Investor Stephanie Link is eyeing TJX , Target and Walmart ahead of retail corporate earnings this week. For Link, chief investment strategist and portfolio manager at Hightower, off-price retailer TJX could stand to benefit from extra inventory throughout the retail sector. That's because the company buys up that inventory, and it has pricing power, she said. In these upcoming quarterly results, lower freight costs could bolster gross margins at TJX.
"We know that the grocery piece is fine, and doing well — they have pricing power — but on the flip side the discretionary is under a lot of pressure," Link said. She added that inventories will be a key focus area, which the investor expects will improve and thus should help the company's margins. On Walmart, Link forecasted that the company will have a better showing compared to Target, given that the retailer has more business in grocery and has pricing power in that space.