Wedbush Notes Strength in Retailers with e-Commerce Presence, Maintains Outperform Ratings on PIR, BBBY, KIRK, BIG

Wedbush's Joan Storms is out with a research note highlighting better holiday performance among retailers with a solid presence in the e-commerce space compared to brick-and-mortar retailers. Storms specifically mentions Pier 1

and Bed Bath & Beyond

as two retailers with just such a presence. The analyst noted an increasing level of shoppers may be beginning to view Pier 1 as a spot for gift giving. Elsewhere in the sector, she also pointed at an impressive holiday assortment at Kirkland's

. On the less optimistic side of things, Storms said the unrolling of a new merchandising initiative at Big Lots

was not implemented in time to catch holiday dollars. Storms maintains Outperform ratings on shares of Pier 1, Bed Bath & Beyond, Kirkland's and Big Lots. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF

is up about 4 percent since the low set at the beginning of November. The ETF, which some traders use as a broad metric on performance in the retail sector, is up more than 2 percent over the last six or seven trading sessions.