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Nordstrom & 2 More Retail Stocks That Won Q2 Earnings Season

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After Nordstrom (JWN - Free Report) reported strong earnings and revenue last Thursday, its shares rose more than 13 percent. These impressive results can be contributed to multiple factors, such as booming e-commerce sales, the Nordstrom Rack business, and higher sales volume in general.

But Nordstrom was not the only major retailer to impress this earnings season. Some other retail giants that have posted earnings that are worth taking a look at are TJX Companies (TJX - Free Report) and Urban Outfitters (URBN - Free Report) .

For similar and different reasons, these three companies are the winners of this quarter.

Nordstrom’s Results: A Closer Look

Nordstrom’s revenue climbed 7.1 percent to $4.07 billion, topping analysts’ expectations of $3.96 billion. Sales increased for both Nordstrom and Nordstrom Rack. Sales at stores that were open for at least a year were up by 4 percent—lifted by same-store sales growth of 4.1 percent at Nordstrom and an increase of 4 percent at Nordstrom Rack.

Nordstrom’s e-commerce business is also surging. The company reported online business sales growth of 23 percent during the recent quarter. Also, online sales now represent 34 percent of total sales, which is 5 percent more than last year.

Nordstrom Rack’s increasing popularity also helped. If Nordstrom has a very upscale, expensive image, Nordstrom Rack has a similar image with cheaper prices.

TJX and Urban Outfitters Join the Fun

Customers’ love for discount stores doesn’t end at Nordstrom Rack. TJ Maxx’s and Marshalls’ parent company, TJX Companies, also reported stronger-than-expected sales in the most recent quarter. There was also a 6% increase in same-store sales, marking its sixteenth consecutive quarter of growth.

Despite the logical expectation that growing consumer confidence due to the robust economy will shift consumers from discount stores, it seems as if shoppers are still hooked to discount prices rather than the full-prices that other more upscale retailers provide.

According to Daily Herald, Neil Saunders, managing director of GlobalData Retail, said there is evidence that consumers are loyal to TJ Maxx and Marshalls even with the rise in income. In fact, the rise is resulting in customers visiting the stores more often.

Another retail giant that posted strong earnings for the quarter is Urban Outfitters, the parent company of Anthropologie, BHLDN, Free People, Terrain and Urban Outfitters. It reported that its total net sales rose 13.7%.

And, although e-commerce sales rose and can be contributed to much of the success of this quarter, its offline stores are still soaring. In fact, the total store comps were the best it has been in eight years.

Bottom Line

Nordstrom’s success seems to lie in both its e-commerce and its discount business. TJX’s seems to be a result of customer’s love towards discount prices. Meanwhile, Urban Outfitters’ success seems to be in its trend aimed towards its target customers of millennials, and its booming e-commerce business.

These factors have helped each of these three retailers shine this earnings season.

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The TJX Companies, Inc. (TJX) - free report >>

Nordstrom, Inc. (JWN) - free report >>

Urban Outfitters, Inc. (URBN) - free report >>