SPECIALTY RETAILER - PROFITABILITY VIEW

1. Abercrombie & Fitch Co
52 week fiscal year ended January 29, 2011; 52 week fiscal year ended January 30, 2010) "Abercrombie & Fitch Co . . . is a specialty retailer that operates stores and direct-toconsumer operations." 10-K

2. Limited Brands, Inc.
(52 week fiscal year ended January 29, 2011; 52 week fiscal year ended January 30, 2010) "We operate in the highly competitive specialty retail business." 10-K

3. GAP, Inc.
(52 week fiscal year ended January 29, 2011; 52 week fiscal year ended January 30, 2010)

Required
a. Comment on the net profit margin for these companies. Consider absolute amounts and trend.

b. Comment on the return on assets for these companies. Consider absolute amounts and trend.

c. Comment on the return on total equity for these companies. Consider absolute amounts and trend.

d. Comment on the relative profitability of these companies.