MKM Partner's Quick Take On Holiday Traffic At Department Stores, Retailers

According to Courtney Dentch of MKM Partners, Kohl's Corporation (NYSE: KSS), Five Below Inc (NASDAQ: FIVE), TJX Companies Inc (NYSE: TJX) along with Dollar Tree, Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR) experienced customer traffic outpacing its peers.

Dentch notes that traffic at Wal-Mart Stores, Inc. (NYSE: WMT) and Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) have been “solid, not great” while Family Dollar Stores, Inc. (NYSE: FDO) was observed as having the weakest traffic among checks.

Overall, store traffic was in-line with the analyst's expectations despite declines in gasoline prices. However, the analyst may attribute the in-line results to higher levels of e-commerce sales, earlier than normal in-store promotions and consumer shift in spending towards cars and home improvements.