It's been an incredible month on the Australian sharemarket! Over the last 30 days alone, the S&P/ASX 200 (INDEXASX: XJO) has fallen an incredible 7.16% from a high of 5723 points on 3 August to today's open of 5263 points.
The fall was punctuated by a stunning four-day plunge that saw the index lose 400 points as tensions surrounding the Chinese and American economies panicked investors, however through all this chaos, Australia's companies have been releasing their full-year and half-year reports to investors, allowing us to pick apart which companies are Australia's 4 best retail stocks.
3 Poor Performers
Crown Resorts Ltd (ASX: CWN) shares fell 12% over the month as investors continued to worry about the group's Asian investments.
InvoCare Limited (ASX: IVC) shares are over 13% lower than a month ago after the company reported an 11.3% decline in net profit despite a 6.1% increase in revenues over the prior corresponding period.
Woolworths Limited (ASX: WOW) shares underwhelmed this reporting season, announcing slow comparable sales growth and some major personnel changes that were actually digested quite well by the market. The company's outlook remains clouded in doubt for many experienced analysts.
4 Top Retail Stocks
Coca-Cola Amatil Ltd (ASX: CCL) shares ended the month 6% lower, broadly in line with the market, despite recording a pleasing 0.9% rise in net profit to $183.9 million and 2.8% rise in volumes in Australia. The group's Indonesian and coffee & alcohol segment were the strong points and could push the group forward in coming months.
Harvey Norman Holdings Limited (ASX: HVN) shares defied the turndown, beating the ASX 200 return by around 5% as the company reported strong overall and like-for-like sales results for the year, driven by the booming housing market in the eastern states. Investors were extremely happy with the fully franked final dividend of 11 cents per share, which represents an increase of 37.5% on the year before.
One of the great stories of the sector remains JB Hi-Fi Limited (ASX: JBH), which reported revenue growth of 4.8% to $3.65 billion thanks to same-store-sales growth of 7.4% in the second half (2.9% for the full-year) and a 6.4% lift in profit to $136.5 million, beating analysts' forecasts as well as the company's own.
Without a doubt however, the number one retail stock on the ASX right now is natural health product developer, Blackmores Limited (ASX: BKL). The company's shares are 26% higher over the month and 210% higher in 2014 alone, boosted by the quarterly report which showed a 28% jump in group sales to $326 million, and net profit after tax of $31 million, up 76%, for the 9 months to 31 March. The company achieve what many believed it couldn't, 43% sales growth throughout Asia during the quarter and 35% growth in Australian sales.
