VMS Asset Management Limited Takes Position in Ralph Lauren Corporation $RL

VMS Asset Management Limited acquired a new stake in shares of Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE:RL) during the fourth quarter, according to its most recent disclosure with the SEC. The fund acquired 16,100 shares of the textile maker’s stock, valued at approximately $5,693,000. Ralph Lauren makes up about 2.2% of VMS Asset Management Limited’s holdings, making the stock its 23rd largest position.

A number of other large investors have also recently made changes to their positions in RL. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC raised its stake in Ralph Lauren by 8,937.8% during the 2nd quarter. Orion Porfolio Solutions LLC now owns 963,340 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $264,225,000 after purchasing an additional 952,681 shares during the period. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. raised its stake in Ralph Lauren by 40.0% during the 4th quarter. Goldman Sachs Group Inc. now owns 895,017 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $316,487,000 after purchasing an additional 255,511 shares during the period. Jupiter Asset Management Ltd. bought a new stake in Ralph Lauren during the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $74,841,000. Two Sigma Investments LP raised its stake in Ralph Lauren by 137.1% during the 3rd quarter. Two Sigma Investments LP now owns 362,022 shares of the textile maker’s stock valued at $113,516,000 after purchasing an additional 209,330 shares during the period. Finally, Norges Bank bought a new stake in Ralph Lauren during the 4th quarter valued at approximately $73,511,000. 67.91% of the stock is owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several analysts recently issued reports on the company. Bank of America lifted their target price on Ralph Lauren from $400.00 to $450.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Thursday, April 16th. Barclays lifted their price objective on Ralph Lauren from $430.00 to $439.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group reduced their price objective on Ralph Lauren from $425.00 to $410.00 and set a “buy” rating on the stock in a research note on Friday, February 6th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price objective on Ralph Lauren from $400.00 to $415.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, May 22nd. Finally, Needham & Company LLC reaffirmed a “buy” rating and issued a $400.00 price objective on shares of Ralph Lauren in a research note on Thursday, May 21st. Fifteen research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and three have assigned a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat, Ralph Lauren has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and an average target price of $428.29.

Ralph Lauren Stock Performance

NYSE:RL opened at $366.47 on Friday. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.51, a current ratio of 2.13 and a quick ratio of 1.57. Ralph Lauren Corporation has a 1 year low of $258.13 and a 1 year high of $393.41. The stock’s 50 day simple moving average is $359.62 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $358.30. The company has a market cap of $21.81 billion, a price-to-earnings ratio of 24.25, a PEG ratio of 1.79 and a beta of 1.35.

Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) last released its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 21st. The textile maker reported $2.80 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $2.52 by $0.28. The business had revenue of $1.98 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $1.85 billion. Ralph Lauren had a return on equity of 38.17% and a net margin of 11.60%.The company’s revenue was up 16.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the previous year, the company posted $2.27 EPS. As a group, equities analysts anticipate that Ralph Lauren Corporation will post 18.29 earnings per share for the current fiscal year.

Ralph Lauren Increases Dividend

The business also recently announced a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 10th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 26th will be given a dividend of $1.00 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Friday, June 26th. This represents a $4.00 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.1%. This is an increase from Ralph Lauren’s previous quarterly dividend of $0.91. Ralph Lauren’s dividend payout ratio is presently 24.16%.

Ralph Lauren Company Profile

Ralph Lauren Corporation (NYSE: RL) is a global designer, marketer and distributor of premium lifestyle products under the Ralph Lauren name and a portfolio of related brands. The company, founded by Ralph Lauren in 1967 and headquartered in New York City, has grown from a single line of men’s neckties into a global lifestyle business that spans apparel, accessories and home goods.

Ralph Lauren’s product assortment includes menswear, womenswear and childrenswear along with footwear, leather goods, eyewear, fragrances and home furnishings.