Why Ascena Retail Group Stock Jumped 21% Last Month

Shares of Ascena Retail Group (NASDAQ: ASNA) were moving higher last month along with the much of the retail industry as the Lane Bryant-parent benefited from better-than-expected earnings from its peers, low expectations, strong Black Friday reports across the industry, and hope for the tax bill currently going through Congress.

According to data from S&P Global Market Intelligence, Ascena, which owns Ann Taylor, Dress Barn, and a number of other women's apparel brands, rose 20.6% last month. As the chart below shows, the stock was volatile over the course of the month as its two surges came when retail earnings reports first began coming and then after Black Friday reports showed a strong start to the holiday-shopping season.