iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (ARCA: IYC)

iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (ARCA:IYC), Quote.Headers.trade-ideas

iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF

iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF

Consumer Cyclical

Communication Services

Consumer Defensive

Technology

Industrials

Other

The fund generally invests at least 90% of its assets in securities of the underlying index and in depositary receipts representing securities of the underlying index. The underlying index measures the performance of domestic equities in the consumer services industry.

Amazon.Com Inc

Tesla, Inc.

Home Depot Inc/The

Costco Wholesale Corp.

Walmart, Inc.

Netflix, Inc.

Mcdonald'S Corp

Walt Disney Co

Lowes Cos., Inc.

Uber Technologies Inc

Mid Cap

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ETFs

iShares Trust Dow Jones USnsumer Services Sector Index Fund

Select Sector SPDR-Consumer Discretionary

Launched on 06/12/2000, the iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (ARCA:IYC) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Consumer Discretionary - Broad segment of the equity market.

Should You Invest in the iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF?

Large Cap

Retail Sales

FDIS

First Trustnsumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund

Americans are feeling optimistic about the economy given stabilizing inflation and shifting election sentiments. This is especially true as consumer sentiment rose in early August for the first time in five months. Rising consumer sentiment bodes well for household spending in the coming months.

ETFs to Tap as Consumer Sentiment Improves

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JP Morgan&#39;s Anastasia Amoroso picks iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF as consumer spending picks up, while Jim Lebenthal chooses Delta Air Lines.

Delta Air Lines, JPMorgan And More On CNBC&#39;s &#39;Final Trades&#39;

Launched on 06/12/2000, the iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (ARCA:IYC) is a passively managed exchange traded fund designed to provide a broad exposure to the Consumer Discretionary - Broad segment of the equity market.
Passively managed ETFs are becoming increasingly popular with institutional as well as retail investors due to their low cost, transparency, flexibility and tax efficiency. They are excellent vehicles for long term investors.
Additionally, sector ETFs offer convenient ways to gain low risk and diversified exposure to a broad group of companies in particular sectors. Consumer Discretionary - Broad is one of the 16 broad Zacks sectors within the Zacks Industry classification. It is currently ranked 11, placing it in bottom 31%.
<h2>Index Details</h2>
The fund is sponsored by Blackrock (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/blk#NYSE">BLK</a>). It has amassed assets over $1.06 billion, making it one of the larger ETFs attempting to match the performance of the Consumer Discretionary - Broad segment of the equity market. IYC seeks to match the performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Index before fees and expenses.
The Russell 1000 Consumer Disc 40 Act 15/22.5 Daily Capped Index measures the performance of the consumer services sector of the U.S. equity market.
<h2>Costs</h2>
Cost is an important factor in selecting the right ETF, and cheaper funds can significantly outperform their more expensive counterparts if all other fundamentals are the same.
Annual operating expenses for this ETF are 0.40%, making it one of the cheaper products in the space.
It has a 12-month trailing dividend yield of 0.62%.
<h2>Sector Exposure and Top Holdings</h2>
It is important to delve into an ETF&#39;s holdings before investing despite the many upsides to these kinds of funds like diversified exposure, which minimizes single stock risk. And, most ETFs are very transparent products that disclose their holdings on a daily basis.
This ETF has heaviest allocation in the Consumer Discretionary sector--about 68.90% of the portfolio. Telecom and Consumer Staples round out the top three.
Looking at individual holdings, Amazon Com Inc accounts for about 13.24% of total assets, followed by Tesla Inc and Home Depot Inc.
The top 10 holdings account for about 50.07% of total assets under management.
<h2>Performance and Risk</h2>
So far this year, IYC has gained about 9.43%, and was up about 20.46% in the last one year (as of 08/29/2024). During this past 52-week period, the fund has traded between $63.10 and $84.94.
The ETF has a beta of 1.16 and standard deviation of 22.22% for the trailing three-year period, making it a medium risk choice in the space. With about 182 holdings, it effectively diversifies company-specific risk.
<h2>Alternatives</h2>
IShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF carries a Zacks ETF Rank of 3 (Hold), which is based on expected asset class return, expense ratio, and momentum, among other factors. Thus, IYC is a reasonable option for those seeking exposure to the Consumer Discretionary ETFs area of the market. Investors might also want to consider some other ETF options in the space.
Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (ARCA:VCR) tracks MSCI US Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (ARCA:XLY) tracks Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index. Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF has $5.55 billion in assets, Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF has $18.51 billion. VCR has an expense ratio of 0.10% and XLY charges 0.09%.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2328673/should-you-invest-in-the-ishares-u-s-consumer-discretionary-etf-iyc?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-sector_etf-2328673">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

