"The Most Powerful Force in the Global Economy"

Investment U View in browser IU Plus | Courses | Conference | IU Bookstore Saturday, October 24, 2015 Chart of the Week: The Only Positive Sector in a Sea of Red Bob Creed, Financial Research Associate, The Oxford Club Year to date, the market has seen a lot of red. August and September, in particular, provided some dramatic swings. But it hasn't been bad for one particular sector... In this week's chart, we're looking at the performance of Consumer Discretionary stocks. As you can see, it's the only sector that locked in a positive return through the third quarter. Why has Consumer Discretionary been the sole breadwinner? If you've been paying attention to U.S. economic data, this shouldn't come as a complete surprise. Throughout the last few months, U.S. consumers have frequently been mentioned as a source of strength. In a recent Investment U article, Matthew Carr referred to the American consumer as "the most powerful force in the global economy." As buyers, we contribute more to global GDP than China. Of course, just because this sector has performed well over the first nine months of 2015, that's no guarantee it will continue... Or is there? We're coming up on the biggest spending time of the year... the holiday shopping season. These are the pinnacle months for consumer spending. Roughly 40% of all retailers' revenue is generated in the fourth quarter. So, with the sector primed for takeoff, what's a good company to look at? How about L Brands (NYSE: LB), the parent company of Victoria's Secret and Bath & Body Works... It recently reported a better-than-expected comparable-store sales increase of 9% for September. That's more than double expectations. With shares already up 11.8% YTD - and entering what Matt calls its "Prime Period" for sales - L Brands could easily continue higher. But while Consumer Discretionary has performed well this year and continues to do so, you may be wondering what to expect from the rest of the market. If you read last week's article, you know that even after a dismal third quarter, the fourth quarter could be a record breaker. So far... The S&P is up 6.9% Consumer Discretionary is up 6.73% Healthcare is up 2.49% Energy is up 11.78% The Financials sector is up 5.38%. Granted, we're only a few weeks into the quarter. But it's already shaping up to be a strong end to the year. If you've been sitting on the sidelines, waiting for an opportunity to dive back into the markets, this could be it. And if you're still lacking the confidence? Well, perhaps all you need is a little coaching... To that end, you should consider checking out Alexander Green's Secret to Building a $2.3 Million Portfolio. In this easy-to-follow course, you'll discover the six specific steps needed to build a seven-figure net worth through investing. It's the same all-weather strategy that's kept Alex - and his readers - profiting in both good times and bad. So no matter what happens in the fourth quarter, you'll be well prepared. Click here to learn more. Click here to post a comment on InvestmentU.com "This is the Best Biotech Opportunity in 20 Years" Onyx... 329%. Celldex... 419%. NPS Pharmaceuticals... 775%. Those extraordinary gains will pale in comparison to what you're about to see. Click here and a biotech expert will reveal his latest findings. We Also Recommend... An Easy Way to Increase Your Returns Right Now by Steve McDonald Tuesday, October 20, 2015 When stocks drop, it can be easy to get caught up in the commotion. Fortunately, if you're a panicking investor, here's Steve McDonald with the "slap in the face" you need. Read On... Where to Invest as the Cybersecurity Arms Race Heats Up by Sean Brodrick Monday, October 19, 2015 The growing cost of cybersecurity is putting pressure on companies and their insurers. But for investors, it's creating a major buying opportunity. Read On... Consumer Confidence and Why Investors Should Pay Attention to Underwear by Matthew Carr Wednesday, October 14, 2015 For two months in a row, consumer confidence has surged higher. This, during a time when the U.S. markets corrected and a possible Fed rate increase was looming. Read On... You are receiving this email because you subscribed to Investment U. To unsubscribe from Investment U or to manage your account, click here To cancel by mail or for any other subscription issues, write us at: Investment U Attn: Member Services 105 West Monument Street Baltimore, MD 21201 Keep the emails you value from falling into your spam folder. Whitelist Investment U. Question? Comment? Need help? Contact us here. 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