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1 Consumer Stock on Our Watchlist and 2 to Turn Down

Retailers are overhauling their operations as technology redefines the shopping experience. Still, secular trends are working against their favor as e-commerce continues to take share from brick and mortars. This puts retail stocks in a tough spot, and over the past six months, the industry has pulled back by 1.6%. This drawdown was disappointing since the S&P 500 climbed 8.1%.
Only some companies are subject to these dynamics, however, and a handful of high-quality businesses can deliver earnings growth in any environment. Keeping that in mind, here is one consumer stock poised to generate sustainable market-beating returns and two that may face trouble.
Two Consumer Retail Stocks to Sell:
Torrid (CURV)
Market Cap: $628.5 million
Promoting a message of body positivity and inclusiveness, Torrid Holdings (NYSE:CURV) is a plus-size women’s apparel and accessories retailer.
Why Are We Out on CURV?
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Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand
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Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $1.12 billion, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals
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Revenue growth over the past five years was nullified by the company’s new share issuances as its earnings per share fell by 19.3% annually
Torrid’s stock price of $6 implies a valuation ratio of 22.7x forward price-to-earnings. To fully understand why you should be careful with CURV, check out our full research report (it’s free) .
Lithia (LAD)
Market Cap: $9.05 billion
With a strong presence in the Western US, Lithia Motors (NYSE:LAD) sells a wide range of vehicles, including new and used cars, trucks, SUVs, and luxury vehicles from various manufacturers.
Why Are We Hesitant About LAD?
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Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand
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Gross margin of 16% is below its competitors, leaving less money for marketing and promotions
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High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7× could force the company to raise capital at unfavorable terms if market conditions deteriorate
Lithia is trading at $345.10 per share, or 9.8x forward price-to-earnings. If you’re considering LAD for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more .
One Consumer Retail Stock to Watch:
Walmart (WMT)
Market Cap: $792.2 billion
Known for its large-format Supercenters, Walmart (NYSE:WMT) is a retail pioneer that serves a budget-conscious consumer who is looking for a wide range of products under one roof.
Why Does WMT Catch Our Eye?
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Same-store sales growth lends it the confidence to gradually expand its store base so it can reach more customers
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Brick-and-mortar locations are witnessing elevated demand as their same-store sales growth averaged 5.1% over the past two years
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Massive revenue base of $681 billion makes up for its weaker gross margin and makes it a household name that influences purchasing decisions
At $98.54 per share, Walmart trades at 35.9x forward price-to-earnings. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free .
Stocks We Like Even More
With rates dropping, inflation stabilizing, and the elections in the rearview mirror, all signs point to the start of a new bull run - and we’re laser-focused on finding the best stocks for this upcoming cycle.
Put yourself in the driver’s seat by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month . This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years.
Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like United Rentals (+322% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free .