Urban Outfitters, Inc. (Nasdaq: URBN) operates more than 120 specialty retail stores under the Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, and Free People brands, and also offers clothes via a wholesale division under the Free People label.
Analysts like the fact that URBN carries in-demand, self-expressive merchandise, with differentiated retail brands. Most analysts believe the company has achieved a retail gold star: a unique brand position in the ages 18-24 customer category. Moreover, a relatively high 50/50 private label/nation brand inventory lowers inventory risk.
Sales increased an impressive 23% in FY 2008, with analysts seeing a 20-25% rise in FY 2009. Operating costs are reasonable. The Reuters FY 2008/FY 2009 EPS consensus estimates for URBN are $0.90 to $1.15.

Corporate America, the markets, and Wall Street are lumbering through a so-so year -- one likely to be characterized by mediocre U.S. GDP and earnings performance, along with ample portions of market volatility.








