No Christmas Cheer For Retail Stocks

The retail sector is getting slaughtered. I thought I would point out how far off a handful of companies are from their yearly highs.

• Target (TGT): -28%
• Home Depot (HD): -27%
• Lowe's (LOW): -35%
• Sears Holdings (SHLD): -48%
• Kohl's (KSS): -42%
• J.C. Penney (JCP): -50%
• Macy's (M): -43%
• Dillard's (DDS): -52%
• Nordstrom (JWN): -39%
• Limited (LTD): -39%
• American Eagle Outfitters (AEO): -39%
• Ross Stores (ROST): -26%
• Chico's (CHS): -66%
• Family Dollar Stores (FDO): -45%
• Dollar Tree Stores (DLTR): -42%
• Big Lots (BIG): -54%
• Staples (SPLS): -16%
• Office Depot (ODP): -67%
• PetSmart (PETM): -31%
• RadioShack (RSH): -49%
• Circuit City (CC): -78%
• Bed Bath and Beyond (BBBY): -33%

Of course, then there are those stocks that have largely escaped the bloodbath, either because they are defensive and counter-cyclical, such as WalMart (WMT), Costco (COST), BJ's Wholesale Club (BJ), and TJX Companies (TJX), or because for other reasons, such as Saks (SKS), The Gap (GPS), Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF), Best Buy (BBY), Urban Outfitters (URBN), and GameStop (GME).

I have certainly been hit, but my average retail holding is down around 20-25% from where I bought them, excluding my December purchases (which are close to their original costs).

I feel like a kid in a candy store... to quote Warren Buffet. Unfortunately, it's complicating my Christmas plans for a work-free vacation.