November 10, 2011
Article from Seeking Alpha
For a look at the retail industry, consider what institutional investors like hedge fund managers are buying.
We created a universe of about 130 stocks from the retail industry and screened for those that have seen the most net purchases from institutional investors over the current quarter.
Institutional investors clearly believe in these names – do you? Use this list as a starting point for your own analysis.
List sorted by net institutional purchases as a percent of share float.
1. Titan Machinery, Inc. (TITN): Operates a network of full service agricultural and construction equipment stores in the United States. Market cap of $496.13M. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 2.9M, which is 18.3% of the company's 15.85M share float. The stock has had a good month, gaining 28.96%.
2. Perry Ellis International Inc. (PERY): Engages in designing, sourcing, marketing and licensing apparel products for men and women in the United States and internationally. Market cap of $402.29M. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 1.8M, which is 15.83% of the company's 11.37M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 2.14). The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 13.48% (equivalent to 10.21 days of average volume). The stock has had a good month, gaining 17.88%.
3. rue21, Inc. (RUE): Operates as a specialty apparel retailer in the United States. Market cap of $612.97M. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 1.7M, which is 12.78% of the company's 13.30M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 24.23% (equivalent to 13.83 days of average volume). It's been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 5.93% over the last week.
4. Body Central Corp. (BODY): Operates as a specialty retailer of young women's apparel and accessories in the South, Mid-Atlantic and Midwest regions of the United States. Market cap of $336.07M. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 1.6M, which is 11.41% of the company's 14.02M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 8.03% (equivalent to 5.96 days of average volume). The stock has had a good month, gaining 15.79%.
5. OfficeMax Incorporated (OMX): Distributes business-to-business and retail office products. Market cap of $434.04M. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 9.2M, which is 10.85% of the company's 84.79M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 2.53). The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 18.24% (equivalent to 6.07 days of average volume). The stock has lost 72.23% over the last year.
6. Abercrombie & Fitch Co. (ANF): Operates as a specialty retailer of casual apparel for men, women and kids. Market cap of $5.07B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 7.3M, which is 8.51% of the company's 85.80M share float. The stock is currently stuck in a downtrend, trading 17.08% below its SMA20, 12.33% below its SMA50, and 10.43% below its SMA200. It has been a rough couple of days for the stock, losing 21.63% over the last week.
7. The Jones Group Inc. (JNY): Engages in the design, marketing and wholesale of apparel, footwear and accessories in the United States and Canada. Market cap of $1.04B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.4M, which is 7.56% of the company's 71.42M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 2.93). The stock has had a couple of great days, gaining 8.5% over the last week.
8. Guess? Inc. (GES): Engages in the design, marketing, distribution and licensing of apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Market cap of $2.92B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 6.0M, which is 7.92% of the company's 75.72M share float. The stock has lost 19.54% over the last year.
9. PriceSmart Inc. (PSMT): Operates warehouse clubs in the United States, Latin America and the Caribbean. Market cap of $2.24B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 1.4M, which is 7.4% of the company's 18.92M share float. The stock has gained 149.42% over the last year.
10. Charming Shoppes Inc. (CHRS): Operates as a specialty apparel retailer primarily for women in the United States. Market cap of $400.66M. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 7.0M, which is 6.89% of the company's 101.61M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 3.45). The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 16.84% (equivalent to 8.09 days of average volume). The stock has had a good month, gaining 29.81%.
11. Crocs, Inc. (CROX): Engages in the design, development, manufacture, marketing and distribution of footwear, apparel and accessories for men, women and children. Market cap of $1.58B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 5.7M, which is 6.43% of the company's 88.65M share float. The stock is currently stuck in a downtrend, trading 11.26% below its SMA20, 26.18% below its SMA50, and 21.24% below its SMA200. The stock has performed poorly over the last month, losing 30.94%.
12. Urban Outfitters Inc. (URBN): Operates lifestyle specialty retail stores under the Urban Outfitters, Anthropologie, Free People, Terrain, Leifsdottir and BHLDN brands. Market cap of $4.19B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 6.7M, which is 6.43% of the company's 104.27M share float. The stock has had a good month, gaining 16.83%.
13. Iconix Brand Group, Inc. (ICON): Operates as a brand management company that engages in licensing, marketing and providing trend direction for a portfolio of owned consumer brands. Market cap of $1.31B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 3.9M, which is 6.05% of the company's 64.49M share float. The stock is a short squeeze candidate, with a short float at 13.08% (equivalent to 11.03 days of average volume). The stock has had a good month, gaining 14.65%.
14. Express Inc. (EXPR): Operates specialty retail stores in the United States. Market cap of $2.04B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 1.9M, which is 5.52% of the company's 34.41M share float. The stock has gained 58.13% over the last year.
15. American Eagle Outfitters, Inc. (AEO): Operates as an apparel and accessories retailer in the United States and Canada. Market cap of $2.73B. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 7.9M, which is 4.71% of the company's 167.85M share float. The stock has had a couple of great days, gaining 6.78% over the last week.
16. Quiksilver Inc. (ZQK): Designs, produces and distributes branded apparel, footwear, accessories and related products. Market cap of $569.80M. Net institutional shares purchased over the current quarter at 4.1M, which is 3.62% of the company's 113.32M share float. This is a risky stock that is significantly more volatile than the overall market (beta = 2.55). The stock has had a good month, gaining 12.38%.
*Institutional data sourced from Fidelity, all other data sourced from Finviz.
Disclosure: I have no positions in any stocks mentioned, and no plans to initiate any positions within the next 72 hours.
Article from Seeking Alpha
