Inter Parfums (NASDAQ: IPAR) develops, manufactures and distributes prestige perfumes and cosmetics, as the exclusive worldwide licensee for such names as Burberry, Paul Smith, S.T. Dupont, Christian Lacroix, Quiksilver/Roxy and Van Cleef & Arpels. The firm owns owns Lanvin Perfumes and Nickel S.A. It also designs and manufactures personal care products under exclusive agreements with the Gap (NYSE: GPS), New York & Company (NYSE: NWY) and Brooks Brothers. Further, it makes fragrances, cosmetics and personal care products for the mass market. The latter lines are offered by such merchandisers as Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT). Inter Parfums products are sold in over 120 countries.

The firm surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q4 EPS of 41 cents and revenues of $119.4 million. Analysts had been looking for 34 cents and $119.2 million. Management also guided FY08 EPS to about $1.25 ($1.14 consensus) and FY08 revenues to about $442 million ($439.31M consensus).

Most folks are familiar with the practice of associating perfumes with designer fashions and celebrities. Usually, however, they don't have any idea who actually makes the stuff. Quite often, it's an outfit headquartered in New York.

Inter Parfums (NASDAQ: IPAR) develops, manufactures and distributes prestige perfumes and cosmetics, as the exclusive worldwide licensee for such names as Burberry, Lanvin, Paul Smith, S.T. Dupont, Christian Lacroix, Quiksilver/Roxy and Van Cleef & Arpels. The firm also designs and manufactures personal care products under exclusive agreements with the Gap (NYSE: GPS) and New York & Company (NYSE: NWY) and makes fragrances, cosmetics and personal care products for the mass market. The latter lines are offered by such merchandisers as Wal-Mart Stores (NYSE: WMT). Inter Parfums products are sold in over 120 countries.

The firm surprised the Street last week, when it reported Q1 EPS of 28 cents and revenues of $85.1 million. Analysts had been looking for 23 cents and $82.7 million. Management also guided FY07 EPS to $1.03 ($1.01 consensus) and FY07 revenues to $375 million ($369.75M consensus). Wedbush Morgan and Oppenheimer subsequently reiterated "buy" recommendations on the issue and boosted their price targets to $31. The news popped the shares out of a late April/early May "cup" into the mid-May "handle" of a Cup & Handle formation. The price is now beginning to show signs of completing the pattern with a bullish rise from the right-hand side of the "handle".

Altogether, brokers now recommend the shares with two "strong buys," two "buys" and one "hold." Analysts expect a 19% growth rate, through the next year. The IPAR Price to Sales ratio (1.72), Price to Book ratio (3.56), Sales Growth rate (20.03%), EPS Growth rate (27.27%), Return on Investment (15.70%) and Revenue per Employee ($1.34M) compare favorably with industry, sector and S&P 500 averages.

Institutional investors hold about 42% of the outstanding shares. Over the past 52 weeks, the stock has traded between $15.39 and $29.18. A stop-loss of $23.60 looks good here.

Larry Schutts is a contributing editor for Theflyonthewall.com and the Vice-President of Stockwinners.com.