We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Discount Retailer Stocks to Buy. In this article, we will look at where BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (BJ) stands against other discount retailer stocks to buy.
Overview of the Discount Retail Sector
With half a decade of geopolitical chaos, recession in Europe, and above-target inflation, the US economy has remained resilient. The primary reason behind this is the American consumer: their spending makes up around 70% of the country’s gross domestic product. However, recent calculations have been showing a decline in amount of money Americans are spending.
A recent survey by accounting firm KPMG corroborated this pattern, finding that while people were optimistic about their economic standing, they harbored doubts and skepticism about the direction the US economy is headed. The survey also found that nearly 65% of participants expected to do more discount shopping this year. Around 60% of this number made $200,000 or more. In addition, around 14% said that they were planning to use buy now, pay later services.
Brian Moynihan, CEO of Bank of America, said that he also noticed a slowing in purchase rates of his customers. Consumer payments grew by 3.5% since last year, down from a 10% growth from the year before. This included measurement through checks, credit cards, and ATM withdrawals.
The discount retail industry in the US thus holds a promising outlook. This positive outlook is fueled by technological advancements, changing consumer preferences, and strategic adjustments. Shoppers across the retail industry are prioritizing value over everything else, including cheap prices. This is why retailers like Dollar Tree Inc. are struggling, while business in stores like Target and Walmart is booming. A similar trend is also taking place in other industries, with companies like Applebee undergoing increasing sales while consumer sentiments about giants like McDonald’s are showing signs of waning.
The Consumer Goods and Retail Outlook 2024 report by Economic Intelligence forecasts global retail sales to grow by 6.7% in dollar terms in 2024. While 85% of these sales are expected to stem from brick-and-mortar stores, 2024 is expected to be the strongest growth year for offline retail after 2021. Inflation is also easing in 2024, but that does not seem to affect increasing consumer preference for lower prices, prioritization of basic life goods, and an unwillingness to pay hefty delivery fees. These factors are likely to drive consumers on a bargain-hunt to discount retailers.
The discount retail industry is one of the most resilient sectors in the face of economic unpredictability, strengthened by its ability to offer affordable services and goods. Product discount campaigns are emerging across the country, showing positive development trends and becoming some of the hottest topics in retail. Effective inventory management, better pricing, and operational initiatives are likely to boost sales in discount retail companies, provided they offer the one thing customers are increasingly looking for: value.
The US led the largest market for discount store retail across the globe in 2023, amassing $128 billion in sales. According to data reported by The Wall Street Journal, average consumer spending on grocery items at discount retailers increased 71% between October 2021 and June 2022. In addition, consumer patterns are also showing an increased inclination towards e-commerce, which is pushing companies to solidify their digital presence. Successful retailers are endeavoring to meet their customers both in-store and online, which is why 9 out of the top 10 e-commerce websites are run by retailers with brick-and-mortar stores.
Similar trends are appearing across the world, with discount stores rising to a prominent industry standing over the past years in the US, Europe, and Japan. Zhang Qiang, founder and CEO of Hitgoo, a discount retail chain, said that the next decade in China is likely to be marked by discount store expansion. Since the discount store model focuses on food and daily use merchandise, it can be successful in both the domestic and international market, presenting new opportunities.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz stock screener to identify stocks in the discount retailers business. We then shortlisted the stocks that were the most widely held by hedge funds, as of Q2 2024. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
10 Best Discount Retailer Stocks to Buy
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 34
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings (NYSE:BJ), commonly known as BJ’s, is an American membership-only warehouse club chain that operates in the eastern United States, including Alabama, Tennessee, Ohio, Michigan, and Indiana. The company currently runs around 215 clubs in 16 states, stretching from Florida to Maine. It offers general merchandise, groceries, gasoline, and other ancillary services, promotions, and coupon books.
In its Q2 2024 earnings report, BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BJ) reported strong results with earnings per share (EPS) of $1.08 and revenue of $5.2 billion, reflecting a 5% increase from the previous year. This growth was driven by higher membership renewals, increased same-store sales, and strong performance in digital channels, bolstered by the company’s focus on value and private-label products.
Looking ahead, BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings Inc. (NYSE:BJ) aggressive expansion plans, including opening new clubs in key markets, are expected to drive additional sales growth and capture a larger share of the warehouse club market. Investments in digital and omnichannel capabilities, such as enhanced online shopping and expanded curbside pickup and delivery options, are likely to attract more customers and boost sales.
The company’s most prominent market of long-term success is its 9% growth in membership fees in Q2 2024, its largest member count growth in a quarter since the pandemic. BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings (NYSE:BJ) also saw strong membership renewal rates and strong growth in premium tier memberships. The company’s expanding digital presence provides a competitive advantage in an increasingly digital industry.
BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings (NYSE:BJ) is organically expanding its member base in the existing market through its renewals and acquisition efforts. The company’s next membership milestone is to take the count to 7.5 million members, which it expects to reach in the back half of the year. 34 hedge funds hold stakes in the company as of Q2 2024.
TimesSquare Capital U.S. Small Cap Growth Strategy stated the following regarding BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) in its first quarter 2024 investor letter:
“Our preferences in the Consumer-oriented sectors lean toward value-oriented or specialty retailers, franchise models, or premium brands. BJ’s Wholesale Club Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:BJ) operates membership warehouse clubs. Its shares gained 14% after it reported better-than-expected comparable sales growth, in-line revenues, and earnings for its fiscal fourth quarter. Highlights of the quarter were increased membership and customer traffic.”
Overall, BJ ranks 7th on our list of the best department store and discount retailer stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of BJ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than DG but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.