NEW YORK – From Walmart to Home Depot the biggest US retailers are about to grab the earnings spotlight, providing stock investors with crucial insight into consumer spending – the engine that powers two-thirds of the US economy.
With the Fed signaling that it’s nearing the end of its most aggressive tightening campaign in a generation, Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih expects US retail shares to outperform in 2024 as pressure on shoppers from inflation and higher borrowing costs eases. The call marks an about-face from three months ago, when Yih flagged recession risks for the group.
“This ratio tells us that investors see brighter times ahead and want to increase risk in their portfolios,” said Thomas Martin, senior portfolio manager at Globalt Investments. “We’re trying to get a sense of the health of the consumer because that’s what’s been holding up Wall Street’s optimism on the economy,” said Martin.