American Eagle stock is up 20% after the Sydney Sweeney ads. But these retail shares are doing even better

Sydney Sweeney's American Eagle ad campaign sent the internet into a frenzy — and caused the retailer's stock to soar.

The ad for American Eagle denim ends with the line, "Sydney Sweeney has great jeans," a pun on the actress's genetics. That final line caused a days-long debate about whether the copy veered into eugenics, fueling a long news cycle, particularly in conservative media, that kept American Eagle's name in the press.

Since the Sweeney ad premiered, the company's stock is up 20%, making it the latest retailer to get a boost from a wave of meme stock investors.

Still, American Eagle, which reported a first-quarter loss in May, hasn't made enough gains from the ad to compensate for its earlier troubles, and its stock is down a little less than 30% year-to-date.

In light of the boost, we've compiled a list of five of the top-performing retail stocks this year.

Continue reading to see which other companies are doing well. (All data below was taken before the market opened on Tuesday, August 5.)

—Jennifer Ortakales Dawkins contributed to this article.

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Carvana has posted the some of the strongest YTD performance among major U.S. retail stocks, with its share price climbing from $199.56 to $360.66 — an increase of over 80%.

The used car e-commerce company has benefited from a rebound in auto retail demand and improved margins, buoyed by strong second-quarter results and continued investor optimism. It's also been helped by auto tariffs on many new vehicles, which have consumers turning to used cars.

Carvana's stock has made an astounding comeback since late 2022, with a 10,000% rally.

“This rally from the lows has turned Carvana into one of the most spectacular recoveries in modern market history,” Dave Mazza, CEO at Roundhill Financial, told Bloomberg.

Founder and CEO Ernie Garcia said recently that the company Carvana is now "the fastest growing and most profitable automotive retailer, both by significant margins."

Despite these impressive numbers, the company did put out a more tepid estimate for its third-quarter sales, saying much depends on the environment remaining "stable."

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Tapestry, the parent company of Coach and Kate Spade, has seen its stock rise from $71.15 to $111.89 this year — a gain of over 57% and an all-time high for the brand.

The company has ridden a wave of renewed investor interest in affordable luxury, strategic brand streamlining, and a boost in interest in their brands from Gen Z.

Much of the strength comes from Coach, which has stood out amid a weak luxury market. Analysts have also pointed to strong international demand and smart cost controls as drivers behind the rally.

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Wayfair shares have surged nearly 60% this year, jumping from $46.06 to $73.48.

The online furniture retailer beat earnings expectations in recent quarters and benefited from improving order values and consumer confidence in discretionary home goods. Its turnaround has been especially notable given the broader challenges facing e-commerce in the home category.

In its second quarter results released Monday, the company reported its highest revenue growth and profitability since the second quarter of 2021.

"The second quarter was a resounding success, defined by accelerating sales and share gain, in tandem with expanding profitability," Niraj Shah, co-founder and CEO of Wayfair said in a statement.

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EBay has seen a nearly 50% gain in 2025, with its stock rising from $61.95 to $92.86.

The company posted strong Q2 earnings that beat expectations, reporting $368 million in net income compared to the $224 million last year. It saw gross merchandise volume climb, signaling renewed buyer engagement on the platform. Analysts have credited its focus on high-value verticals and tech investments for restoring growth momentum. Its strength also comes at a time when buyers are searching the second-hand market for deals, often in hopes of avoiding inflation and tariffs.

"The macro environment in the U.S. in the second quarter was more favorable than expected. Despite tariff announcements and the elimination of the de minimis for imported goods, consumer demand held up," CEO Jamie Iannone said on an earnings called, according to Reuters.

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Dollar Tree $DLTR's stock has climbed 44% this year, from $80.27 to $115.72, as consumers increasingly turn to discount retailers amid lingering inflation pressures.

The company has also benefited from an aggressive share buyback program and strategic pricing shifts across its stores.

The company now has market capitalization of $24.14 billion and its stock is at an 52-week high.

Both Guggenheium and Wells Fargo $WFC raised the price target of its stock to $130.