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The retail (special lines) industry is comprised of a wide variety of subgroups and companies that cannot be analyzed and evaluated as a broad category, and these stocks must be individually evaluated. Results for the holiday shopping season in 1998 were satisfactory for most retailers, and the US economy is poised for growth in 1999 which augers well for the retail industry. These stocks are not strong in 1999 and investors need to be selective both for the short and long term.

Consumer confidence in the US has decreased somewhat during the 3rd qtr of 1998, but interest rate cuts by the Federal Reserve Board should keep the economy going and a recession seems unlikely. Success in the retail industry in the 4th qtr of 1998 will depend on execution and the 1998 holiday shopping season, although some retail sectors are mixed. Investors need to focus upon growth companies for their selections.

Speciality retailers with strong merchandising talents will outperform their competition in 1994 and 1995. Factors such as moderate inflation and a weak US dollar will create a business climate that can be exploited by those retailers with lean, competitive operations. Investments in this industry should be focused on companies that have high ratings for financial strength and that have capital returns that are above the industry average.

The diversified retail industry can offer investors with various portfolio goals at least one strong choice. Low interest rates are boosting the housing and home improvement markets. Companies aiming to expand in the unsaturated urban markets or in Canada and Mexico due to the implementation of the North American Free Trade Agreement may be good investment choices. Potential investors should study individual Timeliness ranks.

The specialty retail industry will improve during the 1990s, as retailers continue to streamline their businesses and use high technology to keep inventory low. The economy seems to be improving in Nov 1993, and consumers are beginning to spend again. Another indication of consumer confidence is in the show of colored apparel planned for spring 1994. The stocks within this group should do well from 1993 to 1998, as retailers establish better working relationships with manufacturers.

The Gap: Apparel retailer remakes itself as a brand by integrating marketing into merchandise formula The Gap got a wake-up call in the mid-1990s, after other retailers had copied not […]

Byline: just-style.com Clothing retailer Gap Inc yesterday (7 April) said it had entered into a new $500m revolving credit facility and a $400m five-year term loan, as well as a [...]

After successfully winning consumers away from department stores, monobrand specialty retailers have become favored shopping destinations among younger generations. In an exclusive survey of 1,364 males, DNR uncovered those specialty [...]

Byline: Jeanine Poggi NEW YORK -- Early same-store sales results from three retailers Thursday indicate a mixed bag is in store when firms release June comps next week. Christopher and [...]

A lot of things have gone right for GAP INC. since Paul Pressler arrived as CEO in September 2002. Sales, even of the comparable-store variety, are back on the upswing; [...]

SAN FRANCISCO -- Neal Goldberg has resigned as head of the outlet division of Gap Inc., effective immediately. Gap officials had no further comment on the departure of Goldberg, who [...]

The debate rages on about whether its existence is a commodity-based necessity or a value-driven luxury, but KMART HOLDING CORP. continues to take baby steps on the road to recovery [...]

NEW YORK -- Value and prestige won over consumers' wallets in August, leaving many stores in the middle with a power shortage that lasted well beyond the midmonth blackout. Skittish [...]

COMPANY SALES 2001 (000) SALES 2000 (000) CHANGE 1) Best Buy Co. $19,597,000 $15,326,552 27.9% In June, the electronics retailer sold its Musicland Group to Sun Capital Partners, a private [...]

Byline: Jennifer Weitzman NEW YORK - Tight expense controls might bail out fourth-quarter retail profits despite weak holiday sales, but analysts fear that the stores have squeezed about as much [...]

Perhaps new CEO Paul Pressler will prove to be a good luck charm and September 2002 will turn out to be the month that Gap Inc. breaks its unfortunate streak [...]

There's some life in luxury yet. A delicate balancing act between inventory management on the one hand and style leadership on the other paid off in a profitable fourth quarter [...]

NEW YORK -- Coolness, both in the temperature and consumer reactions to spring assortments, led to lackluster May sales and will hold comparable-store sales results for the month at or [...]

NEW YORK -- Compounding the evidence that a turnaround might be coming into view, Gap Inc. announced its first quarterly profit in nine months. 'We are confident we can take [...]

NEW YORK -- It's a second anniversary for Gap Inc. that was once unthinkable. As the nation's major retailers today report comparable-store sales for April, Gap is poised to report [...]