Liz Claiborne

Liz Claiborne is a publicly traded company having a good stock performance result. Liz Claiborne is a fortune 500 stock listed company trading under LIZ.

Liz Claiborne is dressed for success as a leading US seller of clothes and accessories for women. It markets its clothing and accessories as designer items but prices them for a broader market. Including Ellen Tracy, Crazy Horse, Liz Claiborne, Laundry, and Dana Buchman, its brands are sold worldwide in department stores, in more than 260 outlet stores, in more than 280 specialty stores, and among numerous brand Web sites. Liz Claiborne also makes men's clothing and licenses its name for sunglasses, swimwear, shoes, home furnishings, and stationery. Berkshire Hathaway owns about 9percent of the firm. It bought activewear maker Skylark Sport Marketing and is restructuring its operations in 2006.

The fourth quarter 2005 results include a 0.04 dollars reduction in earnings per share connected with the adoption of FASB 123R and the shift in the composition of their equity-based management compensation plan from options toward restricted stock.

Net sales for the fourth quarter of 2005 were a record 1.200 billion dollars, an increase of 2 million dollars, or 0.2percent, compared to the fourth quarter of 2004. The impact of foreign currency exchange rates, primarily as a result of the weakening of the euro, in their international businesses reduced net sales by roughly 21 million dollars, or 1.8percent, during the quarter.

Net sales for 2005 were 4.848 billion dollars, an increase of 215 million dollars, or 4.6percent, over net sales for 2004. The impact of foreign currency exchange rates, primarily as a result of the strengthening of the Canadian dollar, in their international businesses added roughly 13 million dollars in sales during the year.

In 2004 increased gross profit rate reflected the positive impact of lower sourcing costs and a changing mix within their portfolio, primarily reflecting an increased proportion of sales from their Mexx Europe business and their Canadian retail and domestic specialty retail businesses, which run at higher gross profit rates than the Company average, as well as a decreased proportion of sales from their domestic Liz Claiborne apparel business, which runs at a lower gross profit rate than the Company average, partially offset by higher promotional activity in their wholesale businesses.