FSTA News and Press, Fidelity MSCI COnsumer Staples Index From 05/16/22

Consumer spending rose by 2.7% in Q1, annual rate, adjusted for raging inflation. Gross private domestic investment rose by 2.3% annualized, following the spectacular spike in Q4. Less-catastrophic imports, thereby a less-catastrophic trade deficit, will reduce the drag on GDP. ...

In addition to rampant inflation in the price of grain and other foodstuffs, the markets are seeing a major supply shortfall of cooking oils, including sunflower and palm oils, that is causing their prices to surge as well. Looking ahead to Q2 2022, 15 retailers issued negative preann...

AIER’s Lagging Indicators index was unchanged for the third consecutive month, holding at 83 in April. Real gross domestic product fell at a 1.4 percent annualized rate in the first quarter versus a 6.9 percent rate of gain in the fourth quarter. The median sales price of a...

We're seeing declining asset prices from bond to equities, and in some cases, real assets because of higher inflation. We are seeing early signs that inflation is starting to moderate. Equity market is currently pricing in the probability of a mild recession. For further det...

Weis Markets Inc., a grocery store company, operates in a defensive sector, which tend to perform well during economic contractions and recessions. With the recent stock market giving back some of its post-COVID-19 gains entering into correction territory, WMK presents an opportunity ...

Healthcare, Staples, and Utilities continue to outperform as selling intensifies in the growth style. Investor positioning is still light in the space – even after a year of alpha. While absolute valuations have turned somewhat pricey, the defensive supersector shows decent...

PepsiCo's Frito Lay division and Mondelez are two great and leading snack food companies. Both benefit from powerful demographic trends and attractive economic characteristics. Over the last five years, Frito Lay's revenues have out-grown Mondelez's due to the strength of its global b...

Love it or hate it, Walmart is an American institution. Since first recommending the stock in 2017, this wide-moat, core consumer staple has outperformed a blistering market. Fundamentals remain solid, and downside risk is as low as a stock can get. However, the company needs ...

During the last Fed rate raising cycle, it took the Federal Reserve five years to raise the fed funds rate to 2.50%. The Fed kept rates far too low for far too long and now we are dealing with the consequences. Both fiscal and monetary policy have been highly inflationary, and we are ...

Consumers continue to spend at a healthy pace. But will it last? Will consumer discretionary stocks get more love this year? Kim Parlee speaks to Jacky He, Global Consumer Discretionary Analyst, TD Asset Management, about the health of the consumer. For further details see: ...