#5: Abercrombie & Fitch
While Abercrombie & Fitch (ANF) is known by some for its iconic models and racy catalogs, the vast majority of teen customers seem to be tuning out ANF and its sister brand Hollister in 2013.
Consider second-quarter sales showing a 10% decline at stores open at least a year, which sparked a roughly 25% selloff in about a week this August.
Bargain hunters might be inclined to write off the declines as a one-shot deal, with negativity now priced in. But roughly 13% of available shares are still held short, meaning a bunch of bears are expecting continued declines even after the crash and burn.
Retail broadly is facing some headwinds amid tepid consumer spending, but if ANF remains out of favor heading into the all-important holiday shopping season, it could get even worse for Abercrombie investors.