Zacks Value Investor Highlights: LEVI, LE, ULTA, TGT and DECK

For Immediate Release

Chicago, IL – June 2, 2025 – Zacks Value Investor is a podcast hosted weekly by Zacks Stock Strategist Tracey Ryniec. Every week, Tracey will be joined by guests to discuss the hottest investing topics in stocks, bonds and ETFs and how it impacts your life. To listen to the podcast, click here:  https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2479269/retail-stocks-values-or-traps

Retail Stocks: Values or Traps?

Welcome to Episode #397 of the Value Investor Podcast.

• (0:30) - Finding Strong Investments Within The Retail Sector For Your Portfolio
• (6:30) - Tracey's Top Stock Picks
• (34:45) - Episode Roundup: LEVI, LE, ULTA, TGT, DECK
• [email protected]

Every week, Tracey Ryniec, the editor of Zacks Value Investor portfolio, shares some of her top value investing tips and stock picks.

The most uncertain industry in 2025 appears to be retail. It has a lot of exposure to the tariffs and the changes in the supply chain. Additionally, when the consumer pulls back on spending, retail will be impacted as well.

Many retail stocks have sold off in 2025.

Are they cheap?

Or are they traps?

Definition of a Value Trap

Reminder, a stock can have a low price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio and still not be a true value. The key is to look at the earnings consensus for this year.

Are earnings expected to grow or decline?

If they are declining, while the stock also has a low P/E, that could indicate the stock is a trap. If they are on the upward swing, while the stock is cheap, it could be a true value.

Are these 5 retail stocks values or traps?

Retail Stocks: Values or Traps?

1. Levi Strauss & Co. LEVI

Levi Strauss is the famous San Francisco denim manufacturer. Shares of Levi Strauss have fallen 22% over the last year.

It’s cheap. Levi Strauss trades with a forward P/E of just 14.6. It pays a dividend yielding 2.9%.

Is Levi Strauss a true value, or is it a trap?

2. Lands’ End, Inc. LE

Lands’ End is a specialty apparel and accessories retailer. Shares of Lands’ End have been hammered over the last year, falling 37.2%. Even in the last month, as most stocks rallied, Lands’ End fell 0.7%.

But Lands’ End is cheap. It has a forward P/E of just 13.7.

Is Lands’ End a value or a trap?

3. Ulta Beauty ULTA

Ulta Beauty sells beauty products online and in its stores in the United States. Ulta shares are higher over the last year, gaining 11.5%. They are also up over the last month, adding 10.5% before their earnings report.

Ulta has a forward P/E above 15, which is the level used to determine value. But with a P/E of 18, it’s not that pricey.

Is Ulta Beauty a value or a trap?

4. Target Corp. TGT

Target is one of the largest big box retailers in America. Shares of Target have struggled the last few years and are near 5-year lows. Over the last year, Target shares fell 35.8%. And over the last month, they remain low. They’re still down 1.3% during that time.

Target trades with a forward P/E of 12.6. It also has a dividend now yielding 4.7%.

But Target is also a Zacks Rank #5 (Strong Sell). Only 5% of all stocks that have the Zacks Rank are Strong Sells.

Is Target a trap here?

5. Deckers Outdoor Corp. DECK

Deckers Outdoor owns the popular shoe brands UGG, Hoka and Teva. Shares are off their all-time highs, falling 39.6% over the last year. After plunging after the recent earnings report, shares have bounced back, but remains down 2.7% over the last month.

Deckers is trading at an attractive and low P/E for the company of just 17.1. But earnings estimates are being cut for this fiscal year and next.

Is Deckers a value or a trap?

What Else Should You Know About the Retail Stocks?

Tune into this week’s podcast to find out.

[In full disclosure, Tracey owns shares of ULTA in her personal portfolio.]

Why Haven't You Looked at Zacks' Top Stocks?

Since 2000, our top stock-picking strategies have blown away the S&P's +7.7% average gain per year. Amazingly, they soared with average gains of +48.4%, +50.2% and +56.7% per year.

Today you can access their live picks without cost or obligation.

See Stocks Free >>

Media Contact

Zacks Investment Research

800-767-3771 ext. 9339

[email protected]

https://www.zacks.com/performance

Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss.This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performance for information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.

Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report

This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research (zacks.com).

Zacks Investment Research