Top Stocks to Buy Ahead of the Holiday Shopping Season

Stocks such as Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (TSX:GOOS)(NYSE:GOOS) and Indigo Books & Music Inc. (TSX:IDG) could benefit from a better retail performance in the holiday season of 2017.

A September survey conducted by Purolator indicated that retailer expected 2017 to be a better year for retail sales than 2016. Of the retailers surveyed, 89% said e-commerce had shifted customer buying patterns, and 80% are expecting increased sales during this holiday season.

Let’s take a look at three stocks that could see big future earnings due to a surge in 2017 holiday retail sales.

Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (TSX: GOOS)(NYSE: GOOS) stock has climbed 15.9% month over month as of close on November 15. The company adjusted its forecast, as it expects its e-commerce platform to yield bigger results in the quarters ahead. In a late October article, I’d discussed the surge in e-commerce retail sales and focused specifically on Canada Goose for its success in this regard. Seasonally adjusted e-commerce retail sales were up 41% in the most recent Statistics Canada August report.

Canada Goose released its fiscal 2018 second-quarter results on November 9. Revenue jumped 34.7% year over year to $172.3 million. It posted direct-to-consumer revenue of $20.3 million compared to $5.5 million in fiscal Q2 2017. Gross profit also climbed to $87.1 million from $59.3 million the previous fiscal year.

The company will now get to see how its knitwear line will perform in the holiday season along with its traditional winter clothing line.

Indigo Books & Music Inc. (TSX: IDG) is a Toronto-based book, gift, and specialty toy retailer. It operates stores in every Canadian province and tends to perform extremely well during the holiday season. Indigo stock has increased 6.6% in 2017 and 16% year over year.

Indigo released its fiscal 2018 second-quarter results on November 1. Revenue climbed 3.5% to $224.5 million. The company noted that this was very positive considering the release of the hit children’s play Harry Potter and the Cursed Child in the same period last year. Lifestyle and toy categories posted especially impressive growth, which is a great sign heading into the holiday season.

Indigo launched five new locations Guelph, Ottawa, Toronto, and Edmonton in the quarter. The stores, boasting a new concept geared to reflect the company’s transformation into a “cultural department store for book lovers,” showed 16% revenue growth. The company ultimately reported a net loss of $4.7 million compared to $1.2 million in the previous year, as Indigo made significant investments to upgrade its digital development, marking, supply chains, and the store re-imagining.

Aritzia Inc. (TSX: ATZ) is a Vancouver-based women’s fashion brand. Shares of Aritzia have declined 36% in 2017. I pinpointed Aritzia as one of my top clothing retailers to target after the Roots Corp. IPO disappointed.

The company released its fiscal 2018 second-quarter results on October 5. Revenue jumped 10.2% to $174 million, and the company reported net income of $5 million compared to a net loss of $67.3 million in fiscal Q2 2017. Like Canada Goose, Aritzia has also worked hard to expand and improve its e-commerce business to make it a focal point of its business model looking ahead.

Fool contributor Ambrose O'Callaghan has no position in any stocks mentioned.

More on Investing

crisis concept, falling stairs
Stocks for Beginners

This Quality Stock Has Fallen: I Don’t Think the Business Is Broken

Aritzia’s stock is down nearly 30%, but the business just posted one of its best quarters ever.

Read more »

dividend growth for passive income
Dividend Stocks

2 Dividend Stocks Worth Holding for the Next 7 Years

If you want resilient, growing income from dividends, these are two top TSX stocks that are perfect for income and…

Read more »

dividends grow over time
Dividend Stocks

I’d Buy These 2 Dividend Giants for Decades of Passive Income

With resilient business models, dependable dividend histories, and attractive long-term growth prospects, these two dividend stocks could be compelling additions…

Read more »

investor schemes to buy stocks before market notices them
Stocks for Beginners

The Momentum Trade Is Unravelling: This TSX Stock Looks Better After the Selloff

Dollarama’s stock is slipping as momentum fades, but its stores are still delivering the kind of growth investors want.

Read more »

tsx today
Stock Market

TSX Today: What to Watch for in Stocks on Wednesday, September 23

The TSX could see a weaker start today as metals prices reverse much of their previous session’s gains, while investors…

Read more »

A close up color image of a small green plant sprouting out of a pile of Canadian dollar coins "loonies."
Dividend Stocks

The Dividend Stock So Simple, Even Your Procrastinating Brother-in-law Can Buy It

Buy and hold Brookfield Infrastructure -- own a diversified portfolio of essential infrastructure and collect steadily growing distributions.

Read more »

A train passes Morant's curve in Banff National Park in the Canadian Rockies.
Investing

CN Rail Stock Just Dropped 10%: Is Now the Time to Buy?

CN Rail stock continues to outperform both operationally and financially, and maintains its strong long-term outlook.

Read more »

c
Investing

3 Undervalued Canadian Stocks for Bargain Lovers

Given their resilient financials, visible growth prospects, and attractive valuations, these three Canadian stocks offer attractive buying opportunities right now.

Read more »