Three Retailers Trading At All-Time Highs

Wall Street analysts expect a strong 2020 holiday season despite the pandemic, with e-commerce sales continuing their torrid growth pace. Many brick and mortar retailers should outperform as well because well-constructed online sales portal will add to modest in-store purchases. However, storefronts without a strong internet presence are likely to flounder, with the growing infection rate keeping many customers out of virus-ridden closed ventilation systems.

Let’s look at three hybrid retailers hitting all-time highs as we get closer to the holidays and year’s end. These are big cap companies that have adapted well to the age of the Internet, with an expanding customer base utilizing curbside pick-up and package delivery as well as physical shopping trips. Of course, this is the ‘new normal’, with retailers that waited too long to open or expand online sales, like America’s struggling mall anchors, having a tough time paying the bills.

Walmart

Dow component Walmart Inc. (WMT) waited until 2016 to get in the e-commerce game, buying Jet.com for a hefty premium. They’ve now combined that operation into a robust site that’s emerged as the primary competitor to Amazon.com Inc. (AMZN). The company has also launched a membership program to rival Prime, setting the stage for an epoch retail battle. In the meantime, the stock is trading just five points below November’s all-time high while holding onto a 26% year-to-date return.

Target

Target Corp. (TGT) has emerged as 2020’s top retail performer, taking market share from equal-sized and smaller rivals during the first quarter’s pandemic decline. The company blew away Q3 2020 estimates in November, picking up additional market share through strong execution. Same day and drive-up sales exploded during the quarter, growing 200% and 500% year-over-year, respectively. As the company noted, customers have shifted spending from travel into the goods they sell, raising odds for continued strong growth in 2021.

TJX

TJX Companies Inc. (TJX) sells home basics, apparel, and home fashions through T.J. Maxx, Marshalls, Homesense, and Sierra stores. This ‘off-price’ operation provides a less robust online sales portal than Walmart or Target and has no curbside pick-up. However, it executes so well that investors keep buying the stock, which is trading less than one point under an all-time high. Even so, this issue will carry greater downside risk through the winter months due to the surging pandemic.

For a look at all of today’s economic events, check out our economic calendar.

Disclosure: the author held no positions in aforementioned securities at the time of publication.