Despite a massive snowstorm that brought the East coast to a halt last week, many retailers are showing improved year-over-year results and the holiday shopping season is not quite wrapped up. Exchange traded funds (ETFs) are feeling the love.
This season has already shown stronger shopping results, with e-commerce, electronics and jewelry all posting gains, according to MasterCard Advisors in its SpendingPulse report. According to Dow Jones Newswires, the results highlight improvements from November, when U.S. retailers’ same-store sales broadly missed analysts’ dim expectations and confirmed an intense focus by shoppers on discounts and promotions. [Read more about November’s successful numbers from retailers.]
Online shopping has posted the strongest growth so far-up 14% since Black Friday and 13% since Nov. 1. This method of shopping has proven to be the biggest success yet, getting a big boost from the recent snowstorm that blanketed much of the eastern United States, according to Retail Wire. [What consumers are buying this holiday season.]
For more stories about retail ETFs, visit our retail category.
- SPDR S&P Retail (NYSEArca: XRT): up 77.3% year-to-date
- Retail HOLDRs (NYSEArca: RTH): up 27.1% year-to-date
- iShares Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Goods Sector (NYSEArca: IYK): up 23.7% year-to-date
The opinions and forecasts expressed herein are solely those of Tom Lydon, and may not actually come to pass. Information on this site should not be used or construed as an offer to sell, a solicitation of an offer to buy, or a recommendation for any product.