Consumer brands company Liz Claiborne (NYSE: LIZ) no longer even owns the Liz Claiborne brand; that's why it's changing its name to the cryptic Fifth & Pacific Cos. Investors beware: This consumer goods company doesn't even know who it is as we enter 2012.
Liz Claiborne shares plunged yesterday when the company cut its 2012 profit outlook and announced that its chief financial officer, Andrew Warren, will depart in March. Liz Claiborne (soon to be known as Fifth & Pacific) recently made a gamble, selling off brands like Liz Claiborne and Monet to J.C. Penney to focus on its higher-end, more youthful brands Lucky, Juicy Couture, and Kate Spade.
Investors applauded Liz Claiborne's decision to sell off the namesake and other underperforming brands, and in many cases, sharpening focus on stronger brands can be a logical move. However, Liz Claiborne's been a wreck for a while now, and just because it's devised a logical strategy doesn't mean it will be able to execute.
This company's suffered an identity crisis for years. In 2006, William McComb took over as chief executive officer; there was good reason for skepticism, since he wasn't an apparel merchant and came on board from Johnson & Johnson. A glance at Liz Claiborne's long-term chart doesn't give an impression of exemplary performance since he took the reins. In fact, Liz Claiborne hasn't reported an annual increase in sales since the year ended January 2005.
This reminds me a bit of Talbots (NYSE: TLB), whose long-standing chief executive officer Trudy Sullivan failed to turn the company around. Late last year, Talbots finally announced Sullivan's (expensive) departure.
Before its decision to shed the namesake brand, Liz Claiborne had another thing in common with Talbots: aiming for the female baby boomer demographic. That demographic group has been notoriously ill-served by retailers and has been financially strapped in the aftermath of the financial crisis to boot; Coldwater Creek (Nasdaq: CWTR) and Chico's (NYSE: CHS) have their share of struggles these days, too. Coldwater Creek isn't profitable, and Chico's sales have dwindled from their peak in the fiscal year ended August 2008.
Liz Claiborne's looking for a rebirth with a new name in 2012, so shedding the boomer-oriented brands is a logical move. However, whether this company's named Liz Claiborne or Fifth & Pacific, it still faces the same brutal competitive landscape that's making life hard for many retailers and consumer goods companies. Investors should avoid this dicey bet. I'm making a CAPScall as soon as this article publishes, and you'll be able to track my progress here.
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