Americans are feeling optimistic about the economy given stabilizing inflation and shifting election sentiments. This is especially true as consumer sentiment rose in early August for the first time in five months. Rising consumer sentiment bodes well for household spending in the coming months. It is expected to have a positive impact on the consumer discretionary sector, which attracts a major portion of consumer spending.
Investors can tap the encouraging trend in the basket form through consumer discretionary ETFs like Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (ARCA:XLY), Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (ARCA:VCR), Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF (ARCA:FDIS), First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund (ARCA:FXD) and iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (ARCA:IYC). These funds have a Zacks ETF Rank #3 (Hold).
The latest University of Michigan consumer sentiment index climbed from 66.4 in July to 67.8, marking the highest reading of consumer sentiment since June. This has sparked strong optimism surrounding the economy and the stock market, which eased concerns about a cooling labor market in early August.
According to the survey, inflation expectations remained stable at 2.9% over the next year and 3% over the next five to 10 years. Consumers&#39; expectations of inflation over the next year remain at their lowest level since December 2020.
Most of the rise in confidence came from presidential election developments. Sentiment for Democrats rose 6% as Vice President Kamala Harris gained ground in public polling while sentiment for Republicans fell 5%. The survey showed that 41% of consumers believe Harris is the better candidate for the economy, while 38% said Trump is better.
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund offers exposure to the broad consumer discretionary space and tracks the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector Index. It holds 52 securities in its basket, with key holdings in specialty retail, hotels, restaurants and leisure, broadline retail, and automobiles with a double-digit allocation each.
Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund is the largest and most popular product in this space, with AUM of $18.6 billion and an average daily volume of around 3 million shares. It charges 0.09% in expense ratio.
Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF
Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF follows the MSCI U.S. Investable Market Consumer Discretionary 25/50 Index and holds 302 stocks in its basket. In terms of industrial exposure, broadline retail, automobile manufacturers and restaurants occupy the top three spots.
Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF is the low-cost choice in the space, charging investors only 10 bps in annual fees while volume is good at nearly 61,000 shares a day. The fund has managed $5.4 billion in its asset base so far.
Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF
Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF tracks the MSCI USA IMI Consumer Discretionary Index, holding 274 stocks in its basket. It has key holdings in broadline retail, specialty retail, hotels, restaurants and leisure, and automobiles.
Fidelity MSCI Consumer Discretionary Index ETF has amassed $1.6 billion in its asset base while trading in a good volume of around 137,000 shares a day on average. It charges 8 bps in annual fees from investors.
First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund
First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX Fund follows an AlphaDEX methodology and ranks stocks in the space by various growth and value factors, eliminating the bottom-ranked 25% of the stocks. This approach results in a basket of 120 stocks with retailers, travel and leisure, media&nbsp;&nbsp;&nbsp; and personal goods taking double-digit exposure each.
First Trust Consumer Discretionary AlphaDEX has an AUM of $1.5 billion and trades in a volume of 47,000 shares per day on average. It charges a higher 61 bps in annual fees.
iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF
iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF offers exposure to U.S. companies that distribute food, drugs, general retail items and media by tracking the Russell 1000 Consumer Disc 40 Act 15/22.5 Daily Capped Index. It holds 176 stocks in its basket, with key holdings in consumer discretionary, consumer services, media &amp; entertainment, consumer staples distribution &amp; retail, and autos &amp; components.
iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF has amassed $1 billion in its asset base and trades in a moderate volume of 123,000 shares a day on average. It charges 40 bps in annual fees from investors.
<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2324514/etfs-to-tap-as-consumer-sentiment-improves?cid=CS-BENZ-FT-etf_news_and_commentary-2324514">To read this article on Zacks.com click here.</a>

