Jim
Cramer's
rating on
this stock

STOCK
SYMBOL

Closing
price
that
day

Opening
price
next
day

Full Company Name/Comments
(see comments above for each)

PVH

39.25

39.81

CEO Interview
Emanual Chirico, CEO
Phillips-Van Heusen Corp. (PVH)


Jim's comments BEFORE interview:    
Ever since the Fed blinked last week, and the market bottomed... you know what I've been saying... I've been saying it's time to pick up some retail stocks.

They're usually among the big winners when the Fed starts to ease, as investors who buy the stocks, anticipating that year-over-year... the next year's numbers will look better than last years... 

Remember, the big investors have to think well ahead... They can't think just for tomorrow.

Thanks to looser credit, and also, of course, the economic stimulus package, I regard it as a bailout for malls everywhere... What are you going to do with your $600 bucks?...

But we've got to be selective about retail.   Phillips-Van Heusen (PVH) has been one of my favorite apparel stocks although, with the environment over the last few months... not too positive... the stock has taken a real beating...

Now PVH is priced, I believe - at these prices - for a recession.  I think it's priced for the death of the consumer, frankly.  Thanks to the Fed and Congress, the consumer might not be so dead afterall and yet, when I search for stocks that haven't had the big leap yet, there are very few... and PVH is one of them...   

PVH has used the weakness in its stock to buy back shares - tremendous conviction within the company.  You know I like to see that.  It's a sign that management has confidence in the future.

I've always liked PVH for its brands...  Izod, Geoffrey Beene and, of course, Calvin Klein... but, before we jump on this one - as THE apparel stock to own - because you know I like Liz Claiborne(LIZ) as a trade... I don't think the quarter's that good...  Jones Apparel (JNY), because it's really well run and no one's thinking about it anymore... and, obviously VF Corp. (VFC), and I've been on that one before the show began...

Before I give PVH another Mad Money good housekeeping seal of approval, and then maybe not get it right, I want to talk to what I believe is one of the smartest guys in the business, Manny Chirico...  

.  .  .  .  .

Jim's comments AFTER interview:    
To me, frankly, I wanted to listen to see whether I'm missing something...  I think this group is right.  To me, your stock is now the cheapest in the group, and I think people should buy it.