Ralph Lauren Corp (RL), Coach, Inc. (COH), Michael Kors Holdings Ltd (KORS), And Three Stocks That Look Set to Rise

Thanks to the recovering U.S. economy, investor confidence in North American institutions stood at 95.5% while the global investor confidence stood at 88%. Meanwhile, the Fed’s monthly liquidity injections have driven the U.S consumer comfort index (by Bloomberg) to five-year highs, and consumer spending has risen 21% over the last five years. It’s an age old thesis that when the faith in an economy is restored, luxury stocks do well, and here are a few handpicked companies that seem well positioned to grow.

Profiting from apparels

Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) is one of the leading premium apparel brands, catering exclusively to the upper class. The company operates with around 380 stores, which include its Ralph Lauren stores, Club Monaco stores, and Polo Factory stores. Thanks to its well established brand image, the apparel brand charges a hefty premium for its offerings and enjoys a gross margin of 59.3%. However, its hefty marketing and advertising campaigns eat into its earnings and leave its net margins at just 10.36%.

To improve its profitability, Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) closed 95 distribution points in China last year against the planned closure of 65 points. Its management explained that this move may shrink its revenue over the short-term, but would prove vital in expanding its margins in the long run. However, to make up for lost sales, Ralph Lauren is planning to open 60 new stores in China by 2014, which would be located in premium locations with greater footfall of high net worth individuals.

But, even with stressed margins, Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) reported a 35% surge in its quarterly diluted EPS while its quarterly operating income rose 17%, with comparable sales growing just 4%. This was made possible by a margin improvement of 60 bps in the recent quarter, and analysts expect its annual EPS to grow by 13.67% over the next five years.

As of now, China accounts for 20% of the global luxury market and is expected to account for 33% by 2015, but Ralph Lauren generates just 14% of its revenue from the country. Naturally, the aggressive store openings in China would increase its revenue share from the world’s largest populated country, and management believes that China holds the key to its growth. But Ralph Lauren Corp (NYSE:RL) isn’t alone in the race.

More opportunities

Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) currently operates with 125 stores in China, and plans to open 30 new stores in the coming quarter. Besides the 31% store addition, the company is planning to increase its square footage in the country by 35%. Furthermore, the company is planning to open 10 new stores in Japan and 25 new stores in North American nations.

However, Coach generated just 7% of its total revenue from China in FY12, and the bulk of its expansions are planned for the country. Once these new store openings are complete, analysts estimate that China would account for around 11% of its total revenue. Besides that, Coach, Inc. (NYSE:COH) has also launched an e-commerce portal in China, which should further drive up its revenue with minimal costs (of showrooms).