On CNBC's &#8220;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2024/04/29/final-trades-delta-air-lines-jpmorgan-chase-and-the-iyc.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&#8221; JPMorgan Private Bank's Anastasia Amoroso picked iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYC#NYSE">IYC</a>) as consumer spending is picking up and consumers are spending on services, <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/quote/IYC/dividend">travel and e-commerce</a>.
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners named Delta Air Lines, Inc. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/DAL#NYSE">DAL</a>), as the fundamentals look great.
On April 10, Delta Air Lines reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings. Delta reported a first-quarter 2024 operating revenue growth of 8% year-over-year to $13.748 billion and adjusted operating revenue of $12.563 billion (+6% YoY), beating the consensus of $12.57 billion. Adjusted EPS was 45 cents, above the consensus of 36 cents, according to data from <a href="https://pro.benzinga.com/dashboard">Benzinga Pro</a>.
Don't forget to check out our <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket coverage here</a>
Joseph M. Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners named JPMorgan Chase &amp; Co. (NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/JPM#NYSE">JPM</a>) as his final trade.
On April 12, JPMorgan Chase reported better-than-expected first-quarter earnings. Net revenue (managed) of $42.5 billion (+8% Y/Y), beating the consensus of $41.8 billion. Excluding an item resulted in an increase of $550 million (after tax) to reported net income from $13.4 billion to $14.0 billion and an increase of $0.19 per share to reported EPS from $4.44 to $4.63. EPS was $4.44, beating the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38247911/jpmorgan-analysts-slash-their-forecasts-after-q1-results">consensus of $4.15, according to data from Benzinga Pro.</a>
Price Action:
<ul>
<li>Delta Air Lines shares rose 1.1% to close at $50.45 on Monday.</li>
<li>iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF gained 1.3% during Monday's session.</li>
<li>JPMorgan shares fell 0.1% to settle at $193.28 on Monday.</li>
</ul>
Check This Out: <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/24/04/38510122/coca-cola-amazon-and-3-stocks-to-watch-heading-into-tuesday">Coca-Cola, Amazon And 3 Stocks To Watch Heading Into Tuesday</a>
Photo: Shutterstock

Delta Air Lines, JPMorgan And More On CNBC's 'Final Trades'

CNBC Halftime Report Final Trades: JP Morgan Chase & Co., Delta Air Lines, IShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF

Amazon.Com Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/AMZN#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) is focusing its strategic efforts on&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/12/36252385/amazon-ramps-up-efforts-in-china-to-tackle-rising-competition-from-temu-and-shein" rel="noreferrer noopener">countering the rise</a>&nbsp;of emerging e-commerce platforms&nbsp;PDD Holdings Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/PDD#NASDAQ">PDD</a>)&nbsp;Temu&nbsp;and&nbsp;Shein, recognizing them as significant competitors in the online retail sector.&nbsp;
These platforms, originating from China, have swiftly gained traction in the U.S. market, directly targeting Amazon&#8217;s customer base.&nbsp;
Temu, in particular, has launched a massive advertising campaign, securing its position as the leading advertiser on&nbsp;Meta Platforms Inc&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/META#NASDAQ">META</a>) in 2023.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/03/37844136/alibabas-aliexpress-sees-order-surge-with-new-5-day-delivery-to-the-us-expanding-global-reach" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba&#8217;s AliExpress Sees Order Surge with New 5-Day Delivery to the US, Expanding Global Reach</a>
To maintain its competitive edge, Amazon is leveraging its strengths in customer trust and speedy delivery, the Wall Street Journal&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.wsj.com/tech/amazons-new-focus-fending-off-rivals-temu-and-shein-5c6ac205?mod=tech_lead_story" rel="noreferrer noopener">reports</a>.&nbsp;
The company is expanding its same-day delivery offerings, especially electronics, and developing marketing campaigns highlighting its reliability and quick delivery capabilities.&nbsp;
Despite Amazon&#8217;s efforts to innovate and adapt, challenges from Temu and Shein persist.&nbsp;
These competitors have rapidly grown in the U.S., with Temu&#8217;s monthly active users rising in a short span. Their strategy includes offering bargain prices and shipping directly from China, albeit at slower delivery speeds than Amazon.
Previously, Amazon intended to set up an innovation hub near Shenzhen, the center of technology and e-commerce in China.&nbsp;
In 2023, Amazon witnessed a more than 20% rise in sales from Chinese vendors, with an increasing number of sellers reaching sales figures above $10 million.
Temu is drawing in manufacturers who previously worked with its fast-fashion competitor, Shein,&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/news/24/02/37101701/temu-vs-shein-battle-intensifies-as-temu-woos-sellers-targets-amazon-and-walmart" rel="noreferrer noopener">per prior reports</a>. By offering these manufacturers a new platform to sell their inexpensive products, Temu is capitalizing on Shein&#8217;s efforts to streamline its supply chain for a significant&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/23/12/36340412/alibaba-rival-sheins-ipo-plans-under-fire-congressional-inquiry-into-companys-data-privacy-and-force" rel="noreferrer noopener">U.S. stock market debut</a>.&nbsp;
Furthermore, Temu is intensifying its competition with retail giants like Amazon and&nbsp;Walmart Inc&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/WMT#NYSE">WMT</a>) by encouraging suppliers to take charge of logistics and delivery, aiming to lower market prices through substantial subsidies and faster delivery times to customers.
Amazon&#8217;s stock has gained over 77% in the last 12 months. Investors can gain exposure to the stock via&nbsp;IShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF&nbsp;(NYSE:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/IYC#NYSE">IYC</a>) and&nbsp;VanEck Retail ETF&nbsp;(NASDAQ:<a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/RTH#NASDAQ">RTH</a>).
Price Action:&nbsp;AMZN shares closed higher by 1.28% at $178.15 on Wednesday.
Also Read:&nbsp;<a target="_blank" href="https://www.benzinga.com/government/24/02/37135093/alibaba-seeks-growth-beyond-china-strategic-alliances-in-gulf-countries-mark-a-new-chapter-for-tech" rel="noreferrer noopener">Alibaba Seeks Growth Beyond China, Strategic Alliances in Gulf Countries Mark a New Chapter for Tech Giant</a>
Disclaimer: This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
Photo by ANIRUDH on Unsplash

