5 Retail Stocks Investors Should Keep on the Rack

by Louis Navellier | February 24, 2012 3:00 pm

Consumer sentiment is on the rise, as current data[1] is showing that U.S. consumers are becoming more upbeat about our 13,000-happy economy. With that comes more consumer spending and more people in malls buying skinny jeans and whatever else the kids are wearing these days. However, not all retail stocks are created equal. I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader[2] tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. And this week, I’ve got five retail stocks to keep your eye on.

Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets a “D” or “F” according to my research, meaning it is a “sell” or “strong sell.”

Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF[3]) is a specialty retailer that produces casual wear for men, women and children. In the last year, ANF stock has dipped 14%. ANF stock gets an “F” for earnings momentum, a “D” for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street and an “F” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month in my Portfolio Grader Tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of ANF stock[4].

Guess? (NYSE:GES[5]) owns several clothing brands for men, women and children. While the Dow Jones has posted a 6% gain in the last year, GES has recorded a significant loss of almost 25%. GES stock gets a “D” for sales growth, a “D” for operating margin growth, a “D” for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a “D” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month and a “D” for cash flow in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of GES stock[6].

Saks (NYSE:SKS[7]) is best known for the retail stores Saks Fifth Avenue and OFF 5th. In the last year, SKS stock is down nearly 3%. And, despite having a nearly 22% gain since the beginning of the year, SKS stock gets a “D” for sales growth, a “D” for earnings growth, an “F” for earnings momentum and a “D” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of SKS stock[8].

Sears Holdings (NASAQ:SHLD[9]) is known best for the retail store SEARS, but the company also owns Kmart. Since last February (despite their rise in stock price earlier in the week for promising to pay down their debt) SHLD has posted a loss of 20%, compared to gains by the broader markets. SHLD stock gets a “D” for sales growth, an “F” for operating margin growth, an “F” for earnings momentum, an “F” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month and an “F” for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of SHLD stock[10].

Urban Outfitters (NASDAQ:URBN[11]) is a well-known lifestyle specialty retail company and has also experienced a stock drop of 20% in the last year. URBN stock gets a “D” for operating margin growth, a “D” for earnings growth and a “D” for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of URBN stock.[12]

Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly traded stocks with Louis Navellier’s Portfolio Grader[13] tool, a 100% free stock rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.

Endnotes:

  1. current data: http://online.wsj.com/article/BT-CO-20120224-710211.html
  2. Portfolio Grader: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/
  3. ANF: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=ANF
  4. For more information, view my complete analysis of ANF stock: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?q=anf&submit=submit&type=site
  5. GES: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=GES
  6. For more information, view my complete analysis of GES stock: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?q=ges&submit=submit&type=site
  7. SKS: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=SKS
  8. For more information, view my complete analysis of SKS stock: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?q=sks&submit=submit&type=site
  9. SHLD: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=SHLD
  10. For more information, view my complete analysis of SHLD stock: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?q=shld&submit=submit&type=site
  11. URBN: http://studio-5.financialcontent.com/investplace/quote?Symbol=URBN
  12. For more information, view my complete analysis of URBN stock.: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/stock-report.html?q=urbn&submit=submit&type=site
  13. Portfolio Grader: https://navelliergrowth.investorplace.com/portfolio-grader/

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