A Plastic, Fantastic Gem

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Shares of Claire's Stores (NYSE: CLE) were sparklier than ever, popping around 8% this morning after the latest earnings release notched another quarter of record income.

Earnings at the accessories retailer reached $0.33 per share, a 43% bump over the same period last year. Sales were up 15% to $305 million, driven in large part by a stellar 10% increase in same-store sales, and this while wide-ranging retailers such as Target (NYSE: TGT) and Wal-Mart (NYSE: WMT) have been worrying us with single-digit prognostications.

Sure, well-known retailers such as Aeropostale (NYSE: ARO), Abercrombie and Fitch (NYSE: ANF), and Hot Topic (Nasdaq: HOTT) have accessories, but specialization seems to be giving Claire's an edge, especially at Icing, the newer segment aimed at an audience older than Claire's hardcore tweeny-boppers. If the sales figures don't convince you -- check out the continuing, high-teens comps growth at Icing -- then how about the 1.5% improvement in gross margins and the 1.4% reduction in SG&A?

Fans of the firm will remember that lean operations caused management to up guidance last month to a range of $1.44-$1.48 per share. This morning, they raised the bar again, predicting $1.58 to $1.62 for the full year.

With 92% of the float already held by institutions and mutual funds, this polished little business isn't exactly a Hidden Gem. And it's always tough to buy into a company reaching a 52-week high, especially when there are underperforming divisions, such as Claire's European stores. But I'm willing to give management a pass on that one, since they have plans to turn things around overseas, and the firm is dressing up quite nicely despite a little lagging geography.

For more Fool coverage of Claire's:

• Is Claire's really such a snappy buy?
• What's the problem with Europe?

Seth Jayson is a bit embarrassed by his fascination with such a girly corporation. He has no position in any company mentioned. View his Fool profile here.