British retail sales surged higher during August, rising at the fastest pace in six months, while retailers optimism about the business situation for the next quarter hit its highest level since May 2002.
However, retail stocksDebenhams(LSE: DEB)French Connection(LSE: FCCN)Supergroup(LSE: SGP)Bonmarche(LSE: BON) andMarks and Spencer(LSE: MKS) have had a terrible six months with only one French Connection putting in a positive performance.
But with optimism surging across the sector, is now the time to buy?
Mixed fortunes
All retailers have had mixed fortunes this year. For example, Debenhams after warnings on profits at the end of last year has seen its shares decline 6.4% year to date excluding dividends. Declines over the past 12months have come close to 40%.
Nevertheless, the company has recently attracted value hunters as recent declines have left the stock trading at a forward P/E ratio of 9.2. At present levels the company also supports a dividend yield of 4.9%. Moreover, City analysts believe that the companys trading performance has picked up over the summer months.
But while value hunters have turned to Debenhams, growth investors have turned their backs on Supergroup, thanks in part to the companys slowing earnings growth.
Specifically, Supergroup currently trades at a forward P/E of 18.2, with earnings growth of only 13% pencilled in for next year, down from growth of 21% reported last year. Unfortunately, management has decided that, for the time being it would rather reinvest cash generated from operations, rather than initiate a dividend.
French Connection has been one of the retail sectors best performers this year. Management has accomplished this by actually going upmarket!
On an underlying basis, the companys sales jumped 9.1% like for like over the summer period, as the company reduced the number of discounts in stores. French Connection is not forecast to make a profit until 2013, although with nearly 13m in cash on the balance sheet, French Connection is a favourite amongst value investors.
Time to make a move?
With French Connection and Debenhams expected to report a strong trading performance for the summer months, they appear to be some of the retail sectors best picks. However, the old guard, M&S, as well as one of the sectors newest members, Bonmarche, appear to be struggling.
M&S reported a terrible first quarter at the beginning of July, withUK non-food or general merchandise like for like sales falling by 1.5% the 12th consecutive quarter of declines. Additionally,M&S.com sales fell by 8.1%during the quarter, compared to a gain of 23% over the last full financial year.
Bonmarche has fallen on valuation grounds. The companys sales are rising, up a total of 16.9% during the13 weeks ended 28 June 2014 but a valuation of 14.3 times forward earnings has scared some investors.
Improving fortunes
Still, as retail sales pick up and filter through results, investors should start to note an improvement in sales, which should give a valuation uplift across the retail sector.
It just depends where you want to place your bets. Income investors and value investors could look to Debenhams, while growth investors could side within French Connection. Analysts here at the Motley Fool believe that they have foundthree greatways to ride the recoveryand you can read about them inthis brand new free report.
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Rupert Hargreaves has no position in any shares mentioned. We Fools don’t all hold the same opinions, but we all believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.