Men's Wearhouse Looks Sharp

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Men's Wearhouse (NYSE: MW), seller of suits, tuxes, and sport coats at everyday low prices, reported a downright snappy quarter Wednesday. Earnings were up 46% on an 8% jump in same-store sales, and thanks to an aggressive share repurchase plan, fully diluted earnings per share climbed 53%.

The quarter's $334 million in sales may have investors checking some preconceptions at the door. Sport coats might seem pretentious, and casual dress hasn't exactly gone away, but business attire is clearly working for Men's Wearhouse. Between folks preparing for their next job interview in an iffy economy to higher-end consumers looking to save a few bucks, the climate is pretty rosy for Men's Wearhouse.

After all, it's not as if Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) or Target (NYSE: TGT) is going to start hanging Armani suits on its racks. Dollar General (NYSE: DG) and 99 Cents Only (NYSE: NDN) aren't moving into the tuxedo rental business. On the other end of the spectrum, upscale retailers like Dillard's (NYSE: DDS) and Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) definitely stock the power suits but aren't interested in playing the markdown game.

So that leaves Men's Wearhouse -- a company that can be as proud of its fundamentals as it is of its customer-friendly free alterations policy. For the year, the Wearhouse is looking to earn at least $1.30 per share, easily outgrowing Wall Street's guesses, which ranged from as low as $1.20 to as high as $1.26 a share.

Fashionably early investors who bought the stock when it dipped briefly into the single digits back in October have been treated to a triple. Those who cashed out at what now looks to be 7-8 times this year's earnings may feel slighted, but that kind of revisionist history is probably best left to the tailors.

Does it pay to dress sharp? What's the harm in matching patterned prints with stripes? Why did the leisure suit die? Hemlines? We don't need no stinkin' hemlines? All this and more -- in the What to Wear? discussion board. Only on Fool.com.

Coincidentally, The Motley Fool is celebrating 10 years of not wearing a suit to work (OK, it's our 10th anniversary) this month with 10 Ways to Make More Money Now!