Chico's FAS, Inc. (NYSE:CHS)

I like the products and think this will be a turn-around.

Same store sales up, new store openings, no debt, managed growth, SOMA to profitability by year end 2011 then continued growth.

Very interesting.Goldman just decided to elevate chs to neutral while it had a conviction sell from 3.5 to 15.It almost scares you out of it.Yet this company grows its earnings at a 30 percent clipp it is expanding rapidly on three different fronts and it has half a billon of cash.All this for 16 times earnigs.Wellcome goldman.Now that you have looked at it maybe you will call it a buy.

Retail turnaround with good demographics. $1.00+ EPS potential a few years out, GM 57% and OM capable of returning to 12-15%, once SS sales at core concept (CHS) reach mid single digits and growth concept (WHBM) continues. no debt, $505 mm cash on BS ($2.75/sh). as fundamentals improve, PE multiple expands, just need to be patient. Legit upside to $20 and downside risk $8-9, if not broken.

As we climb out of the recession consumers will be more willing to spend money on retail items. Apparel will have the biggest increase in climb out of the recession. Chico's itself has marketed itself in a way for older women to feel comfortable and stylish in their clothing.

Solid fundamentals, will outperform the market in the future.

They look to have turned a corner. Will they return to the 40s tomorrow? Probably not. But their debt and returns are looking better, and they should come back

CHS has changed their clothing design to fit their core customer of women 54 years old. Stopped in three stores last week and salespeople said they haven't had so much traffic and sales in three years. Their real customers are working professionals and are coming back and they are not worrying about thye recession.

As employment picks up, the beaten-down retailers will outperform.

Chico's FAS, Inc. (CHS)
The Company is a specialty retailer of casual-to-dressy clothing, intimates, complementary accessories, and other non-clothing gift items under the Chico's, White House | Black Market and Soma by Chico's brand names.

Currently, CHS is 44% off 52W high, actually just a few cents over its 52W low.
However, CHS is still up approximately 400% from its Nov. 2008 low.
Value play.

great store,my wife and her friends love it-

chs back in the old glory days of the stock, would go higher even when the other clothes stores were not doing well.i don't believe that the current market trends have much to do with chs.their stock price had dropped by more than half before 2008 because of not hAVING THE CORRECT merchandise.coach is a simular stock. if they add more customers because of the michelle obama effect,or michiel phelps mom working at chs,they could do very well!!!

Shares of Chico's FAS Inc. rose on Monday, after an analyst said the women's apparel retailer's turnaround plan is working and raised estimates on the stock.

Shares rose 60 cents, or 6.6 percent, to $9.70 during midday trading. The stock has traded between $1.72 and $10.71 during the past 52 weeks.

As the recession has eaten into Chico's sales, the Fort Myers, Fla.-based company has implemented a turnaround plan, including cutting expenses, eliminating 180 positions and closing up to 25 stores.

Sterne Agee analyst Margaret Whitfield said management is on the right track with the turnaround.

She said she is confident "not only that the right initiatives to restore the Chico's brand have been identified, but also that management has acted with a sense of urgency and significant progress seems to have been made sooner than planned."

Specifically, the company's system enhancements will help improve inventory levels and productivity levels beginning in the second half of the year, sales in stores open at least one year, or same-store sales, are improving, the company is working to save money on store rent, and merchandise and marketing are improving, she said.

She affirmed her "Buy" rating on the stock, and raised her fourth-quarter earnings estimate to breakeven per share from a loss of 7 cents per share.

Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters, on average, predict a loss of 3 cents per share in the fourth quarter.

good retailer turnaround plan is working its a great retail stock

Based on the move, I'd say WS is expecting an earnings beat on May 27. That's nice but this stock will be crushed by November.

GOOD WOMAN RETAIL

Rising, but low, share price for company that has no debt and a good customer base, particularly when the economy improves.

Pent up high scale consumerism should bring revenues back. Prosperity will soon be in vogue again.

Chicos is making needed changes on upper management and approach to branding. They are cash heavy, and are still producing cash flow in a postive direction. Speciality clothing industry usually begins its comeback before general retailers. FTR - I own this stock.

Don't like it. It's just that simple.

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