Ralph Lauren Corporation Quarterly Valuation – June 2014 $RL
Benjamin Graham taught that Intelligent Investors must do a thorough fundamental analysis of investment opportunities to determine their intrinsic value and inherent risk.  This is best done by utilizing a systematic approach to analysis that will provide investors with a sense of how a specific company compares to another company or by reviewing the 5 Undervalued Companies with a Low Beta. By using the ModernGraham method one can review a company’s historical accomplishments and determine an intrinsic value that can be compared across industries.  What follows is a specific look at how Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL) fares in the ModernGraham valuation model.
Company Profile (obtained from Google Finance): Ralph Lauren Corporation is engaged in the design, marketing and distribution of products, including men’s, women’s and children’s apparel, accessories (including footwear), fragrances and home furnishings. The Company operates in three segments: Wholesale, Retail and Licensing. Its apparel products include a range of men’s, women’s and children’s clothing. Accessories include a range of footwear, eyewear, watches, jewelry, hats, belts and leather goods, including handbags and luggage. The Company’s coordinated home products include bedding and bath products, furniture, fabric and wallpaper, paint, tabletop and giftware. Fragrance products are sold under its Big Pony, Romance, Polo, Lauren, Safari, Ralph and Black Label brands, among others.
Defensive Investor – must pass at least 6 of the following 7 tests: Score = 5/7
- Adequate Size of Enterprise – market capitalization of at least $2 billion – PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition – current ratio greater than 2 – PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 10 straight years -Â PASS
- Dividend Record – has paid a dividend for at least 10 straight years – PASS
- Earnings Growth – earnings per share has increased by at least 1/3 over the last 10 years using 3 year averages at beginning and end of period – PASS
- Moderate PEmg ratio – PEmg is less than 20 -Â FAIL
- Moderate Price to Assets – PB ratio is less than 2.5 or PB x PEmg is less than 50 -Â FAIL
Enterprising Investor – must pass at least 4 of the following 5 tests or be suitable for a defensive investor: Score = 5/5
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 1 – current ratio greater than 1.5 -Â PASS
- Sufficiently Strong Financial Condition, Part 2 – Debt to Net Current Assets ratio less than 1.1 – PASS
- Earnings Stability – positive earnings per share for at least 5 years – PASS
- Dividend Record – currently pays a dividend -Â PASS
- Earnings growth – EPSmg greater than 5 years ago – PASS
Valuation Summary
Key Data:
| Recent Price | $153.17 |
| MG Value | $242.85 |
| MG Opinion | Undervalued |
| Value Based on 3% Growth | $108.04 |
| Value Based on 0% Growth | $63.34 |
| Market Implied Growth Rate | 6.03% |
| Net Current Asset Value (NCAV) | $14.35 |
| PEmg | 20.56 |
| Current Ratio | 3.43 |
| PB Ratio | 3.37 |
Balance Sheet – 3/29/2014
| Current Assets | $3,329,000,000 |
| Current Liabilities | $970,000,000 |
| Total Debt | $555,000,000 |
| Total Assets | $6,090,000,000 |
| Intangible Assets | $1,263,000,000 |
| Total Liabilities | $2,056,000,000 |
| Outstanding Shares | 88,700,000 |
Earnings Per Share
| 2014 | $8.43 |
| 2013 | $8.00 |
| 2012 | $7.13 |
| 2011 | $5.75 |
| 2010 | $4.73 |
| 2009 | $4.01 |
| 2008 | $3.99 |
| 2007 | $3.73 |
| 2006 | $2.87 |
| 2005 | $1.83 |
Earnings Per Share – ModernGraham
| 2014 | $7.45 |
| 2013 | $6.62 |
| 2012 | $5.66 |
| 2011 | $4.76 |
| 2010 | $4.13 |
| 2009 | $3.65 |
Dividend History
RL Dividend data by YCharts
Conclusion:
Ralph Lauren is suitable for Enterprising Investors, having passed all of the investor type’s requirements, but the company is not suitable for Defensive Investors.  The Defensive Investor is concerned with the high price-to-earnings and price-to-book ratios.  As a result, Enterprising Investors following the ModernGraham approach based on Benjamin Graham’s methods should feel comfortable proceeding with further research into the company and comparing it to other opportunities through a review of ModernGraham’s valuation of VF Corp (VFC) and ModernGraham’s valuation of Coach Inc. (COH).  As for a valuation, the company appears significantly undervalued after growing its EPSmg (normalized earnings) from $4.13 in 2010 to $7.45 for 2014.  This high level of demonstrated growth outpaces the market’s implied estimate of 6.03% and leads the ModernGraham valuation model, which is based on a Benjamin Graham formula, to return an estimate of intrinsic value well above the market price.
The next part of the analysis is up to individual investors, and requires discussion of the company’s prospects.  What do you think?  What value would you put on Ralph Lauren (RL)?  Where do you see the company going in the future?  Is there a company you like better?  Leave a comment on our Facebook page or mention @ModernGraham on Twitter to discuss.
Disclaimer: Â The author did not hold a position in Ralph Lauren (RL) or any other company mentioned in this article at the time of publication and had no intention of changing that position within the next 72 hours.
Logo taken from wikipedia; this article is not affiliated with the company in any manner.
