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Polo Ralph Lauren Corp.RLBUYDec 17, 2025Stock price when the opinion was issued
As of Jun 15, 2026. Market Open.
Is up 32% this year in a tricky year for apparel stocks. The stock has ripped since Taylor Swift announced her engagement (her and fiance were wearing RL). But Wall Street didn't love RL's investor day yesterday, falling 2.7% today. The new financial targets look disappointing, but RL promised steady margin expansion. Their share buyback plan is on schedule. More important is their plan to achieve growth: better marketing and customer retention, focusing on areas like menswear and women's outerwear; focusing on key cities to grow, and Asian strategy (key area of growth). The targets were not stunning, but still impressive and attainable. Trades at only 20x PE, despite a big run this year. RL should be trading a premium vs. the S&P. He remains bullish.
A past pick from summer 2020 when we started turning the corner on the pandemic All apparel got lifted by the Pfizer vaccine in November. Great management and trading at 14x next year's earnings. Managers have made good moves in direct-to-consumer sales.
Buys back a lot of shares, reducing shares by 31% since end-2015. Shares have tracked the S&P in that period, but RL is up nearly 60% this year while consumer stocks are sinking. Team USA will wear RL gear at the Olympics.