As the craze of earnings season draws to a close, here’s a look back at some of the most exciting (and some less so) results from Q2. Today, we are looking at discount retailer stocks, starting with TJX (NYSE: TJX).
Discount retailers understand that many shoppers love a good deal, and they focus on providing excellent value to shoppers by selling general merchandise at major discounts. They can do this because of unique purchasing, procurement, and pricing strategies that involve scouring the market for trendy goods or buying excess inventory from manufacturers and other retailers. They then turn around and sell these snacks, paper towels, toys, clothes, and myriad other products at highly enticing prices. Despite the unique draw and lure of discounts, these discount retailers must also contend with the secular headwinds of online shopping and challenged retail foot traffic in places like suburban strip malls.
The 5 discount retailer stocks we track reported a strong Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 1.8% below.
In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady as they are up 1.4% on average since the latest earnings results.
TJX (NYSE: TJX)
Initially based on a strategy of buying excess inventory from manufacturers or other retailers, TJX (NYSE: TJX) is an off-price retailer that sells brand-name apparel and other goods at prices much lower than department stores.
TJX reported revenues of $14.4 billion, up 6.9% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 1.7%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but EPS guidance for next quarter missing analysts’ expectations.
Ernie Herrman, Chief Executive Officer and President of The TJX Companies, Inc., stated, “I am extremely pleased with our second quarter performance. Sales, pretax profit margin, and earnings per share were all above our plan. As we have seen through so many different retail and economic environments, consumers were drawn to our excellent values and brands. Customer transactions were up at every division as we saw strong demand at each of our U.S. and international businesses. Our teams across the Company successfully executed our off-price business fundamentals to deliver an exciting treasure hunt of merchandise at great value to our customers, every day. With our strong second quarter profit results, we are raising our full-year guidance for both pretax profit margin and earnings per share. The third quarter is off to a strong start, and I am very confident in our position as we enter the second half of the year. Our teams are energized by the opportunities we see in the marketplace for excellent brands and fashions and our initiatives to keep attracting shoppers to our retail brands. Longer term, we are convinced that we have a long runway ahead to capture additional market share and continue our successful growth around the world.”
Interestingly, the stock is up 5.9% since reporting and currently trades at $142.61.
Is now the time to buy TJX? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Best Q2: Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE)
Often facilitating a treasure hunt shopping experience, Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE) is an American discount retailer that sells a variety of products from mobile phone cases to candy to sports equipment for largely $5 or less.
Five Below reported revenues of $1.03 billion, up 23.7% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3.5%. The business had a stunning quarter with EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.
Five Below achieved the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. The market seems content with the results as the stock is up 3% since reporting. It currently trades at $149.
Is now the time to buy Five Below? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST)
Selling excess inventory or overstocked items from other retailers, Ross Stores (NASDAQ: ROST) is an off-price concept that sells apparel and other goods at prices much lower than department stores.
Ross Stores reported revenues of $5.53 billion, up 4.6% year on year, in line with analysts’ expectations. Still, it was a satisfactory quarter as it posted EPS guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations.
Ross Stores delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates and slowest revenue growth in the group. Interestingly, the stock is up 6.6% since the results and currently trades at $155.21.
Read our full analysis of Ross Stores’s results here.
Ollie's (NASDAQ: OLLI)
Often located in suburban or semi-rural shopping centers, Ollie’s Bargain Outlet (NASDAQ: OLLI) is a discount retailer that acquires excess inventory then sells at meaningful discounts.
Ollie's reported revenues of $679.6 million, up 17.5% year on year. This print surpassed analysts’ expectations by 2.7%. It was a very strong quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.
Ollie's pulled off the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. The stock is down 5.7% since reporting and currently trades at $123.20.
Read our full, actionable report on Ollie's here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Burlington (NYSE: BURL)
Founded in 1972 as a discount coat and outerwear retailer, Burlington Stores (NYSE: BURL) is now an off-price retailer that has broadened into general apparel, footwear, and home goods.
Burlington reported revenues of $2.71 billion, up 9.7% year on year. This result beat analysts’ expectations by 2.5%. Overall, it was a strong quarter as it also put up a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and a beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.
The stock is down 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $272.45.
Read our full, actionable report on Burlington here, it’s free for active Edge members.
Market Update
As a result of the Fed’s rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has come down from frothy levels post-pandemic. The general rise in the price of goods and services is trending towards the Fed’s 2% goal as of late, which is good news. The higher rates that fought inflation also didn't slow economic activity enough to catalyze a recession. So far, soft landing. This, combined with recent rate cuts (half a percent in September 2024 and a quarter percent in November 2024) have led to strong stock market performance in 2024. The icing on the cake for 2024 returns was Donald Trump’s victory in the U.S. Presidential Election in early November, sending major indices to all-time highs in the week following the election. Still, debates around the health of the economy and the impact of potential tariffs and corporate tax cuts remain, leaving much uncertainty around 2025.
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