EPS
• Guess GES: Hold with a $0.55 recent quarter EPS
• Jones Apparel Group JNY: Hold with a $0.33 recent quarter EPS
• Liz Claiborne LIZ: Hold with a -$0.34 recent quarter EPS

Polo Ralph Lauren is in the textile-apparel industry, which has experienced price/earnings growth of 1%.

Finally, a description of the company's main areas of operation: Polo Ralph Lauren designs and sells premium lifestyle products, including apparel, accessories, fragrances and home furnishings.

Take Action:

Now that you've gotten an advanced peak at Polo Ralph Lauren's upcoming earnings numbers, keep an eye out for any surprises in the report and be ready to take action. Also, check back in with us after the announcement for a full recap and a guide to your next steps.

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