Two niche players for your retailer gains

Article Excerpt

Many traditional bricks-and-mortar retailers have continued to struggle against the COVID-spurred onslaught of online shopping. Some may yet go out of business. But we believe the unique market niches of both TJX and North West offer the possibility of strong gains ahead. THE TJX COMPANIES, $94.39, (New York symbol TJX; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average) (tjx.com; Shares o/s: 1.1 billion; Market cap: $109.3 billion; Yield: 1.4%), is a leading off-price retailer of clothing, accessories and home fashions. Off-price retailers purchase merchandise at below-wholesale prices and charge less than retail prices. Through their shares, investors tap a network of stores. In the U.S., TJX operates 1,317 T.J. Maxx locations, 1,196 Marshalls, 914 HomeGoods, 90 Sierra Trading Post outlets and 54 HomeSense locations. In Canada, it has 302 Winners outlets, 157 HomeSense locations and 106 Marshalls stores. TJX also operates in Europe, with 641 TK Maxx and 79 Homesense stores; and in Australia, with 78 TK Maxx outlets. Overall revenue in the quarter ended October 28, 2023, rose…