Big Lots Inc. (BIG): Today's Featured Retail Laggard

Big Lots (BIG) pushed the Retail industry lower today making it today's featured Retail laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.4%. By the end of trading, Big Lots fell $2.87 (-7%) to $38.44 on heavy volume. Throughout the day, 3.1 million shares of Big Lots exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 1.2 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $38.26-$40.04 after having opened the day at $40 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $41.31. Other companies within the Retail industry that declined today were: Roundys (RNDY), down 24.6%, Liberty Interactive (LINTB), down 9.1%, Liberty Interactive (LINTA), down 7.1%, and dELiA*s (DLIA), down 6.3%.

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Big Lots, Inc., through its subsidiaries, operates as a broadline closeout retailer in the United States and Canada. Big Lots has a market cap of $2.66 billion and is part of the services sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 14.3, below the average retail industry P/E ratio of 14.5 and below the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 10.5% year to date as of the close of trading on Thursday. Currently there are six analysts that rate Big Lots a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and seven rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates Big Lots as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its revenue growth, notable return on equity, attractive valuation levels, solid stock price performance and good cash flow from operations. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full Big Lots Ratings Report.

On the positive front, China Jo-Jo Drugstores (CJJD), up 32.9%, PC Connection (PCCC), up 6%, J.C. Penney (JCP), up 5.9%, and Gaiam (GAIA), up 5.5%, were all gainers within the retail industry with Nordstrom (JWN) being today's featured retail industry leader.

• Use our retail section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the retail industry could consider SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) while those bearish on the retail industry could consider ProShares Ultra Sht Consumer Goods (SZK).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on Big Lots Inc. click any of the following:

• Big Lots Inc. Stock Price

• Big Lots Inc. Analyst Ratings

• Big Lots Inc. Key Stats & Profile

• Big Lots Inc. Earnings

• Big Lots Inc. Ratio Comparison

• Big Lots Inc. Growth Rates

• Big Lots Inc. Balance Sheet

• Big Lots Inc. Cash Flow

• Big Lots Inc. Income Statement