Oakley Making Move on Analysts in Hopes of Shining Up Stock Price

Oakley Inc. built its business by hitching itself to active sports enthusiasts, but now it’s going after the suits.

Frustrated at its sluggish stock price, the Foothill Ranch sunglass maker is taking its show on the road this week to try to drum up support from industry analysts--support it hopes will translate into more trading in Oakley stock and higher share prices.

Company officials are traveling to Boston, New York and Denver to talk with analysts about Oakley’s rising sales and its growing line of products, spokesman Lance Allega said.

The goal: to “get more analysts on board,” he said.

The company insists it has plenty of positive things to talk about. Allega said Oakley is “turning around” despite the $8.2-million charge that left the sunglass maker $2.5 million in the red last quarter.

“All sectors of our business are taking off,” Allega said. “The prescription eyewear nearly doubled last year.”

The stock has been trading at less than $10 a share for the past year. It closed Tuesday at $7.63 a share, up 50 cents on the New York Stock Exchange.

In addition to expanding its clothing, shoes and sunglass lines, Oakley will introduce a newer--and cheaper--watch this summer. So far, its watches have sold for $1,300 to $1,500. The new sports watch will retail for about $250, Allega said.

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Leslie Earnest covers retail businesses for The Times. She can be reached at (714) 966-7832 and at leslie.earnest@latimes.com.