The 3 Best Stocks Post-Black Friday

For many of us, it’s the season for snow and cheer, but it's also the season for retail. It’s do-or-die time for many outlets, ecommerce sites, and every store that sells things that look vaguely gift-shaped. However, that doesn’t mean all of these companies are worth your investment. What retail companies are rising to the top, and which are best left at the bottom of the pile?

To determine this, we have our Zen Ratings system. A reminder that A-rated stocks have an average annual return of +32.52% (well above the market average). Here are three such A-Rated stocks in the retail space:

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1. Macy’s (NYSE: M)

With their current gains over the past few months, Macy’s might just have something to throw a parade about. The department store mainstay has gained 32.64% over the past few months and remains a strong value pick according to our Zen Ratings system. Specifically, it has a Component Grade of A for Value that helps bring it to the top 5% of stocks we cover.

Investors will specifically want to watch whether its “Bold New Chapter” initiatives hold strong and whether its strategy of closing many underperforming stores while revamping the rest is working (so far, so good). They’ll also want to see how tariffs continue to affect the company and whether Macy’s can continue to perform well despite them. 

2. Haverty Furniture Companies, Inc (NYSE: HVT)

Do you know what you need this year for a present? A new mattress. Well, perhaps not everyone needs one, but HVT is potentially giving investors a better night’s sleep with its Zen Rating of A and reasonable results over the last year. The company has, over the last few months, benefited from a strong industry overall, solid Q3 earnings, and a relatively less volatile position.

Investors looking for a retail stock to add to their portfolio will want to watch the steady demand for sleep products, how HVT handles the current economic pressures, and how it's able to market its products in the coming year.

3. Lands’ End Inc (NASDAQ: LE)

The clothing retailer (among a few other things) is a known quantity internationally, and its strong reputation and good sentiment place it in a position where investors need to take notice (see Component Grades below).

In the case of LE, investors will want to watch in the coming months how well the company balances its sales channels and maintains positive investor sentiment about the stock. While it did announce a surprise loss for Q3 that led to a small share price dip, this could simply represent an opportunity for some investors.

Want to know more about stocks on your radar and be able to keep track of everything more easily? Then WallStreetZen Premium is for you. With it, you’ll receive an unlimited watchlist, all the fundamental information you need, and peace of mind that you’re able to make smarter portfolio decisions.

And if you want to give yourself the gift of less stress about stock picks and an unknown market this season, then get yourself Zen Investor. It provides you with access to live webinars and commentary from our own Steve Reitmeister, who has more than 40 years of investment experience. You’ll also get access to a model portfolio hand-selected by him utilizing our Zen Ratings system, so you get the best of both worlds.

What to Do Next?

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