Home Depot (NYSE:HD), Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW), AutoZone (NYSE:AZO), O’Reilly (Nasdaq:ORLY), Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC), Top Hardline Retail Picks of FBR

As part of its consumer outlook for 2011, FBR Capital gave its favorite picks for hardline retail, which included Home Depot (NYSE:HD), Lowe’s (NYSE:LOW), AutoZone (NYSE:AZO), O’Reilly (Nasdaq:ORLY) and Genuine Parts (NYSE:GPC).

FBR said, "Hardline retail outlook. Within our hardline retail coverage, certain of this past year’s laggards are set up relatively well to be 2011 outperformers, in our view. This is mainly the case for the home improvement companies: Home Depot (Outperform) and Lowe’s (Market Perform). This is due to near-trough levels of sales and earnings and stabilizing sales trends...We expect the outperformers of this past year, namely aftermarket automotive, to be significant laggards in 2011, and some investors may see this group in general as setting up as a source of funds. These stocks have been defensive safe havens in 2010. Our automotive coverage includes Advance Auto Parts (Market Perform), AutoZone (Market Perform), O’Reilly Automotive (Market Perform), and Genuine Parts Company (Underperform)."

Home Depot closed Wednesday at $34.79, up $0.07, or 0.20 percent. Lowe's closed at $25.16, up $0.05, or 0.20 percent. AutoZone closed down at $262.55, dropping $0.11, or 0.04 percent. O’Reilly ended at $62.01, up $0.20, or 0.32 percent. Genuine Parts closed at $50.80, up $0.05, or 0.10 percent.