(Seoul=Yonhap Infomax) Jang Won Lee Senior Reporter = Loop Capital has selected Best Buy Co. (NYSE: BBY) and Five Below Inc. (NASDAQ: FIVE) as its preferred retail stocks for this year's holiday shopping season.


According to CNBC on the 23rd (U.S. local time), Anthony Chukumba, analyst at Loop Capital, said Best Buy is expected to benefit from the PC replacement cycle driven by Windows 11 upgrades, with smartphone sales projected to continue growing in the fourth quarter. The outlook is that Best Buy will capture the upside from these consumer trends.


Chukumba also forecasted that video game sales will remain robust, supported by the launch of the Nintendo Switch 2.


Nintendo recently raised its fiscal 2026 net sales forecast by 18% and projected a 27% increase in Switch 2 hardware sales.


Regarding Five Below, Chukumba noted that the retailer is poised to benefit from the "trading down" phenomenon, as U.S. consumers seek affordable alternatives amid rising macroeconomic uncertainty.


He evaluated that Five Below's merchandising strategy under CEO Joel Anderson—emphasizing new products, expanding licensed merchandise, and prominently featuring items priced above $5 (Five Beyond)—has proven effective.


Loop Capital concluded that Best Buy and Five Below are likely to emerge as clear winners in this year's holiday shopping season.


jang73@yna.co.kr

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