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Coronavirus Hits Feb Retail Sales: Winning & Losing ETFs
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U.S. retail sales declined 0.5% sequentially in February, following an upwardly revised 0.6% uptick in January and missing market expectations of a 0.2% rise. The February figure marked the largest decline since December 2018. This gives a clear sign of what’s due for March, the month when the U.S. economy almost came to a halt owing to the coronavirus eruption.
Consumer spending makes up about 70% of U.S. economic activity. Thus, any contraction in it will likely drag the economy into recession. February’s sales report should serve as a guide for March and investors can easily get an idea about what’s awaiting the various industries in the ongoing virus-inflicted month. Below we highlight a few such areas and the related ETFs.
Industries That Survived
Online Stores
Non-store retail trade in February jumped 0.7% sequentially and 7.5% year over year. Non-requirement of physical presence amid growing fears of virus contamination has been aiding the space (read: Is Coronavirus a Boon for Online Retail ETFs?).
The underlying index consists of long positions in online retailers included in the ProShares Online Retail Index and short positions in the bricks and mortar retailers included in the Solactive-ProShares Bricks and Mortar Retail Store Index (read: Beat Virus With 2 Sector ETFs & Stocks That Survived 2008 Crisis).
Groceries & Healthcare Essentials
Grocery and Health & personal care stores saw a marginal decline of 0.1% in February. Sales of hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (requirements during home confinement) rose 0.1% in the month. Department stores saw a nominal sales decline of 0.2% in the month.
Amid the ongoing virus scare, soap and clean materials companies like Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) , Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) and Zacks Rank #3 Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) should do well.
Staples companies like Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) are also likely to stay afloat as consumers’ need for daily essentials will help their March quarter sales.
Many mall-based clothing stores have seen a decline in footfall. Nordstrom (JWN - Free Report) was the first department store chain to announce that it would temporarily shut all 380 stores, including 116 department stores, to help prevent the spread of the virus. Apparel sales fell 1.2% sequentially in February.
The underlying S&P Retail Select Industry Index represents the retail sub-industry portion of the S&P TMI. Apparel Retail takes about one-fourth of the fund. The fund may face more pain in March.
Gas Stations
Receipts declined 2.8% at gasoline stations in February, thanks to a sharp decline in the price of oil. Moreover, the travel restrictions are another concern for the space.
The underlying Gasonline Price Index looks to reflect changes in gasoline prices, as measured by the price of the contract on unleaded gasoline for delivery to the New York harbor, traded on the NYMEX that is the near month to expire, except when the near contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case it will be measured by the contract that is the next month contract to expire (read: 5 Top-Performing Commodity ETFs of 2019).
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Coronavirus Hits Feb Retail Sales: Winning & Losing ETFs
U.S. retail sales declined 0.5% sequentially in February, following an upwardly revised 0.6% uptick in January and missing market expectations of a 0.2% rise. The February figure marked the largest decline since December 2018. This gives a clear sign of what’s due for March, the month when the U.S. economy almost came to a halt owing to the coronavirus eruption.
Consumer spending makes up about 70% of U.S. economic activity. Thus, any contraction in it will likely drag the economy into recession. February’s sales report should serve as a guide for March and investors can easily get an idea about what’s awaiting the various industries in the ongoing virus-inflicted month. Below we highlight a few such areas and the related ETFs.
Industries That Survived
Online Stores
Non-store retail trade in February jumped 0.7% sequentially and 7.5% year over year. Non-requirement of physical presence amid growing fears of virus contamination has been aiding the space (read: Is Coronavirus a Boon for Online Retail ETFs?).
ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF (CLIX - Free Report)
The underlying index consists of long positions in online retailers included in the ProShares Online Retail Index and short positions in the bricks and mortar retailers included in the Solactive-ProShares Bricks and Mortar Retail Store Index (read: Beat Virus With 2 Sector ETFs & Stocks That Survived 2008 Crisis).
Groceries & Healthcare Essentials
Grocery and Health & personal care stores saw a marginal decline of 0.1% in February. Sales of hobby, musical instrument, & book stores (requirements during home confinement) rose 0.1% in the month. Department stores saw a nominal sales decline of 0.2% in the month.
Amid the ongoing virus scare, soap and clean materials companies like Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) Procter & Gamble Company (PG - Free Report) , Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) Clorox Company (CLX - Free Report) and Zacks Rank #3 Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL - Free Report) should do well.
Staples companies like Costco Wholesale Corporation (COST - Free Report) and Walmart Inc. (WMT - Free Report) are also likely to stay afloat as consumers’ need for daily essentials will help their March quarter sales.
On the ETF front, Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP - Free Report) is likely to remain steady amid the market turmoil for the same reason (read: Tackle Market Gyrations With Buffett's Style of ETF Investing).
Major Losers
Clothing
Many mall-based clothing stores have seen a decline in footfall. Nordstrom (JWN - Free Report) was the first department store chain to announce that it would temporarily shut all 380 stores, including 116 department stores, to help prevent the spread of the virus. Apparel sales fell 1.2% sequentially in February.
SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT - Free Report)
The underlying S&P Retail Select Industry Index represents the retail sub-industry portion of the S&P TMI. Apparel Retail takes about one-fourth of the fund. The fund may face more pain in March.
Gas Stations
Receipts declined 2.8% at gasoline stations in February, thanks to a sharp decline in the price of oil. Moreover, the travel restrictions are another concern for the space.
United States Gasoline ETF (UGA - Free Report)
The underlying Gasonline Price Index looks to reflect changes in gasoline prices, as measured by the price of the contract on unleaded gasoline for delivery to the New York harbor, traded on the NYMEX that is the near month to expire, except when the near contract is within two weeks of expiration, in which case it will be measured by the contract that is the next month contract to expire (read: 5 Top-Performing Commodity ETFs of 2019).
Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox?
Zacks' free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >>