September Same-Store Sales: Discount, Luxury, Teen Gear Strong (WMT, COST, TGT, ANF, JWN), Apparel Weak (ANN, TLB, FD, JCP, GPS, LTD)

A mixed bag for the big retailers in September, amidst hurricane and fuel-cost driven consumer pressure. The discount, luxury and teen-oriented outlets posted impressive same-store sales growth:

• Abercrombie & Fitch (same-store sales +21%)
• Costco (+11%)
• Neiman Marcus Group (+9.6%)
• Target (+5.6%)
• Nordstrom (+4.1%)
• Wal-Mart (+3.8%)

But the apparel and big mall retailers had a mostly disappointing month:

• JC Penney (+1.4%)
• Federated -- Macy's, Bloomingdales: (+1.3%)
• Limited (-2%)
• Ann Taylor (-2.7%)
• Talbots (-5.1%)
• Gap (-6%)

Related:

• Foot Traffic and Sales Fall at Ann Taylor
• Retail Stocks Year to Date Price Performance as of 9/30/05