JCP - From J.C. Penney to Nordstrom Department Stores Are Still in Trouble
It's not entirely accurate to say the retail apocalypse remains in full swing. Though plenty of stores are still closing, a handful of chains are expanding again. Total consumption, as measured in dollars, is actually on the rise.
One segment of retail remains under siege, though: the department store. Interestingly, the format's troubles span the full income/lifestyle spectrum. Department stores ranging from value-oriented J.C. Penney (NYSE: JCP) to middle-ground names like Macy's (NYSE: M) or Dillard's (NYSE: DDS) to the more affluent-minded Nordstrom (NYSE: JWN) all continue to struggle.