Shares of Burlington Stores (NYSE:BURL) rose 3.4% after strong U.S. retail sales data. Retail sales in June increased 0.6%, beating expectations. Clothing store sales rose 0.9%, indicating active consumer shopping. Second quarter earnings season started strong, with 88% of S&P 500 companies exceeding expectations. Shares closed at $262.53, up 3.1%.

Burlington’s shares are somewhat volatile, with today’s move seen as meaningful but not altering perceptions. Previous notable move was 13.7% gain on impressive Q4 2024 results. Company anticipates 6-8% sales growth in fiscal 2025. Despite optimism, management remains cautious due to economic uncertainty. Stock is down 8.3% year-to-date, trading 11.3% below 52-week high. Thematic investing potential highlighted.

Read more at Barchart: Why Burlington (BURL) Stock Is Up Today