J.C. Penney Co Inc (JCP): Today's Featured Retail Winner

Editor's Note: TheStreet ratings do not represent the views of TheStreet's staff or its contributors. Ratings are established by computer based on metrics for performance (which includes growth, stock performance, efficiency and valuation) and risk (volatility and solvency). Companies with poor cash flow or high debt levels tend to earn lower ratings in our model.

J.C. Penney (JCP) pushed the Retail industry higher today making it today's featured retail winner. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.4%. By the end of trading, J.C. Penney rose 42 cents (2.4%) to $17.78 on average volume. Throughout the day, 8.1 million shares of J.C. Penney exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 9.3 million shares. The stock ranged in a price between $17.12-$17.94 after having opened the day at $17.25 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $17.36. Other companies within the Retail industry that increased today were: Big Lots (BIG), up 11.5%, Pacific Sunwear (PSUN), up 6.4%, Natural Grocers by Vitamin Cottage (NGVC), up 4.3%, and DSW (DSW), up 4%.

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J. C. Penney Company, Inc., through its subsidiary, J. C. Penney Corporation, Inc., operates department stores in the United States and Puerto Rico. The company sells family apparel and footwear, accessories, fine and fashion jewelry, beauty products, and home furnishings. J.C. Penney has a market cap of $3.93 billion and is part of the services sector. Shares are down 50.6% year to date as of the close of trading on Monday. Currently there are three analysts that rate J.C. Penney a buy, three analysts rate it a sell, and nine rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates J.C. Penney as a sell. The company's weaknesses can be seen in multiple areas, such as its disappointing return on equity, poor profit margins, generally disappointing historical performance in the stock itself and feeble growth in its earnings per share.

• You can view the full J.C. Penney Ratings Report.

On the negative front, Coastal Contacts (COA), down 11.5%, Pep Boys - Manny Moe & Jack (PBY), down 10.4%, Arden Group (ARDNA), down 6.3%, and Best Buy (BBY), down 6%, were all laggards within the retail industry with Gap (GPS) being today's retail industry laggard.

• 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.

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For more information on J.C. Penney Co Inc click any of the following:

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Stock Price

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Analyst Ratings

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Key Stats & Profile

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Earnings

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Ratio Comparison

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Growth Rates

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Balance Sheet

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Cash Flow

• J.C. Penney Co Inc Income Statement