Avon's Successful Make-over

Avon Products Inc. (AVP - Analyst Report), headquartered in New York City, is benefiting from both the expansion into the developing and emerging markets and its emphasis on the Beauty products portfolio. CEO Andrea Jung has transformed the company over the last eight years. Management aims to achieve high single-digit local currency revenue growth supported by margin expansion over the long term.

Management instilled financial discipline in the company through the multi-year supply chain cost reduction program along with the Product Line Simplification (PLS) and Strategic Sourcing Initiatives (SSI). Due to attractive valuation, the stock is upgraded to a Buy.

Avon Products stock has traded in a P/E range of 14 to 31 over the last five years, though recently the stock has declined to a 10.1 P/E. Avon is an above-average growth company among its peers, but there are inherent risks associated with the direct sales business model and the dependence on developing markets for growth. The target price of $33 is based on a 16 P/E on trailing 12 month earnings.

Read the full analyst report on AVP

Read the full analyst report on AVP