Mizuho Securities Sees Positive Holiday Comps for The Gap

In a report published Friday, Mizuho Securities analyst Betty Chen reiterated a Buy rating and $45.00 price target on The Gap GPS. In the report, Mizuho Securities noted, “While investors may be disappointed by the soft sales at GPS, we remain pleased by the flattish trends from BR and the impressive outperformance of ON (~40% of total sales) as the company drove in-line December comps and +3% Holiday same store sales. We note Gap continues to adjust its overall product assortment which may continue through Spring while compares ease for all brands in early 2015. We believe investors have already baked-in near-term headwinds given management's transparency as shares are trading at ~14x FY15 P/E, below the peer group average of ~17x.” The Gap closed on Thursday at $43.10.