Shares of Abercrombie & Fitch (NYSE:ANF) gained more than 9% on Friday after JPMorgan Chase added the retailer to its Positive Catalyst Watch list, signaling confidence in the stock's near-term potential.

The bank cited increased momentum in both Abercrombie's namesake brand and its Hollister division, particularly during the key back-to-school shopping period. Promotional activity has also been more favorable, contributing to the company’s performance across various product categories, demographics, and regions as it approaches third-quarter earnings, despite industry concerns about a weather-related slowdown.

The retailer's reliance on West Coast ports for imports has helped it mitigate supply chain disruptions caused by a recent strike at East and Gulf Coast ports. JPMorgan highlighted that Abercrombie's supply chain teams managed to navigate the challenges with advanced visibility into the situation, as dockworkers and carriers recently reached a deal to suspend the strike.