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Consumer Discretionary Stocks

Consumer discretionary stocks refer to a wide range of consumer goods and services generally considered non-essential. These include car manufacturers, luxury goods, hospitality companies, and more. Many of the biggest retailers fit into the consumer discretionary umbrella. As such, especially when the economy is strong, consumer discretionary stocks tend to shine.

Recent Consumer Discretionary Stocks Articles

Why Delta’s Oil Refinery May Not Have Wings

Trying to ensure a more plentiful and cheaper fuel supply is a bold move, but there's a lot of devilish stuff in the complex arrangement's details.

Second Lesbian Protest for J.C. Penney

Conservative advocacy group One Million Moms objects to a picture in JCPenney's May catalog that shows a lesbian couple and their daughters.

ETF Alternatives for Last Week’s Hot Stocks

Here are some excellent ETF alternatives to the retail, real estate, coffee, pharmaceuticals and technology stocks that our writers discussed last week.

3 Things We Just Learned About the Carmakers

Among the mixed messages are these overall trends that all the companies are experiencing. But which one stock is the one to go with now?

Mead Johnson: A Formula for Success

The maker of infant formula and pediatric products is a perpetual winner, with strong growth in foreign markets as well.

Should I Buy Kraft? 3 Pros, 3 Cons

Its strengths are already built into the stock price, and its challenges are many.

Can P&G’s CEO Turn This Story Around?

Bob McDonald's tenure is looking scarily similar to a past disaster. Can he lead the innovation renaissance P&G needs?

Why Best Buy Should Follow Target’s Kindle Kibosh

Taking Kindle off shelves won't stop the constant march of e-tailing, but it could slow Amazon's progress and buy TGT, BBY and others time to regroup.

Ford vs. GM — Clash of the Titans Continues

Detroit's divas downshifted in the first quarter -- but even at scintillating valuations, are either Ford or GM worth investors' time and money?

Spirit Airlines Boycott Call Soars on Facebook

Facebook users create a boycott page against Spirit Airlines after the company refuses to refund the ticket of a Vietnam Vet facing terminal cancer.

This Industry’s Stocks Are Well Worth the Wait

The long-term bullish case for dollar-store stocks holds up pretty well, but here's why investors should hold off on buying for now.

5 Stocks to Sell in May

These stocks have shrinking margins, bleak revenue outlooks, face increased competition and could be affected by a cautious consumer as well.

Option Plays Ahead of Retail Earnings

Earnings reports are just around the corner, so here are some potentially profitable and low-risk option plays surrounding these reports.

P.F. Chang’s Goes Private; Who’s Next?

A private equity firm has agreed to buy out P.F. Chang’s China Bistro. What happened, and what might it mean for other restaurant stocks?

Sunoco’s Buyout Could Boost Pump Prices

The deal accelerates a trend that could hit the East Coast especially hard. See what it means for investors -- and consumers.

GM, Ford April Sales Fall, Chrysler’s Rise

General Motors and Ford saw vehicle sales slide by single digits during April, while Chrysler and Volkswagen posted doubt-digit sales jumps.

Coke-Monster Is Bad News for Pepsi

Any partnership between the cola giant and the energy-drink leader will put Pepsi even further behind.

B&N Shares Spike on Microsoft Stake

Microsoft will invest $300 million into Barnes & Noble’s Nook e-books unit, in exchange for an 18% share of the new subsidiary.

Airline Scorecard: How Do These 6 Carriers Stack Up After Earnings?

Which airline is doing the best job on all three fronts -- financial, performance and customer perception? We run the numbers.