Top Retail Stocks With the Highest Returns in 2026 So Far
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Investing in retail has been far from easy so far in 2026. However, a handful of stocks stand out among their peers and keep delivering solid returns. According to the most recent market data available as of April 6, the following retail stocks have outperformed their peers: Ross Stores, Costco, Burlington Stores, Walmart, and TJX. They continue growing due to strong traffic and sales trends, solid comparable sales, and sound inventory management. The retail market outlook in the United States also looks positive, as the National Retail Federation forecasts that 2026 retail sales will climb to $5.6 trillion, showing 4.4% growth compared to last year. In addition, U.S. retail sales in February increased by 0.6%, marking the biggest month-to-month improvement since July of last year.
Ross Stores remains the strongest-performing stock so far in 2026. According to Yahoo Finance, as of April 6, Ross’s year-to-date return amounts to 22.11%, and the stock was trading close to $220.30 in intraday trading. Its growth is fueled by solid operational performance, not just momentum. For example, according to Reuters, Ross estimated annual revenue to be higher than analysts anticipated on the back of stable demand for discounted clothing. The company’s sales in the holiday quarter also climbed 9%. In addition, according to MarketWatch, Ross reached a new 52-week high in early April. All in all, Ross continues benefiting from the off-price model, which means shoppers are still buying branded products at reduced prices.
Another leader so far in 2026 is Costco. According to the most recent performance data from Yahoo Finance, Costco is returning 17.86% year to date, with the stock currently priced around $1,014.36 as of April 6. These numbers reflect strong results reported by the company. According to reports, Costco’s fiscal second-quarter 2026 net sales climbed to $21.69 billion, which was 9.5% higher than in the same quarter of the previous year. Costco’s first half of fiscal 2026 also saw sales reach $144.85 billion, up 8.6% from the same period in fiscal 2025. Reuters also reported that Costco beat quarterly comparable sales estimates in March. Costco keeps being rewarded by the market because it successfully blends recurring income from membership fees with strong traffic and competitive prices.
Burlington Stores also keeps showing strong performance as of April 6. Yahoo Finance showed Burlington’s year-to-date return at 13.86%, with the stock trading at approximately $330.25 on April 6. This performance is explained by Burlington’s own press release covering the last quarter. According to the release, the firm’s sales grew 11%, while comparable store sales increased by 4%. The firm also reported a 21% jump in adjusted EPS to $4.99. Burlington’s strong margin profile and opportunities for future expansion help explain why the stock is performing better in the uncertain market environment so far in 2026.
Walmart is another example of a retail giant that continues performing well in 2026. According to Yahoo Finance, Walmart returned 13.14% year to date as of April 6, with its stock priced at $126.73. For instance, according to Reuters, Walmart has become the first retailer to achieve a market valuation of over $1 trillion. Reuters also reported in February that Walmart’s sales in the U.S. climbed 4.6% in the fourth quarter, while its online revenue surged by 27%, thanks to spending from wealthier customers. Walmart seems hard to bet against right now, as the company has turned itself into a combination of grocery retailer, big-box chain, e-commerce platform, advertising business, and logistics firm.
Finally, TJX remains another retail stock with strong year-to-date performance in 2026. As of April 6, TJX’s year-to-date return is 5.12%, with the stock priced around $161.12. TJX’s performance is more modest than Ross, Costco, and Burlington, but it is still impressive. As part of its fiscal Q4 2026, TJX reported $17.7 billion in net sales, which is 9% higher than in Q4 2025. Its comparable sales also rose by 5%, while diluted EPS grew 28% to $1.58. Barron’s reported that TJX plans to increase its dividend by 13% and expand an already sizable repurchase program. Overall, TJX demonstrates the traits of a strong retail company.
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