Exec hiring and corporate news shape the session

In Wall Street, trading on Thursday, apparel stores shares

were the relative foot-draggers, down on the day by about 0.8 percent. Biggest losses for Vera Bradley (VRA), whose shares were down about 8.6 percent and shares of Mens Wearhouse (MW), that downed by almost 8.4 percent.

However, Men's Wearhouse's fiscal third-quarter earnings rose 22 percent as the apparel retailer reported strong sales growth but lowered its guidance for the year. Shares fell 9.7 percent to 28.31 dollars after hours Wednesday as the company noted it saw negative November same-store sales in North America following lower traffic levels at its retail stores.

In the same vein, Vera Bradley's fiscal third-quarter earnings climbed 37 percent as the handbag maker's same-store sales and margins strengthened. Nevertheless, the stock slipped by 9.8 percent to 23.65 dollars after hours as the company offered downbeat fourth-quarter guidance and lowered its full-year revenue expectations, reported ‘NASDAQ’.

In the wake of the news, Piper Jaffray analysts reaffirmed their overweight rating on shares of Vera Bradley in a research note released on Thursday morning. They currently have a 32 dollars price target on the stock. Vera Bradley opened at 26.21 dollars on Thursday, compared to its 1-year low of 18.91 dollars and a 1-year high of 39.48. The company has a market cap of 1.062 billion dollars and a price-to-earnings ratio of 17.98.

Other analysts such as JPMorgan Chase have updated their views on the stock recently. The latter upgraded shares of Vera Bradley from a ‘neutral’ rating to an ‘overweight’ rating in a research note to investors on Wednesday, September 19th. They now have a 30 dollars price target on the stock, up previously from 24.

Elsewwhere, Ascena Retail Group Inc.'s (ASNA) fiscal first-quarter income fell 9.3 percent as the women's apparel retailer saw increased costs wipe away sharply higher revenue. Despite of the weaker figures, shares rose 2.1 percent after hours to 20.20 dollars as adjusted earnings beat estimates, highlighted ‘MarketWatch’.