Consumer Sector Insights: January 15–19

Another week in January has passed with a continuing positive performance of the S&P 500 Index (SPY) (SPX-INDEX). While most of the sectors reported positive growth, the utility, industrials, energy, and materials sector dragged the index down.

After taking a hit last week, consumer staples reported a gain of 2.3%, driven by an increase in the stock prices for Kroger (KR), Monster Beverage (MNST), Estée Lauder (EL), Philip Morris International (PM), and Campbell Soup (CPB). Brokerage firms upgraded and increased the target price for most of these stocks. The consumer discretionary sector rose 0.55% last week.

Consumer sector–based ETFs had another fruitful week. The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) topped the charts with a gain of 2.4%. The SPDR S&P Retail ETF (XRT) reported a rise of 1%, and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) had a slight gain of 0.54%.