Is Boohoo.Com PLC A Better Buy Than N Brown Group plc Or NEXT plc?

Does Boohoo.Com PLC (LON:BOO) have the potential to outperform troubled N Brown Group plc (LON:BWNG) and big cap retailer NEXT plc (LON:NXT)?

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Shares in N Brown Group (LSE: BWNG) has have tumbled following another profit warning today, while Boohoo.com (LSE: BOO) has climbed after a solid trading update.

In this article, I look ask whether either company is a buy — or whether investors looking for retail exposure are better off with high-performing high street chain NEXT (LSE: NXT).

No tears at Boohoo

Following January’s 40% share price crash, I believe Boohoo.com has started to look like one of the best online retailing plays available to UK investors.

The own-brand retailer has solid profit margins, net cash of £54m, and is delivering sustainable growth: today’s year-end update showed a 31% increase in sales over the last year, based on constant exchange rates.

Boohoo also said that gross profit margins had remained stable last year, at 61%. This is important, as it shows that the firm’s sales growth isn’t being driven by price cutting.

Boohoo shares are up by 6% at the time of writing, and with a 2016 forecast P/E of 23, I think they remain reasonably priced.

N Brown down (again)

It wasn’t such a positive story N Brown, which owns brands including Simply Be, Jacamo and Figleaves. The firm issued its second profit warning in six months today, sending its shares down by 14% during the first hour of trading.

Group sales were flat overall in 2014/15, but profit guidance has been cut again: in October, N Brown cut pre-tax profit guidance to between £88m and £92m. Today, the firm said that the true figure will be “slightly below” £88m.

N Brown is in the middle of a programme of improvements aimed at strengthening the group’s online offerings, which now account for 62% of sales. However, today’s update revealed that fourth quarter sales growth had been driven by price cutting — suggesting to me that Brown’s attractive 12% operating margin could be under threat.

Better buy Next?

Investors should perhaps remember the old adage that profit warnings come in threes: in my view, N Brown doesn’t yet look cheap enough to be a bargain, although the 2016 forecast P/E of 12.6 is starting to look interesting.

However, I think I’d rather own shares in high street stalwart Next, which boasts a 20% operating margin, an identical 3.6% dividend yield, and a long-running track record of earnings growth and superb financial guidance.

Overall, I rate Boohoo and Next as buys in today’s market, but not N Brown.

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Roland Head has no position in any shares mentioned. The Motley Fool UK has no position in any of the shares mentioned. We Fools don't all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

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