Francesca's Holdings Launches Share Buyback Program

By Eric Volkman – Sep 4, 2013 at 9:05PM

OTC: FRAN

Francescas Holdings

The company will spend up to $100 million to repurchase its own stock.

Concurrent with the release of disappointing quarterly earnings, Francesca's Holdings (FRAN) is attempting to boost the value of its stock through a repurchase initiative. The company's board has authorized a buyback program for up to $100 million worth of stock. It is effective immediately.

The buybacks will be effected through various means, including open-market purchases and "such other strategies as would be appropriate under the circumstances."

In the press release announcing the move, Francesca's Holdings quoted CEO Neill Davis as saying that the firm has the financial muscle to effect the program. "We have built a very profitable business model which generates a considerable amount of free cash flow even after funding all of the investments required to fuel this growth," he said.

At present, Francesca's Holdings has just more than 44 million shares outstanding. Its stock most recently closed at $17.79 per share.

Fool contributor Eric Volkman has no position in Francesca's Holdings, and neither does The Motley Fool. We Fools may not all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.