Abercrombie’s 285% surge in 2023 beats even sizzling Nvidia
One retail stock has been a clear winner this year as fashion trends revisited the late 90s and early 2000s.
Abercrombie & Fitch Co. has gained 285% this year, its best annual performance since going public in 1996. The rally has made the company the best performer in the S&P 1500 Index, even managing to beat out artificial intelligence darling Nvidia Corp.’s 239% gain. The retailer has also handily outperformed its peers – the S&P Retail Select Industry Index rose 20% this year.
The strong showing is a sharp pivot from 2022, when the retailer’s shares fell 34% as the broader stock market was dragged down by an uncertain economic backdrop and cautious consumers. Heading into this year, however, Abercrombie cleared extra inventory and focused on its target audience, y...