Is JC Penney The Worst-Returning Retail Stock Since The Great Recession?

By now, most investors know that J.C. Penney JCP has not had a good run over the past several years. The retailer has famously struggled to turn its business around, and the turnaround efforts of high-profile Chief Executive Officer Ron Johnson largely fell flat.

But while J.C. Penney is undoubtedly one of the worst-performing retailers since the Great Recession, it’s not alone. In fact, J.C. Penney has plenty of company when it comes to struggling retailers.

During the depths of the Great Recession, most retail stocks took a nosedive. This isn’t a surprise, of course, since the broader market fell dramatically in 2008. However, while the broader market has recovered and posted strong gains since the 2008 bottom, not all stocks have participated in the rally. Specifically, here are a few retail stocks that have woefully underperformed since 2008.

As previously mentioned, J.C. Penney is one of the worst-returning retail stocks since 2008. J.C. Penney is down more than 80 percent since the beginning of 2008.

Sears Holdings Corporation SHLD trades for $26 per share, down from $100 per share at the beginning of 2008. That represents a staggering 74 percent decline.

Radioshack RSH has been nearly brought to the brink. The stock trades for $0.82 per share, which is way down from $17 per share in January 2008. That means Radioshack has lost 95 percent of its value in that time.

Aeropostale ARO is a teen retailer, an industry in which fortunes can change very fast. Aeropostale understands that better than most. Its stock price began 2008 at about $17 per share, and now trades for around $2.85 per share. That is an 83 percent loss since the Great Recession.

The U.S. economy was nearly brought to its knees by the financial crisis and ensuing recession in 2008. Fortunately, most sectors of the economy have recovered significantly, and the stock market has posted a strong rally in the years since.

Unfortunately for J.C. Penney, Sears, Radioshack, and Aeropostale, that hasn’t happened. These retailers never recovered from the Great Recession, and face a dire future. Their sales and profits are dropping rapidly, which means their turnaround prospects are questionable at best.