On the back of banner Cyber Monday sales, retail exchange traded funds could be poised for more upside this holiday shopping season. That group includes the Amplify Online Retail ETF (NasdaqGM: IBUY), SPDR S&P Retail ETF (NYSEArca: XRT) and ProShares Online Retail ETF (NYSEArca: ONLN).
While Black Friday and Cyber Monday have come and gone, the calendar is still likely to assist retail investments, including the aforementioned ETFs.
“The 2018 calendar sets up nicely for retailers, as it gives holiday shoppers ample opportunity to get their gift-buying done with time to spare,” said IHS Markit in a recent note. “Since Thanksgiving Day falls on its earliest possible date of 22 November, that leaves the maximum 32 shopping days (including five full weekends) between then and Christmas. That means some consumers will have an extra paycheck or more to work with ahead of the holidays. This alone will be a slight boost for holiday sales numbers.”
Cyber Shopping Trends
Data bode particularly for online sales trends, which could boost IBUY and ONLN. The sales increase speaks to the obvious shift of consumer spending habits from brick-and-mortar retail to the convenience of online shopping as Adobe Analytics also reported that half of the $6.22 billion in sales came from mobile devices like smartphones. Furthermore, shoppers were more inclined to use their mobile devices to locate deals and make purchases.
Related: Retail ETFs Boosted by Record-Setting Cyber Monday Sales
The spate of bankruptcies from brick-and-mortar retails stores could be spooking investors as companies like Sears Holdings filed for bankruptcy protection last month after 125 years in business. However, some data points could support an uptick in consumer spending. Additionally, the falling oil prices, which are expected to drag down gasoline prices, could also bolster sales as consumers are left with more discretionary money to spend.