Jan. 3, 2014 Snowstorm may take 1% out of 4Q retail sales
NEW YORK (MarketWatch) -- The snowstorm that pounded the Midwest and Northeast this week did not just delay store openings. It could end up hurting retailers' fourth-quarter sales by 1%, according to Citigroup analyst Oliver Chen. He said shoppers are likely going to stay home through Saturday while frigid temperatures and continued strong winds raise the risk of power outages. T.J.Maxx parent TJX Cos. TJX +0.19% , Vera Bradley Inc. VRA -1.33% and American Eagle Outfitters Inc. AEO +1.70% are among specialty retail stocks under his coverage facing the most significant impact, he said. Fourth-quarter is most retailers' biggest selling period as the holiday season already looked to be disappointing. For retailers, the fiscal quarter doesn't end until the end of January.