- There's a dark mood in the apparel store sector after Gap (GPS -6.4%) spilled its July sales numbers.
- The retailer's 4% drop in comparable store sales for the month missed the -1% mark expected by analysts by a wide margin. Gap had raised hopes for a retail sector comeback with a return to a positive comp in June before the July disappointment.
- On a prerecorded sales call (855-500-0477 participant code 7405599), Gap management dropped a discouraging nugget: "We’re maintaining a cautious view of the retail environment in the second half."
- As a bit of a bellwether, the outlook from Gap is resonating across the retail sector. There's also a cut on same-store estimates for Target from Cleveland Research which could be drawing some attention.
- Retail decliners: Tailored Brands (TLRD -5.5%), Ascena Retail Group (ASNA -4.7%), Express (EXPR -4.4%), Citi Trends (CTRN -3.3%), Buckle (BKE -3.4%), Cato (CATO -3.3%), American Eagles Outfitters AEO, Abercrombie & Fitch ANF, Chico's FAS (CHS -2.6%), Kohl's (KSS -3.7%), Dillard's (DDS -2.9%), Macy's (M -2.4%), Fred's (FRED -3.3%), Target (TGT -3.1%), Tuesday Morning (TUES -1.5%), L Brands (LB -1.9%), Christopher & Banks (CBK -2.6%).