Retail dichotomy: Walmart, Ross Stores and TJX push higher while mall stocks lag
Sundry Photography/iStock Editorial via Getty Images

Ross Stores (ROST
+10.1%) and TJ Companies (NYSE:TJX
+5.1%) were two of the biggest gainers in the S&P 500 Index on Monday as investors tiptoed back into consumer discretionary stocks seen holding up amid macroeconomic pressures.
Discounters Dollar General (DG
+2.9%), Dollar Tree (DLTR
+0.8%) and Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings (OLLI
+1.4%) also started to cut into last week's sharp drop with some analysts suggesting consumers are already trading down with their consumer spending habits.
Walmart (WMT)was also in recovery mode with a 3.00% gain to swing back over $120.
Those gains ran counter to ongoing pressure in the mall sector amid reports promotional activity is incrementally higher this week. Express (EXPR
-7.1%), Children's Place (PLCE
-3.5%), Urban Outfitters (URBN
-3.8%) and Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF
-3.0%) were notable decliners.
Sector watch: Target and retail were just crushed - these stocks may have been oversold.