Victoria’s Secret & (US:VSCO) CNBC·2025-06-21 12:42Company Overview - Victoria's Secret & Co. is a specialty retailer offering women's apparel and beauty products under the Victoria's Secret, Pink, and Adore Me brands, including intimate apparel, casual sleepwear, swimwear, and fragrances [1] - The company began trading on the New York Stock Exchange in summer 2021 after spinning off from L Brands, which is now Bath & Body Works [4] Current Challenges - Victoria's Secret shares have fallen over 75% from an all-time high of approximately $76 per share to around $18 per share since its IPO [4] - The company has faced significant underperformance, trailing its peers by 47.4 percentage points since its IPO, with issues such as declining revenue, shrinking gross margins, and high senior management turnover [6][9] Activist Involvement - Barington Capital, an activist investor, holds over 1% of Victoria's Secret and is advocating for substantial changes to the board, including replacing a majority of directors with those experienced in brand revitalization and operational execution [2][3] - Barington has a history of successful activism, having generated a 221.5% return during its advisory role with L Brands, the former parent company of Victoria's Secret [6][8] Recommendations from Activists - Barington Capital has recommended that Victoria's Secret focus on several key areas: 1. Replace at least a majority of the board with experienced directors [3][7] 2. Evaluate the CEO's capability to lead a turnaround [3][7] 3. Increase focus on the core brand [3][7] 4. Accelerate growth in digital and international markets [3][7] 5. Streamline operations by eliminating underperforming initiatives [3][7]