UPDATE: Deutsche Bank Reiterates Buy Rating, Lowers PT on Pier 1 Imports

In a report published Friday, Deutsche Bank reiterated its Buy rating on Pier 1 Imports PIR, but lowered its price target from $25.00 to $23.00. Deutsche Bank noted, “PIR reported 3Q13 pro forma EPS of $0.25 though this included $0.01 from ‘lost sales' due to Hurricane Sandy. GAAP EPS were $0.22, and we add back $0.01 for a tax rate adjustment and $0.01 from expenses related to Sandy to arrive at $0.24 for the quarter. But we do not want to miss the forest for the trees as 3Q13 was a solid quarter regardless. Comps were better than expected and store-level margins remain strong. The offsets were some higher than expected costs on marketing and D&A, and a margin drag from the immature ecommerce business. We maintain our Buy rating as we continue to view PIR as one of the better sales and EPS growth stories in hardline retail.” Pier 1 Imports closed on Thursday at $19.25.