DOCS, MKS, NXT: Trending retail stocks that investors should check out

Highlights:

• Following the removal of COVID-19 curbs, several UK retailers are looking to expand their presence overseas.
• Additionally, global companies are also seeking to enter the UK market.

Even though the cost-of-living crisis has sparked fears of recession, retail businesses have seen a bounce back in activity following the removal of COVID-19 curbs. Due to the rising demand, several UK retailers are looking to expand their footprint internationally, according to new data.

As per real estate advisory firm Colliers, nearly one in two (48%) of its UK client businesses, which operate about 7,255 stores in the UK, are seeking to open more outlets overseas. Among the targeted markets of UK retailers are Australia and Europe, including countries like Italy, despite Brexit regulations.

Image source: © Andreus | Megapixl.com

Not just the UK retailers, but the demand from international companies to open their outlets in the UK has also seen a rise. According to Colliers' survey data, 86 global companies are looking to expand into the UK for the first time. Nearly a third of these are from the US and seeking to take advantage of the price drop in real estate in some areas, like central London. 

According to the advisory firm's international inquiries tracker, London is among the most sought-after regions in the UK, with requirements from 27 countries for over 3 million square feet of space.

In the wake of this data from Colliers, here's a look at some London-listed retail stocks. 

Dr. Martens Plc (LON: DOCS)

The company designs, manufactures, and sells footwear in several regions across the globe, including the UK, US, Europe, the Middle East, and Asia-Pacific. Recently, it was quoted by PA Media news agency saying it is looking forward to expanding its footprint in Germany and Italy instead of further growth in the UK. With a market cap of £2,344.52 million, the firm is listed on the FTSE 250 index. Its stock performance hasn't been impressive over the last 12 months, and the price has almost halved. The year-to-date return stands at -46.92%. Shares of the shoemaker were down 3.33% at GBX 226.60 as of 9:09 am GMT+1 on 4 July 2022.

Marks & Spencer Plc (LON: MKS)

The company retails in food, clothing, accessories, and home improvement products. It operates a network of 1,487 stores and 98 websites across the globe, serving over 30 million customers yearly. Marks and Spencer is a constituent of the FTSE 250 index and presently has a market cap of £2,707.29 million. Its 12-month return currently stands at -9.70%, and the earnings per share are at 0.16. The retailer's stocks were trading at GBX 138.15, marginally down by 0.04%, as of 09:12 am GMT+1 on Monday.

Next Plc (LON: NXT)

The FTSE 100-listed company has physical stores in about 25 countries and online stores in over 70. It sells apparel, footwear, and home products. With a market cap of £7,768.26 million, the company's stock price has fallen 24.20% in the past one year. On a year-to-date basis, the price has dropped by over 26%. Next Plc's shares were trading 0.60% higher at GBX 6,020 as of 9:23 am GMT+1 on 4 July 2022.

Note: The above content constitutes a very preliminary observation or view based on market trends and is of limited scope without any in-depth fundamental valuation or technical analysis. Any interest in stocks or sectors should be thoroughly evaluated taking into consideration the associated risks.