Key Points The retail sector has been challenged by larger economic issues. TJX Companies thrives during such periods. Both sales and profitability were up last quarter. 10 stocks we like better than TJX Companies › Investors' concerns about the economy and health of consumers have grown this year. That's explains why the S&P 500 index has gained 14.5% this year (through Oct. 21), while the S&P 500 Retailing industry group is up just 3.3%. Still, that doesn't mean you should abandon the retail s ...

Core Insights - The TJX Companies, Inc. is trading at a modest discount compared to the Zacks Retail - Discount Stores industry, with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 28.83, slightly below the industry average of 30.27 [1][10] - Over the past three months, TJX stock has surged 14.3%, outperforming the industry, the Zacks Retail and Wholesale sector, and the broader S&P 500 [6][10] - Management raised fiscal 2026 sales and EPS guidance, reflecting strong momentum and confidence in sustaining growth [10][17] Valuation and Performance - TJX's valuation profile is balanced compared to peers like Costco, Ross Stores, and Burlington, trading at a premium to off-price rivals while being cheaper than high-growth peers [5][10] - The stock closed at $140.04, 3.8% below its 52-week high of $145.58, and trades above its 50-day and 200-day moving averages, indicating a bullish trend [9][11] Growth Drivers - TJX's flexible off-price model allows quick adjustments to consumer trends, driving customer engagement and repeat visits [14] - The company reported a 4% increase in comparable store sales in Q2 of fiscal 2026, with broad-based gains across divisions [15] - Expansion remains a key strategy, with plans to add over 1,800 locations, including approximately 130 net new stores for fiscal 2026 [16][17] Financial Outlook - Management's updated guidance for fiscal 2026 includes projected net sales of $59.3-$59.6 billion and EPS of $4.52 to $4.57, indicating growth from the previous year [17] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for EPS has seen upward revisions, with expectations of 7.5% growth this year and 10% next year [18] Challenges - Currency and trade issues are significant headwinds, with management expecting unfavorable foreign exchange to reduce EPS growth by about 1% [19] - The retail environment remains highly promotional, which could limit pricing power and affect traffic and profitability [20]

Core Insights - Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings, Inc. reported strong financial results for the second quarter of fiscal 2025, with net sales increasing by 17.5% year-over-year to $679.6 million and earnings per share rising by 25.0% to $0.99 [2][3][4] Financial Performance - Net sales for the quarter reached $679,556,000, up from $578,375,000, reflecting a year-over-year growth of 17.5% compared to 12.4% in the previous year [4][17] - Comparable store sales increased by 5.0%, driven by a rise in transactions [4][23] - Net income rose to $61,310,000, a 25.0% increase from $48,982,000 in the same quarter last year [4][17] - Adjusted EBITDA increased by 26.0% to $93,786,000, with an adjusted EBITDA margin of 13.8% [4][12] Operational Highlights - The company opened 29 new stores during the quarter, bringing the total to 613 stores across 34 states, marking a year-over-year growth of 16.8% [4][23] - Ollie's Army loyalty program saw a 10.6% increase in membership, reaching 16.1 million members [4][23] - Gross margin improved by 200 basis points to 39.9%, primarily due to lower supply chain costs and higher merchandise margins [4][12] Fiscal 2025 Outlook - The company raised its fiscal 2025 sales and earnings outlook, now projecting net sales of $2.644 billion, up from the previous estimate of $2.599 billion [6][7] - The expected number of store openings for fiscal 2025 has been increased to 85 from 75 [6][7] - The forecast for comparable store sales growth has been adjusted to 3.0% to 3.5%, up from 1.4% to 2.2% [6][7] Cash and Investments - Total cash and investments increased by 30.3% to $460.3 million, including cash and cash equivalents of $231.2 million [12][23] - Capital expenditures for the quarter were reported at $26,416,000, compared to $38,289,000 in the previous year [23]