3 Blue-Chip Retail Stocks Poised to Captivate Your Portfolio (2024)

In the unpredictable world of the stock market, the pursuit of stability and growth is a constant challenge for investors. While the allure of high-risk, high-reward stocks continues to captivate, savvy investors recognize the role played by stable, long-term investments in crafting a resilient portfolio. This balance between risk and reward forms the very cornerstone of successful investing.

For investors seeking a secure and prosperous investment roadmap, blue-chip companies present a compelling opportunity. Their stability, adaptability and commitment to shareholder value make them the essential elements of a well-diversified investment strategy. These market titans, boasting immense market capitalization, robust fundamentals and a proven track record, demonstrate their ability to weather economic downturns.

Blue-chip companies tend to be less susceptible to sudden fluctuations in stock prices, rendering them a dependable choice for both seasoned and novice investors. Furthermore, for income-oriented investors, blue-chip companies reward shareholders with regular dividend payouts, further enhancing stability.

These blue-chip companies possess a winning combination of established market positions, strong brand recognition, loyal customer bases and extensive market penetration. Such traits provide these companies with a distinct competitive edge and help unlock new opportunities, thus making them investor favorites.

By investing in blue-chip stocks, investors can build a well-diversified portfolio. Here, we have identified three stocks from the Retail - Wholesale sector — Walmart Inc. WMT, The Home Depot, Inc. HD and Costco Wholesale Corporation COST. Thanks to successful business operations, these bellwethers have withstood multiple market gyrations and delivered returns to investors. These blue-chip stocks have balance sheet strength to tackle any untoward market volatility.

Walmart: The omnichannel retail giant, Walmart, has been diligently working to further strengthen its already formidable presence in the market. The company has embarked on a series of strategic e-commerce initiatives, encompassing acquisitions, partnerships and significant improvements in its delivery and payment systems. Simultaneously, Walmart is committed to elevating its merchandise offerings, ensuring a diverse and appealing product assortment. Innovation extends to its supply chain, where the company is enhancing capacity and introducing cutting-edge solutions. Additionally, Walmart has ventured into new business realms with initiatives like Walmart GoLocal and Walmart+, showcasing its dedication to remaining at the forefront of retail innovation.

Walmart has a market cap of $424.2 billion as of Oct 10, 2023. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) stock has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 11.6%, on average. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Walmart’s current financial-year sales and earnings suggests growth of 5% and 2.2%, respectively, from the year-ago reported numbers. The company pays out a quarterly dividend of 57 cents ($2.28 annualized) per share, giving a 1.5% yield at the current stock price. WMT’s payout ratio is 35, with a five-year dividend growth rate of 1.9%. (Check WMT’s dividend history here)

Home Depot: Headquartered in Atlanta, GA, this company stands as another distinguished blue-chip stock, dominating the home improvement retail sector. Its consistent expansion in both Professional and Do-It-Yourself segments, fortified by an extensive product lineup and digital innovations, underpins its remarkable success. The company's interconnected retail strategy and robust technological infrastructure have amplified web traffic, leading to growth in digital sales.

Home Depot has a market cap of $299.2 billion. This Zacks Rank #2 stock has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.2%, on average. The company pays out a quarterly dividend of $2.09 ($8.36 annualized) per share, giving a 2.8% yield at the current stock price. HD’s payout ratio is 52, with a five-year dividend growth rate of 13.8%.

Costco: A consumer defensive stock, Costco has been surviving the market turmoil pretty well. Strategic investments, a customer-centric approach, merchandise initiatives and an emphasis on memberships have been the discount retailer’s primary strengths. Costco's distinctive membership business model and pricing power set it apart from traditional players. Through a calculated approach that involves identifying untapped markets and tailoring offerings to meet customer preferences, Costco has managed to deepen its roots.

Costco has a market cap of $248.9 billion. This Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) stock has a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 2.1%, on average.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Costco’s current financial-year sales and EPS suggests growth of 4.6% and 7.1%, respectively, from the year-ago period. The company pays out a quarterly dividend of $1.02 ($4.08 annualized) per share, giving a 0.7% yield at the current stock price. COST’s payout ratio is 28, with a five-year dividend growth rate of 12.3%.