What happened
Shares of Ralph Lauren Corporation (RL 1.68%) were up 7% as of 12:18 p.m. EST after the company released strong results for the third quarter of fiscal 2019. The company is a global designer, marketer, and distributor of premium products in apparel, home, accessories, and fragrances.
So what
Ralph Lauren shares jumped Tuesday morning after third-quarter earnings and revenue topped analysts' estimates. Starting from the top line, revenue checked in at $1.73 billion, better than the prior year's $1.64 billion and also ahead of the $1.66 billion analysts had expected. Adjusted earnings per share totaled $2.32, higher than analysts' estimates of $2.15 per share.
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"Solid execution on our key initiatives, especially during the important holiday period, delivered better-than-expected results for the third quarter as we drove higher average unit retail and continued to improve quality of sales overall," said Patrice Louvet, president and CEO, in a press release.
Check out the latest Ralph Lauren earnings call transcript.
Now what
There are reasons investors should feel optimistic after the third quarter. Ralph Lauren's 18% increase in marketing spending helped drive brand awareness during the critical holiday season in the U.S.; it also helped fuel international success, with Asia posting 11% revenue growth and a 4% gain in comparable-store sales based on constant currency. A strong third quarter gives investors confidence that management is on the right track in a difficult retail environment.
