The U.S. Redbook Index reported an increase of 4.5% in same-store retail sales for the week No. 32, which ended Aug. 11, compared to the same week in the previous year. The result is a 1.1 percentage-point deceleration from the pace of the previous week. The previous week’s pace of 5.6% was the strongest since the end of 2017.
According to Redbook, month-to-date sales decreased by 0.8 percentage points to a rate of 0.1% compared to the prior month.
July and August have reported the strongest gains in same-store sales year-over-yearso far this year. Moderate and irregular accelerations in ex-auto ex-gas retail sales determined sharp retreats soon after those strong gains.
On the heels of the report, Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) jumped 1.1% to $222 per share. The stock has a market capitalization of $97.36 billion.
The stock is up 18% this year and has a price-book ratio of 8.02, a price-sales ratio of 0.7 and a price-earnings ratio of 32.50.
Costco has a forward dividend of $2.28 per share that yields 1.02%.
The recommendation rating is 2 out of 5. The average target price is $225.77 per share.
L Brands Inc. (NYSE:LB) rose 4.97% to $32.72 per share. The stock has a market capitalization of $9.07 billion and has fallen 45% this year.
It also has a price-sales ratio of 0.73 and a price-earnings ratio of 10.04. The recommendation rating is 2.9 out of 5. The average target price is $36.14 per share.
The forward dividend is $2.40 per share for a yield of 7.58%.
Walmart Inc. (WMT, Financial) jumped 1.4% to $90.85 per share on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has a market capitalization of $268.08 billion. The share price of Walmart declined 8% so far this year.
The stock has a price-book ratio of 3.55, a price-sales ratio of 0.54 and a price-earnings ratio of 30.38.
The forward dividend and yield of Walmart is $2.08, granting a 2.31% yield.
The Gap Inc. (NYSE:GPS) soared 5% to $32.70 per share and has a market capitalization of $12.67 billion. The Gap stock decreased by 4% so far this year.
The Gap has a price-book ratio of 3.98, a price-sales ratio of 0.79 and a price-earnings ratio of 14.86. The recommendation rating is 3 out of 5. The average target price is $32.9 per share.
The forward annual dividend is 97 cents per share, granting 3.13%.
Macy's Inc. (M, Financial) soared 4.34% to $41.82 per share. The stock has market capitalization of $12.82 billion. The share price has climbed 66% so far this year.
The stock in Macy's has a price-book ratio of 2.19, a price -sales ratio of 0.51 times and a price-earnings ratio of 7.95.
The forward dividend & yield is 1.51 (3.79%).
The recommendation rating is 2.8 out of 5 and the average target price is $35.46.
American Eagle Outfitters Inc. (NYSE:AEO) jumped 2.52% to $28.02 per share on the New York Stock Exchange. The stock has a market capitalization of $4.95 billion. American Eagle Outfitters has risen 46% this year.
The stock in American Eagle Outfitters has a price-book ratio of 4.08 times, a price-sales ratio of 1.3 times and a price-earnings ratio of 22.98 times. The recommendation rating is 2.5 out of 5. The average target price is $24.88 per share.
The forward dividend is 0.55 and yield is 2.08%.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stock mentioned in this article.
