Hudson's Bay Co. Reduces Debt - a good investment now?

On 18 November,the Hudson's Bay Company sold 533 million dollars of equity in its stake of HBS Global Properties Joint Venture (properties in the US and Germany) to three third party investors:real estate investment trusts Ivanhoe Cambridge (250 million) and Madison International Realty (150 million);plus a large US pension fund (133 million).Ivanhoe will have a seat on the Hudson's Bay board of directors.Proceeds of the sale will pay down Hudson's Bay's 1.085 billion dollar loan to 500 million.The company will retain a 63% stake in HBS Global Properties,which it said it may sell more of for further deleveraging or acquisitions.*
Hudson's Bay,of Toronto,Canada,began as a fur trader in 1670,and is the oldest North American company.It evolved into a department store titan with more than 460 stores and 65,000 employees worldwide.Its major banners include Hudson's Bay,Lord & Taylor and Saks Fifth Avenue in North America;GALERIA Kaufhof in Germany;and Galeria INNO in Belgium.Hudson's Bay other retail holdings are FIND@Lord & Taylor,Home Outfitters and Saks Fifth Avenue OFF 5TH in North America;and SPORTARENA in Germany.*
In addition to retail,the midcap growth company has acquired a substantial real estate portfolio consisting of its remaining stake in the aforementioned HBS Global Properties Joint Venture and the RioCan - HBC Joint Venture (Canadian properties).*
Keeping pace with change in the industry,Hudson's Bay has increased its digital sales by a substantial 30% as it increasingly invests in online sales.It will also benefit from the synergies generated by its acquisition of Saks Fifth Avenue,which are expected to appear in this quarter.This synergy,coupled with the weakness of the Canadian dollar,should result in better returns through 2016.Hudson's Bay is looking to be a retail momentum story backed by large real estate holdings.*
Hudson's Bay Co (TSX:HBC),(PINX:HBAYF)

Luxury Retail:Coach Versus Kors

Luxury goods retailer Coach was severely punished by an earnings miss recently.Although net sales and earnings rose 4% on the year,they fell 2% in the US.The holiday season was challenging for the chain as competition has heated up from the likes of Michael Kors.
Kors is a relatively young enterprise in comparison to the more mature Coach.It has more potential for growth in the developed world.While Coach has more than 800 stores,Kors has only 237.Plus,the American designer's business is more diversified,selling clothing as well as shoes,handbags and accessories.It is better positioned to be a lifestyle brand.
On the other hand,Coach is concentrating on expanding Asian operations at the moment,which is capital intensive.Even so,margins are stable.Once those costs have been absorbed,the company stands to do well from emerging Asia and its upward mobility.
As well,the spending patterns of Asia are different.The Asian stores will prosper more at the Asian New Year season than at Christmas.That means the earnings for Q1 may be enhanced significantly.Wall Street docked Coach stock 15% in a knee jerk way,failing to take this subtlety into account.
In addition,Coach is paying a decent dividend of around 2.3%,while Kors is paying nothng.Coach's run may not be over after all.
Investor sentiment was 98% bullish for Kors on Monday,and neutral for Coach,according to MarketWatch.
Coach Inc(COH),Michael Kors Ltd(KORS)