Top 5 Retail Companies To Buy Right Now

Stocks spent most of today's session in the red but finished essentially unchanged as the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) closed down 11 points, or 0.07%, while the S&P 500 finished up 0.03%. On a day with no major economic releases, investors seemed to keep their eye on international affairs in Ukraine and China. The European Union prepared a framework for sanctions against Russia, and worries about China's economic slowdown resurfaced thanks to weak export figures released earlier this week and copper prices approaching a four-year low, a sign of declining global industrial activity.

Among stocks making news after hours today was Williams-Sonoma (NYSE: WSM  ) , whose shares jumped 7% on a strong earnings report. The home-products retailer said earnings per share improved from $1.34 to $1.38, better than estimates at $1.35 a share. Revenue improved 10% on an even calendar basis, on a 10.4% increase in comparable brand sales to $1.47 billion, ahead of the consensus at $1.43 billion. CEO Laura Alber said that the company "outperformed the retail industry this holiday season, gaining market share and demonstrating the structural advantage of our multi-brand, multi-channel platform." Also pleasing investors was the company's decision to lift its dividend 6% from $0.31 to $0.33, though EPS guidance for the current year of $3.05-$3.15 was short of the consensus of $3.20. Still with core brands like Pottery Barn and West Elm growing organically by double digits, the company's position looks strong going forward.

Best China Companies To Own For 2015: Ross Stores Inc.(ROST)

Ross Stores, Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates off-price retail apparel and home accessories stores under the Ross Dress for Less and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand names in the United States. Its Ross Dress for Less brand stores sell brand and designer apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 60 percent off department and specialty store regular prices; and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores sell apparel, accessories, footwear, and home fashions for the entire family at everyday savings of 20 to 70 percent off moderate department and discount store regular prices. As of January 29, 2011, the company operated 1,055 stores, of which 988 were Ross Dress for Less brand stores in 27 states and Guam, and 67 were dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores in 6 states. Its Ross Dress for Less brand stores primarily target middle income households and dd?s DISCOUNTS brand stores target moderate income households. Ross Stores, Inc. was found ed in 1957 and is headquartered in Pleasanton, California.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Tom Taulli]

  Competitors. JCP must fight against many rivals that are in much better financial position, such as Target (TGT), Macy��, Kohl��, TJX Co. (TJX)�Gap (GPS) and Ross Stores (ROST). If the economy remains fairly sluggish, these operators may be more inclined to offer promotions and discounts, which would put even more pressure on JCP.�There is also the secular trend of e-commerce, which could send value-driven shoppers to companies like Amazon.com (AMZN).

• [By Polya Lesova]

  Ross Stores Inc. (ROST) �was the top decliner in the S&P 500, with its shares down 5.7%. The discount retailer said late Thursday its fiscal third-quarter profit rose 7.6%, but its forecast for the current quarter was below market expectations.

• [By Chuck Carnevale]

  With my final example on analyzing future earnings possibilities, I present Ross Stores Inc (ROST) a company with some intriguing earnings history. The calculator at the default setting shows that 32 analysts polled by Capital IQ forecast a 5-year estimated earnings growth at 12%.

Top 5 Retail Companies To Buy Right Now: AutoZone Inc.(AZO)

AutoZone, Inc. retails and distributes automotive replacement parts and accessories. The company?s stores offer various products for cars, sport utility vehicles, vans, and light trucks, including new and remanufactured automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products. Its automotive hard parts product line includes A/C compressors, batteries and accessories, belts and hoses, carburetors, chassis, clutches, CV axles, engines, fuel pumps, fuses, ignition, lighting, mufflers, starters and alternators, water pumps, radiators, and thermostats. The company?s maintenance items include antifreeze and windshield washer fluid; brake drums, rotors, shoes, and pads; chemicals, including brake and power; steering fluid, oil, and fuel additives; oil and transmission fluids; oil, air, fuel, and transmission filters; oxygen sensors; paint and accessories; refrigerant and accessories; shock absorbers and struts; spark plugs and wires; and windshield wiper s. Its discretionary product line comprises air fresheners, cell phone accessories, drinks and snacks, floor mats and seat covers, mirrors, performance products, protectants and cleaners, sealants and adhesives, steering wheel covers, stereos and radios, tools, and wash and wax products. The company also offers commercial sales program that provides the delivery of parts and other products to local, regional, and national repair garages, dealers, service stations, and public sector accounts. In addition, it sells the ALLDATA brand automotive diagnostic and repair software through the Website, alldata.com; and automotive hard parts, maintenance items, accessories, and non-automotive products through the Website, autozone.com. As of May 7, 2011, the company operated 4,467 stores in the United States and Puerto Rico, and 261 stores in Mexico. AutoZone, Inc. was founded in 1979 and is based in Memphis, Tennessee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Daniel Miller]

  Rather than pull my money out at the wrong time, as so many people did, I invested in specific trend-bucking, low-beta stocks -- O'Reilly (NASDAQ: ORLY  ) , Advance Auto Parts (NYSE: AAP  ) , and AutoZone (NYSE: AZO  ) . I did so while following Lynch's advice to "invest in what you know." To allow me to tell my story, let me briefly explain what the beta number is and how it works. Then I'll tell you why I picked those stocks and explain how you can do it next time.

