Retail Performance Analysis: TJX vs Walmart
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: 1h ago
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Should l Buy TJX?
Source: Fool
- Consumer Spending Pressure: Consumers are feeling the strain from high prices and an uncertain labor market, impacting many retailers' sales, although both TJX and Walmart reported positive same-store sales growth of 5% and 4.5%, respectively.
- TJX's Competitive Edge: By selling goods at 20% to 60% below full-price retailers, TJX leverages its strategy of purchasing excess inventory from manufacturers, enhancing its market appeal during economic downturns and attracting value-seeking consumers.
- Walmart's Steady Growth: Walmart maintains its competitive edge in the retail market through ongoing technology investments and cost control, with its U.S. segment achieving a 4.5% increase in same-store sales, driven by higher traffic and spending.
- Investment Choice Analysis: While Walmart's stock trades at a high P/E ratio of 44, significantly above its 10-year median of 29, TJX's impressive 145.7% ten-year return suggests a more attractive valuation, making it the recommended investment choice between the two.
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Analyst Views on TJX
Wall Street analysts forecast TJX stock price to rise over the next 12 months. According to Wall Street analysts, the average 1-year price target for TJX is 169.81 USD with a low forecast of 150.00 USD and a high forecast of 193.00 USD. However, analyst price targets are subjective and often lag stock prices, so investors should focus on the objective reasons behind analyst rating changes, which better reflect the company's fundamentals.
18 Analyst Rating
17 Buy
1 Hold
0 Sell
Strong Buy
Current: 155.400
Low
150.00
Averages
169.81
High
193.00
Current: 155.400
Low
150.00
Averages
169.81
High
193.00
About TJX
The TJX Companies, Inc. is an off-price apparel and home fashions retailer in the United States (U.S.) and worldwide. The Company's segments include Marmaxx and HomeGoods, both in the U.S., TJX Canada and TJX International, including Europe and Australia. The TJ Maxx and Marshalls chains sell family apparel, including footwear and accessories, home fashions, including home basics, decorative accessories, and giftware and other merchandise. The HomeGoods segment operates HomeGoods and Homesense chains. HomeGoods offers an eclectic assortment of home fashions, including furniture, rugs, lighting, soft home, decorative accessories, tabletop, and cookware, as well as expanded pet and gourmet food departments. The TJX Canada segment operates the Winners, HomeSense and Marshalls chains in Canada, offering a range of home decor, furniture, and seasonal home merchandise. The TJX International segment operates the TK Maxx and Homesense chains in Europe and the TK Maxx chain in Australia.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Consumer Spending Pressure: Consumers are feeling the strain from high prices and an uncertain labor market, impacting many retailers' sales, although both TJX and Walmart reported positive same-store sales growth of 5% and 4.5%, respectively.
- TJX's Competitive Edge: By selling goods at 20% to 60% below full-price retailers, TJX leverages its strategy of purchasing excess inventory from manufacturers, enhancing its market appeal during economic downturns and attracting value-seeking consumers.
- Walmart's Steady Growth: Walmart maintains its competitive edge in the retail market through ongoing technology investments and cost control, with its U.S. segment achieving a 4.5% increase in same-store sales, driven by higher traffic and spending.
- Investment Choice Analysis: While Walmart's stock trades at a high P/E ratio of 44, significantly above its 10-year median of 29, TJX's impressive 145.7% ten-year return suggests a more attractive valuation, making it the recommended investment choice between the two.
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- Put Option Appeal: The current bid for the $140.00 put option is 31 cents, and if an investor sells this contract, their effective purchase price would be $139.69, representing about a 10% discount from the current stock price of $155.90, making it attractive for those interested in TJX shares.
- Expiration Risk and Return: There is an 83% chance that this put option will expire worthless, in which case the investor would earn a 0.22% return on their cash commitment, or an annualized yield of 1.62%, known as YieldBoost, highlighting the potential appeal of this strategy.
