4 Retail Stocks That Are Off to a Hot Start in 2018

Retail trade jumped in November, with numbers that were especially promising for Dollarama Inc. (TSX:DOL) and others.

The S&P/TSX Index finished January in the red โ€” down 1.59%. However, there are still some attractive options on the TSX for investors seeking growth.

Statistics Canada released its retail trade report for November 2017 on January 25. Retail sales climbed 0.2% to $50.1 billion, and sales were up in six out of 11 sub-sectors. Here are four stocks that could carry momentum into February and beyond.

Dollarama Inc. (TSX:DOL)

Dollarama stock rose 7% in January. Dollarama is a Montreal-based dollar store retail chain. Dollar stores have experienced major success in North America since the Financial Crisis and have broadened consumer bases. Sales at general merchandise stores were up 1.8% in November 2017.

Quebec reported the largest growth in sales activity of any Canadian province โ€” up 0.9% in November 2017. Retail sales in the Montreal metropolitan area were up 1.2% over the course of the month. Dollarama is coming off 2017 third-quarter results that saw sales rise 9.7% and EBITDA climb 18.8% to $207.3 million.

Canada Goose Holdings Inc. (TSX:GOOS)(NYSE:GOOS)

Canada Goose stock increased 11.46% in the month of January. Shares have jumped 60% over a three-month span. Analysts are eagerly anticipating fourth-quarter results that are expected in early February. The winter clothing manufacturer sees the most significant spike in activity during the holiday shopping season.

Sales at clothing and clothing accessories stores rose 3% in November 2017. Strong e-commerce numbers in November also represent a positive sign for Canada Goose and its burgeoning e-commerce platform. Keep an eye on its stock in the short term, as it looks poised to post a big third quarter.

Shopify Inc. (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP)

Shopify stock rose 23.5% in January. The Ottawa-based company provides an e-commerce platform for online stores and retail point-of-sale systems. In the third quarter of 2017, Shopify saw revenue and gross profit jump 72% and 86%, respectively.

Retail e-commerce sales were $1.8 billion in November, which accounted for 3.5% of total retail trade. This represented the highest proportion of total retail sales in a month recorded in 2017. E-commerce retail sales had increased 25.5% year over year as of November 2017. Shopify reported that it sold over $1 billion through its merchants on Black Friday and Cyber Monday in 2017.

Husky Energy Inc. (TSX:HSE)

Husky Energy stock rose 1.58% in January. Shares have climbed 6.6% year over year. Husky Energy operates over 500 retail stations across Canada.

Oil and gas prices have continued to rally in the first month of 2018. In November 2017, Statistics Canada showed receipts at retail gas stations were up 5.9% due to higher prices. The price of gasoline increased 7.4% in November on an unadjusted basis, according to the Consumer Price Index.

In the third quarter of 2017, Husky Energy reported that funds from operations rose to $891 million from $619 million in the prior year. Adjusted net earnings jumped to $136 million compared to a $100 million loss in Q3 2016.

Should you invest $1,000 in Bank of Montreal right now?

Before you buy stock in Bank of Montreal, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor Canada analyst team just identified what they believe are the Top Stocks for 2025 and Beyond for investors to buy nowโ€ฆ and Bank of Montreal wasnโ€™t one of them. The Top Stocks that made the cut could potentially produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider MercadoLibre, which we first recommended on January 8, 2014 ... if you invested $1,000 in the โ€œeBay of Latin Americaโ€ at the time of our recommendation, youโ€™d have $21,345.77!*

Stock Advisor Canada provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month โ€“ one from Canada and one from the U.S. The Stock Advisor Canada service has outperformed the return of S&P/TSX Composite Index by 24 percentage points since 2013*.

See the Top Stocks * Returns as of 4/21/25

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the โ€œofficialโ€ recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. Weโ€™re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis โ€” even one of our own โ€” helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Ambrose O'Callaghan has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tom Gardner owns shares of Shopify. The Motley Fool owns shares of Shopify and SHOPIFY INC. Shopify is a recommendation of Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Investing

TFSA (Tax-Free Savings Account) on wooden blocks and Canadian one hundred dollar bills.
Dividend Stocks

How Iโ€™d Invest $40,000 of TFSA Cash in 2025

These three TFSA investments are some of the best options out there, especially while each remain on sale.

Read more ยป

Aircraft Mechanic checking jet engine of the airplane
Dividend Stocks

Where Iโ€™d Invest $2,800 in the TSX Today

Looking for a mix of resilience, income, and upside, I'd consider building a position in Exchange Income as a part ofโ€ฆ

Read more ยป

ways to boost income
Coronavirus

Why Iโ€™m Holding My Air Canada Stock Despite Recent Turbulence

Air Canada (TSX:AC) stock is down this year, but I'm holding the line.

Read more ยป

A plant grows from coins.
Dividend Stocks

This Dividend Knight Paying 3.9% Is Trading at a Deep Discount 

Find out how the recent dip in goeasy stock affects its dividend and what it means for potential investors today.

Read more ยป

Hourglass and stock price chart
Tech Stocks

Why MOGO Stock Soared 81% This Week

MOGO stock surged this week from some headline news, so what should investors think?

Read more ยป

senior relaxes in hammock with e-book
Dividend Stocks

How Iโ€™d Build a Worry-Free Income Portfolio With $7,000

Building an income portfolio is much easier than it looks, especially with longer investment horizons. Hereโ€™s a trio of optionsโ€ฆ

Read more ยป

engineer at wind farm
Energy Stocks

The Smartest Energy Stock to Buy With $500 Right Now 

Energy stocks have fallen from tariff war uncertainty. Uncertainty brings change that may benefit some, and this energy stock couldโ€ฆ

Read more ยป

bulb idea thinking
Dividend Stocks

The Smartest Utility Stock to Buy With $6,400 Right Now

Given its solid underlying utility business, impressive record of dividend growth, and high-growth prospects, I am bullish on Fortis.

Read more ยป