• [By Jake L'Ecuyer]

  AutoZone (NYSE: AZO) reported a gain in its fiscal second-quarter profit. AutoZone's quarterly profit surged to $192.8 million, or $5.63 per share, versus a year-ago profit of $176.2 million, or $4.78 per share. Its net sales rose to $1.99 billion versus $1.86 billion. However, analysts were expecting earnings of $5.57 per share on sales of $1.98 billion. AutoZone's US same-store sales jumped 4.3% in the quarter.

Top 5 Retail Companies To Buy Right Now: Starbucks Corporation(SBUX)

Starbucks Corporation purchases and roasts whole bean coffees. It operates approximately 16,858 stores, including 8,833 company-operated stores and 8,025 licensed stores. The company offers approximately 30 blends and single-origin premium arabica coffees. It also provides handcrafted beverages, such as fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, Vivanno smoothies, and Tazo teas; and merchandise products, including home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, coffee mugs and accessories, packaged goods, music, books, and gift items. In addition, it offers fresh food items, which comprise baked pastries, sandwiches, salads, oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, and fruit cups. Further, it also provides VIA ready brew coffee, bottled frappuccino beverages, discoveries chilled cup coffee, doubleshot espresso drinks, iced coffee, whole bean coffee, and ice creams. The company?s brand portfolio includes Tazo tea, Ethos water, Seatt le?s Best Coffee, and Torrefazione Italia Coffee. Starbucks Corporation sells its products in approximately 50 countries worldwide. Starbucks Corporation was founded in 1971 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Fusion Research]

  Monotype Imaging has a number of global brands that are customers including Tommy Hilfiger, Ray-Ban, Clorox, Blue Man Group, Starbucks (SBUX), Nike (NKE), and Hilton among others. The recent customers in its portfolio include Disney (DIS), DreamWorks (DWA), Maserati, Mongoose, IOP, and a few others. Monotype Imaging reported revenue of $51.75 million in the creative professional segment in 2012. Looking at the opportunities that exist for the company going forward, we believe that it remains on track to achieve its revenue guidance of $60 million in 2013 from the creative professional segment, having already delivered half of that in the first half of 2013.

• [By Douglas A. McIntyre]

  The Mighty Wings product bears a similarity to the launch of McCafe coffee, which put McDonald’s in direct competition with Starbucks Corp. (NASDAQ: SBUX). Analysts believed that McCafe, which rolled out in 2009, would hurt sales of the premium coffee retailer. Whether that actually happened is a matter of conjecture. But the McDonald’s decision sent shivers through Starbucks shareholders.

• [By Rich Duprey]

  Where companies used to keep their views on social mores to themselves, these days corporations are very publicly wearing them on their sleeves. Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) CEO Howard Schultz pushed back at its annual shareholder meeting against the notion that its stance in favor of same-sex marriage hurt company profits, telling the investor who'd posed the question:

Top 5 Retail Companies To Buy Right Now: WH Smith PLC (SMWH)

WH Smith PLC is a United Kingdom-based retail company. The Company has two businesses divisions: Travel and High Street. The Company's Travel division sells a range of newspapers, magazines, books and impulse products for people on the move and a broader convenience range in hospitals and workplaces. The Company's High Street sells a wide range of stationery, books, newspapers, magazines and impulse products, as well as a small range of entertainment products.The Company�� subsidiaries include WH Smith PLC, WH Smith Retail Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Holdings Limited, WH Smith Travel Holdings Limited, WH Smith High Street Limited, WH Smith Travel Limited and WH Smith Hospitals Holdings Limited. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Sofia Horta e Costa]

  Hays Plc (HAS) climbed 2.2 percent after the recruitment company said quarterly fees increased in its European markets. WH Smith Plc (SMWH) jumped the most in six months after raising its final dividend and saying it plans to repurchase an additional 50 million pounds ($80 million) of shares. Melrose Industries Plc (MRO) added 1.8 percent after KKR & Co. said it will pay about $1 billion for two of its U.S. industrial-products companies.