The Pressure Cooker of Post-Christmas

Now that the Christmas rush is over, it’s up to the accountants to give the final verdict on the season. Expect some hand-wringing.   While sales overall were seen as strong over the holidays, the revenue wealth was not shared evenly, with consumers spending much more online and prioritizing experiences, gadgets, their Netflix subscriptions and so on. Every January there’s a reckoning — whether from bankruptcies for stores hoping the holidays would save them, or sweeping store closures or some retrenchment that has retailers moving toward a more protective stance.  This month, it should start to become more clear who came out of the holidays with a little more momentum and hope and who’s hunkered down. Many public companies will release holiday updates — and the private players will just be whispered about — as they plan ahead to 2020. One the watch list:  • Ascena Retail Group Inc. has 3,400 stores — including Ann Taylor and Lane Bryant — and sales of $5.5 billion, but investors give the company little credit for that reach. They’re focused more on debt, which according to S&P Capital IQ stands at $2.3 billion, or 9.8 times earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization of $239.1 million. • Tailored Brands Inc. has

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