- Call Option Return Analysis: The $160.00 call option currently bids at $1.71, and if an investor buys TJX shares at $155.90 and sells this contract, they could achieve a total return of 3.73% if the stock is called away at expiration, but significant upside could be missed if TJX shares rise sharply.
- Probability of Expiration Worthless: The likelihood of the call option expiring worthless is 60%, allowing investors to retain both their shares and the premium collected, with an additional return of 1.10%, or an annualized yield of 8.01%, further enhancing the investor's return potential.
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- Return to NYC Market: TJ Maxx has signed a lease for 40,000 square feet at Herald Towers in Manhattan, marking its first new store in New York City in over a decade, indicating the company's sustained focus on major urban markets.
- Retail Lease Scale: This lease is one of the largest retail leases signed in Manhattan in the past two years, highlighting the potential for retail market recovery and providing TJX with an opportunity to stand out in a competitive landscape.
- Global Expansion Strategy: TJX management has indicated plans to open over 1,800 additional TJ Maxx stores globally, demonstrating the company's aggressive growth strategy centered on consumers trading down to branded products, thereby solidifying its market position.
- Optimistic Financial Outlook: Despite a 2.5% decline in TJX's stock year-to-date, the company expects fourth-quarter earnings per share to reach between $4.63 and $4.66, reflecting strong holiday sales momentum and a target of 4% same-store sales growth, showcasing the resilience of its business.
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- Nike's Sales Struggles: Nike's fiscal third-quarter sales remained flat after excluding foreign currency effects, with wholesale revenue up 8% but direct sales down 9%, indicating challenges amid intensified competition and lack of innovation.
- TJX's Strong Performance: TJX Companies reported a 5% increase in same-store sales for the quarter ending November 1, achieving positive growth across all segments, demonstrating its ability to attract consumers through low-price strategies during economic uncertainty.
- Stock Performance Comparison: Nike's stock returned -9.5% over the past year, contrasting with the S&P 500's 15.1% return, highlighting a decline in Nike's investment appeal, with its P/E ratio rising from 24 to 38, indicating a richer valuation.
- Investment Recommendation: Given TJX's 26.7% shareholder return and a reasonable P/E of 34, which, while higher than the S&P 500's 31, is justified by its strong sales growth and defensive characteristics, investors are advised to favor TJX Companies over Nike.
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- Nike's Sales Struggles: Nike's fiscal third-quarter sales remained flat as of November 30, with wholesale revenue up 8% but direct sales down 9%, indicating significant challenges amid intense competition and a lack of innovation.
- TJX's Resilient Growth: TJX Companies reported a 5% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal third quarter ending November 1, effectively leveraging its low-price strategy to attract consumers during economic downturns, showcasing strong market adaptability.
- Stock Performance Comparison: As of January 22, Nike's stock returned -9.5%, significantly underperforming the S&P 500's 15.1%, while TJX rewarded shareholders with a 26.7% return, highlighting its stronger investment appeal.
- Valuation Discrepancies: Nike's P/E ratio rose from 24 to 38 despite sluggish sales growth, whereas TJX's P/E increased from 29 to 34; given its sales growth and defensive characteristics, investors may prefer TJX over Nike.
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- Performance Growth: TJX Companies' stock has risen over 25% in the past year, with same-store sales increasing by 5% year-over-year in fiscal Q3 2023, demonstrating strong performance in the competitive off-price retail market.
- Margin Improvement: The company's gross margin increased from 31.6% to 32.6%, reflecting its efficient supply chain management and product sourcing strategies, which further enhance profitability.
- Market Positioning: By offering brand-name goods at low prices, TJX successfully navigates challenges faced by other retailers due to tariffs and tightening consumer spending, solidifying its market leadership.
- Valuation Context: Although the stock trades at approximately 33 times expected earnings, TJX continues to exhibit a strong business foundation, making it a compelling choice for long-term investors in the off-price retail sector.
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