Zale (FRA:ZLC) Predictability Rank

Zale Corporation was incorporated in Delaware in 1993. The company is a specialty retailer of fine jewelry in North America. At July 31, 2012, it operated 1,124 specialty retail jewelry stores and 654 kiosks located mainly in shopping malls throughout the United States, Canada and Puerto Rico. It report its operations under three business segments: Fine Jewelry, Kiosk Jewelry and All Other. Fine Jewelry is comprised of five brands, predominantly focused on the value-oriented consumer as its core guest target. Each brand specializes in fine jewelry and watches, with merchandise and marketing emphasis focused on diamond products. Zales Jewelers is its national brand in the U.S. providing moderately priced jewelry to a broad range of guests. Zales Outlet operates in outlet malls and neighborhood power centers and capitalizes on Zales Jewelers' national advertising and brand recognition. Gordon's Jewelers is a value-oriented regional jeweler. Peoples Jewellers, Canada's largest fine jewelry retailer, provides guests with an affordable assortment and an accessible shopping experience. Mappins Jewellers offers Canadian guests a broad selection of merchandise from engagement rings to fashionable and contemporary fine jewelry. Kiosk Jewelry operates under the brand names Piercing Pagoda, Plumb Gold, and Silver and Gold Connection (collectively, 'Piercing Pagoda') through mall-based kiosks, and is focused on the opening price point jewelry guest. Its presence in Kiosk Jewelry has been expanded through the e-commerce site, www.pagoda.com. Internet sales totaled $1.9 million in fiscal year 2012 compared to $1.4 million in fiscal year 2011. It also offers its guests the option to purchase warranty coverage on certain products. At July 31, 2012, Piercing Pagoda operated 654 locations in 41 states and Puerto Rico, sales from which accounted for 13 percent of its total revenues in fiscal year 2012. It provides insurance and reinsurance services for various types of insurance coverage, which are marketed primarily to its private label credit card guests, through Zale Indemnity Company, Zale Life Insurance Company and Jewel Re-Insurance Ltd. These three companies are the insurers (either through direct written or reinsurance contracts) of its guests' credit insurance coverage. In addition to providing merchandise replacement coverage for certain perils, credit insurance coverage provides protection to the creditor and cardholder for losses associated with the disability, involuntary unemployment, leave of absence or death of the cardholder.