Piper Jaffray: Toys A 'Notable Winner,' Beauty Sales Below Average

Stephanie Wissink of Piper Jaffray commented on Friday that the toy category was a “notable winner” from Thursday's shopping session.

“We think the toy category was a notable winner – product was compelling and well merchandised,” Wissink wrote. The analyst adds that promotions were “slightly less aggressive” while the sales floors were “well-shopped.”

Wissink and a team of analysts visited various retail formats including malls, department stores and discounters across multiple cities in the United States throughout Thanksgiving evening into the early hours of Black Friday.

The analyst notes that the observations are a positive for Hasbro, Inc. (NASDAQ: HAS), Mattel, Inc. (NASDAQ: MAT) and JAKKS Pacific, Inc. (NASDAQ: JAKK).

Wissink also states that beauty traffic at specialty stores such as Sephora and Ulta Salon, Cosmetics & Fragrance, Inc. (NASDAQ: ULTA) were strong but the beauty category footfall major and mid-tier department stores and discounters were “below average.” The analyst adds that cosmetics and nail color were standouts, fragrance pricing levels were “more aggressive” while conversion appeared weak.

The analyst singled out Ulta Salon and Coty Inc (NYSE: COTY) as positive performers.