Consumer Stocks

Consumer stocks are often staples of industry. Huge corporations like Proctor & Gamble (NYSE:PG) and Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) have long been providing their customers with a variety of everyday products that provide steady growth for the company. However, consumer stocks can also be cyclical or dependent on trends as a means of growth. Examples of these stocks are Crocs (NYSE:CROX) and American Eagle (NYSE:AEO).
Due to all the variables associated with consumer stocks, it is important to consider your needs as an investor and how each stock fits within those needs. Many consumer stocks like Proctor & Gamble are safe investments with consistent dividends and steady growth. Some consumer stocks are more volatile and have higher potential such as Chipotle (NYSE:CMG), which has risen from just above $400 to just under $700 in the past year.

3 Days, 3 New Highs — Thursday’s IP Market Recap

The Dow Jones set its third high-water mark in as many days as falling initial jobless claims helped prop up stock markets yet again.

Soap and Toothpaste Are Crushing the Market

Colgate's recent announcement of a 2-for-1 stock split amid all-time highs is just the latest show from the hard-charging consumer staples sector.

Moms: Take Unsafe Ingredients Out of Kraft Mac & Cheese

Two moms with food blogs are petitioning Kraft to remove yellow dyes from its iconic Macaroni & Cheese meals.

WMT or TGT? Look to GDP for a Hint

Walmart and Target aim for two very different customer experiences, which raises a simple question for investors: Which strategy is better ... and when?

Lock In Gains in General Mills

This normally sleepy stock has enjoyed a huge run to start the year ... but don't get greedy. Take the gains and move on.

The Cold Hard, Truth Behind Walmart Sales

Walmart's apparent sales struggles shouldn't be written off. They are a huge red flag for the economy and consumer staples sector as a whole.

Consumer Staples No Longer a Sure Bet

Stocks in the consumer staples sector are seen as being a defensive option if the markets hit turbulence, but high valuations are making the outlook less certain.

Kellogg Recalls Special K Red Berries Over Glass Fragments

Cereal-maker Kellogg is recalling 36,000 boxes of Special K Red Berries cereal amid worries that they could contain glass fragments.

Should I Buy Clorox? 3 Pros, 3 Cons

Clorox continues to deliver the goods, but is it enough to outweigh a cluttered business and justify a frothy valuation? Let's look at CLX's pros and cons.

Wasn’t Amazon Supposed to Kill the Mall?

The majority of retail sales still happen in the real world, where mall operator Simon Property is grabbing plenty of them.

It’s an ETF Picker’s Market

In some sectors, it just doesn’t pay to go stock shopping when you can buy the ETF instead. But that's some -- not all. Here are a few examples.

How Much Does a Super Bowl Ad Really Cost?

It's a closely guarded secret, but rest assured that the big names don't pay the sticker price of $3.8 million for 30 seconds.

Buy Jos. A. Bank While It’s On Sale

The menswear retailer's stock dropped 15% on bad earnings news. That makes now a good time to bag a performer with promise at a bargain price.

Don’t Stuff Your Cash in Mattress Stocks

These stocks are way too volatile to let you rest easily. Just look at the wild gyrations Select Comfort and Tempur-Pedic have been going through.

10 Stocks for a Made-in-America Portfolio

The U.S. is starting to look like the least-ugly option in a globe full of uncertainty. If you agree, here are a few concentrated ways to play America.

I’m Not Giving Up on McDonald’s

Though its results have hardly dazzled lately, the stock is certainly worth hanging onto given MCD's long record of success -- and its healthy dividend.

Coach: A First-Class Ticket to Nowhere

Coach balked on competitive pricing to protect its brand this holiday season, and it was punished Wednesday after that decision was reflected in weak Q2 earnings.

Will the Payroll Tax Hike Hurt Growth?

The macro effect of lower take-home pay for millions of Americans isn't as clear as you may think. But the impact on specific stocks should be no mystery.

Leon Cooperman Tries Crocs on for Size

Here's why the billionaire hedge fund manager likely likes this company -- and so should you.