Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL) Given a $384.00 Price Target by UBS Group Analysts

UBS Group set a $384.00 target price on Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL - Free Report) in a research note published on Friday morning, MarketBeat Ratings reports. The firm currently has a buy rating on the textile maker's stock.

Other research analysts have also recently issued reports about the stock. Cowen reissued a "buy" rating on shares of Ralph Lauren in a report on Thursday, May 22nd. Jefferies Financial Group increased their target price on Ralph Lauren from $250.00 to $328.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research note on Friday, May 23rd. BNP Paribas upgraded Ralph Lauren to a "strong-buy" rating in a research report on Thursday, January 23rd. Cfra Research cut Ralph Lauren from a "hold" rating to a "moderate sell" rating in a research report on Tuesday, May 20th. Finally, The Goldman Sachs Group increased their price objective on Ralph Lauren from $262.00 to $324.00 and gave the stock a "buy" rating in a research report on Friday, May 23rd. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a sell rating, three have issued a hold rating, thirteen have assigned a buy rating and one has issued a strong buy rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and a consensus target price of $292.88.

Ralph Lauren Stock Performance

RL traded down $2.06 during trading hours on Friday, reaching $284.16. The company's stock had a trading volume of 592,639 shares, compared to its average volume of 832,760. Ralph Lauren has a 52 week low of $155.96 and a 52 week high of $289.33. The company's 50-day moving average is $230.53 and its 200-day moving average is $236.59. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.39, a quick ratio of 1.31 and a current ratio of 1.76. The firm has a market cap of $17.55 billion, a PE ratio of 25.93, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 1.73 and a beta of 1.44.

Ralph Lauren (NYSE:RL - Get Free Report) last issued its quarterly earnings data on Thursday, May 22nd. The textile maker reported $2.27 earnings per share for the quarter, beating the consensus estimate of $2.00 by $0.27. The company had revenue of $1.70 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $1.64 billion. Ralph Lauren had a net margin of 10.14% and a return on equity of 30.88%. The company's revenue was up 8.3% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the firm earned $1.71 earnings per share. On average, equities analysts forecast that Ralph Lauren will post 12.01 EPS for the current year.

Ralph Lauren Increases Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Friday, July 11th. Stockholders of record on Friday, June 27th will be paid a $0.9125 dividend. This is a positive change from Ralph Lauren's previous quarterly dividend of $0.83. The ex-dividend date is Friday, June 27th. This represents a $3.65 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 1.28%. Ralph Lauren's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 31.44%.

Ralph Lauren announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase plan on Thursday, May 22nd that authorizes the company to buyback $1.50 billion in outstanding shares. This buyback authorization authorizes the textile maker to repurchase up to 8.8% of its shares through open market purchases. Shares buyback plans are generally a sign that the company's management believes its stock is undervalued.

Hedge Funds Weigh In On Ralph Lauren

A number of institutional investors have recently added to or reduced their stakes in RL. Strs Ohio bought a new stake in shares of Ralph Lauren during the first quarter worth about $1,447,000. Intech Investment Management LLC grew its stake in Ralph Lauren by 459.3% during the first quarter. Intech Investment Management LLC now owns 23,755 shares of the textile maker's stock worth $5,244,000 after purchasing an additional 19,508 shares during the period. Focus Partners Wealth grew its position in shares of Ralph Lauren by 29.5% during the 1st quarter. Focus Partners Wealth now owns 3,812 shares of the textile maker's stock worth $841,000 after buying an additional 869 shares during the period. Bayforest Capital Ltd boosted its position in shares of Ralph Lauren by 92.5% during the 1st quarter. Bayforest Capital Ltd now owns 462 shares of the textile maker's stock worth $102,000 after purchasing an additional 222 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Woodline Partners LP boosted its position in shares of Ralph Lauren by 39.5% during the 1st quarter. Woodline Partners LP now owns 3,369 shares of the textile maker's stock worth $744,000 after purchasing an additional 954 shares in the last quarter. 67.91% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

About Ralph Lauren

Ralph Lauren Corporation designs, markets, and distributes lifestyle products in North America, Europe, Asia, and internationally. The company offers apparel, including a range of men's, women's, and children's clothing; footwear and accessories, which comprise casual shoes, dress shoes, boots, sneakers, sandals, eyewear, watches, fashion and fine jewelry, scarves, hats, gloves, and umbrellas, as well as leather goods, such as handbags, luggage, small leather goods, and belts; home products consisting of bed and bath lines, furniture, fabric and wallcoverings, floor coverings, lighting, tabletop, kitchen linens, floor coverings, dining, decorative accessories, and giftware; and fragrances.