Cold weather could mean hot sales for these brands
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With fourth-quarter earnings announcements looming for much of the retail industry, there's been a lot of noise surrounding the negative impact that bad weather will have on sales. Wal-Mart , which is set to report on Thursday, is one of many that has warned fourth-quarter sales will take a hit from the unending cadence of winter storms, as shoppers bundle up and stay inside to avoid the snow. But following strong performance in cold-weather offerings at VF Corp. 's The North Face and Under Armour , analysts are betting on brands that keep people warm.

UGG Mini Bailey Bow Stripe Source: UGG

"In what has arguably been the coldest winter in recent memory, companies that can provide warmth have been winning," said Jefferies analyst Randal Konik in a research note on Friday. "We interpret this as a positive indicator for Deckers and the Ugg brand in particular." (Read more: Snowy winter puts coats in short supply)

Konik said that store checks have shown the Ugg brand—famous for its comfortable sheepskin boots—has "benefited immensely" from frigid temperatures. Along with the cold weather, a compelling assortment of classic and new fashions has enabled the brand to avoid the heavy discounting that has damaged much of the industry's margins this season. "The stock has seen a nice run over the past year but we still think there is room to go," Konik said. He reiterated his "buy" rating on Deckers and maintained a $100 price target. Shares were trading near $86 on Tuesday. Similarly, Morgan Stanley analyst Kimberly Greenberger upgraded Burlington Stores to "overweight" earlier this month, citing among catalysts its heavy assortment of coats. "Record cold weather likely helped outerwear sell-through, especially earlier in the quarter," she said. (Read more: Shoppers break up with Valentine's Day)

Nomura analyst Robert Drbul initiated coverage on Columbia Sportswear earlier this month with a "buy" rating and an $80 target price. He said the company, which makes up an estimated $1.7 billion of the $10 billion U.S. retail outerwear market, maintained its share in the international athletic apparel market despite two unseasonably warm winters. Therefore, he said he was looking for upside to the company's fourth-quarter and 2014 estimates.

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