From discount to luxury, these retailers can keep paying off

Picking retailers during a recession is a difficult proposition, considering winners have come out of every part of the spectrum — discount, luxury, you name it. At the same time, there’s plenty of losers — just look at the recent bankruptcy of Syms (PINK:SYMSQ) and its Filene’s Basement unit, which shows not even discount retailers are guaranteed a pass during hard times.

I watch more than 5,000 publicly traded companies with my Portfolio Grader tool, ranking companies by a number of fundamental and quantitative measures. This week, I’ve got six various retail stocks to buy.

Here they are, in alphabetical order. Each one of these stocks gets an ��A�� or ��B�� according to my research, meaning it is a ��strong buy�� or ��buy.��

99 Cents Only Stores (NYSE:NDN) is a ��dollar store��-type retail stock. Like many other discount retailers, NDN has had a successful 2011, up 37%. NDN stock gets a ��B�� for earnings momentum and a ��B�� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of NDN stock.

Dollar General (NYSE:DG) is a discount retailer with stores in 35 states. DG stock has had a strong year-to-date return of 33%. DG stock gets a ��B�� for operating margin growth, a ��B�� for earnings growth, a ��B�� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month and a ��B�� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of DG stock.

Dollar Tree (NASDAQ:DLTR) operates discount variety stores that offer merchandise at the fixed price of $1. Shareholders have been pleased by the retail stocks return of 46% in the past 12 months. DLTR gets a ��B�� for operating margin growth, a ��B�� for earnings growth, a ��B�� for the magnitude in which ear! nings pr ojections have increased during the past month and an ��A�� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of DLTR stock.

Dillard��s (NYSE:DDS) is a retailer of apparel and home furnishings. For 2011, DDS has posted a gain of almost 19% compared to smaller gains by the broader markets. DDS stock gets an ��A�� for operating margin growth, an ��A�� for earnings growth, an ��A�� for earning momentum, an ��A�� for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a ��B�� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased over the past month and an ��A�� for cash flow in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of DDS stock.

Macy��s (NYSE:M) operates retail stores under the names Macy��s and Bloomingdale��s. Year-to-date, M stock is up 26% compared to a gain of just 4% for the Dow Jones. M stock gets an ��A�� for operating margin growth, an ��A�� for earnings growth, an ��A�� for its ability to exceed the consensus earnings estimates on Wall Street, a ��B�� for the magnitude in which earnings projections have increased during the past month, an ��A�� for cash flow and an ��A�� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of M stock.

Nordstrom (NYSE:JWN) is a retail chain that offers apparel, shoes, cosmetics and accessories for women, men and children. JWN rounds out the list with a return of almost 17% year-to-date. JWN gets a ��B�� for operating margin growth and an ��A�� for return on equity in my Portfolio Grader tool. For more information, view my complete analysis of JWN stock.

Get more analysis of these picks and other publicly traded stocks with Louis Navellier��s Portfolio Grader tool, a 100% free stock rating tool that measures both quantitative buying pressure and eight fundamental factors.