Seven Retailers Trading Near 52-Week Highs

Shoppertrak may suggest that retailers have little to look forward to this coming holiday season, but here are seven retailers that are riding high now. The share prices of most of them have jumped more than 10% in the past month and they are all trading near their 52-week highs. AutoZone AZO: The auto parts and accessories retailer reported strong fiscal fourth-quarter results, and the Memphis-based company also opened 68 new stores in the U.S. and 18 new stores in Mexico in the past year. This S&P 500 component has a $13.4 billion market cap and its long-term EPS growth forecast is 15.8%. The share price is about 18% higher year to date, despite pulling back almost 3% in the past week. The stock has outperformed competitors Advance Auto Parts AAP and O'Reilly Automotive ORLY over the past three months. BJ's Wholesale Club BJ: Shareholders recently approved an offer to take the third-largest warehouse club retailer private; the transaction is expected be completed this week. The Massachusetts-based company has a market cap of $2.8 billion. The share price is up more than 22% over the past year, as well as about 2.5% lower than the 52-week high. The stock has outperformed competitors Costco and Walmart WMT over the past 90 days. Costco Wholesale COST: Earnings have grown at a double-digit pace for six straight quarters, and revenue is expected to be up 15% in the current quarter. Also, Costco said the current COO will become CEO in January. The company has a market cap of $36.9 billion and its dividend yield is 1.1%. EPS for this S&P 500 component are predicted to grow about 13% over the next five years. The share price is more than 19% higher than six months ago but down about 2% from the 52-week high. Year to date, the stock has outperformed BJ's Wholesale and Walmart, the operator of rival Sam's Club. Dollar Tree DLTR: This Chesapeake, Va.-based dollar store operator recently announced a $2 million share repurchase program. Dollar Tree operates more than 4,000 stores under several banners and has a market cap of $9.5 billion. Its long-term EPS growth forecast is 16.9% and the return on equity is 30.4%. The PEG ratio is less than the sector average. Shares are up almost 41% over the past six months and trading near an all-time high. Year to date, the stock has outperformed competitors Dollar General DG and Family Dollar FDO. Limited Brands LTD: This Columbus, Ohio-based apparel and personal care products retailer said recently that same-store sales jumped 11% in August. A S&P 500 component, it has a $12.0 billion market cap and a dividend yield of 1.9%. Its long-term EPS growth forecast is 16.6% and the return on equity is 67.5%. Shares are trading more than 26% higher than six months ago; it has risen about 13% just in the past month. The stock has outperformed competitors Abercrombie & Fitch ANF and Gap GPS over the past six months. Ross Stores ROST: Second-quarter results were solid and same-store sales in August were better than expected due in part to strength in Florida. The Pleasanton, Calif.-based discount retailer has a market cap of $9.2 billion, and its dividend yield is 0.9%. Its long-term EPS growth forecast is 12.3% and the return on equity is 45.1%. The share price is almost 29% higher year to date, despite pulling back more than 1% in the past week. The stock has outperformed competitor Kohl's KSS over the past six months. Whole Foods Market WFM: Analysts expect double-digit growth of both per-share earnings and revenues for the current quarter. This Austin, Tex.-based S&P 500 member has a dividend yield of 0.6% and a long-term EPS growth forecast of 17.1%. Its market cap is $12.7 billion. The share price has nearly doubled from a year ago and has jumped more than 22% just in the past month. Year to date, the stock has outperformed competitors Kroger KR and Safeway SWY, as well as the S&P 500.