Goldman Sachs: $15 Minimum Wage Would Hit These Stocks Hardest

A number of states and cities have issued minimum wage hikes in the past couple of years. With minimum wage hikes starting to gain momentum, Goldman Sachs analyst Matthew Fassler addressed the issue every investor has on his or her mind: Which companies could be hit hardest by a potential federal minimum wage of $15/hour?

“Those paying relatively low wages and serving high-income customers unlikely to feel a bump from minimum wage hikes are most exposed, while those paying higher wage rates while serving relatively low-income consumers are best-positioned,” Fassler explains.

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Fassler gave a rundown of the retailers that are most and least-exposed to a federal wage hike.

Most exposed:

• Tractor Supply Company TSCO
• Dicks Sporting Goods Inc DKS
• GNC Holdings Inc GNC
• TJX Companies Inc TJX
• Five Below Inc FIVE
• Bloomin’ Brands Inc BLMN
• Panera Bread Co PNRA
• Potbelly Corp PBPB
• Chico’s FAS, Inc. CHS
• Genesco Inc.GCO
• Childrens Place Inc PLCE

Least exposed:

• Advance Auto Parts, Inc. AAP
• Office Depot Inc ODP
• Best Buy Co Inc BBY
• SUPERVALU INC. SVU
• Sprouts Farmers Market Inc SFM
• Dollar Tree, Inc. DLTR
• Restaurant Brands International Inc QSR
• McDonald’s Corporation MCD
• Yum! Brands, Inc. YUM
• Gap Inc GPS
• Signet Jewelers Ltd. SIG
• L Brands Inc LB
• Ascena Retail Group Inc ASNA

Disclosure: the author holds no position in the stocks mentioned.