AMZN

Amazon Amps Up Delivery Speed and Trust to Tackle Alibaba Rivals Temu and Shein's Rapid US Expansion

On CNBC&rsquo;s &ldquo;<a href="https://www.cnbc.com/video/2022/07/27/final-trades-exxon-nvidia-devon-energy-more.html">Halftime Report Final Trades</a>,&rdquo; Degas Wright of Decatur Capital Management said Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/epd#NYSE">EPD</a>) has 50,000 miles of pipelines transporting natural gas and diesel. The company offers a 7% dividend yield, he added.
Stephen Weiss of Short Hills Capital Partners chose Devon Energy Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dvn#NYSE">DVN</a>), saying the company is 50-50 natural gas and oil.
&ldquo;Management is phenomenal&rdquo; and&nbsp;natural gas will &ldquo;continue to go up in price,&rdquo; he said.&nbsp;
Check out other energy stocks making moves in the <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/premarket/">premarket</a>.
Joseph Terranova of Virtus Investment Partners said there is momentum in Nvidia Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>) and it&rsquo;s not a time to sell&nbsp;shares.
Jim Lebenthal of Cerity Partners named Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xom#NYSE">XOM</a>) as his final trade.
Liz Young of BNY Mellon Investment Management chose iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF (BMV: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iyc#BMV">IYC</a>). Young said she expects the growth <a href="https://www.benzinga.com/money/best-sectors-to-invest-in-right-now/">sector</a> to &ldquo;lead us out of this bear market.&rdquo;

NVDA

CNBC's Final Trades: Nvidia, Consumer Discretionary And These 3 Energy Plays

CNBC&rsquo;s &quot;Fast Money: Halftime Report&quot; delivers market-moving news to investors.
The commentary delivered by hosts of the show often moves the stocks mentioned. The information is collected and refined using <a href="https://benzinga.grsm.io/register174">Benzinga Pro&rsquo;s</a> News Tool. Benzinga Pro users can access this information by using the News tool on any workstation.
Traders on the show sold the following stocks:
Amazon.com, Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>)&nbsp;Steve Weiss&nbsp;of Short Hills Capital Partners sold his position in the company but said he is willing to buy again in the future.
Call of the day:
Lululemon Athletica Inc (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/lulu#NASDAQ">LULU</a>)
Final trades:
Enterprise Products Partners L.P. (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/epd#NYSE">EPD</a>)
NVIDIA Corporation (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/nvda#NASDAQ">NVDA</a>)
Devon Energy Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/dvn#NYSE">DVN</a>)
Exxon Mobil Corp (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/xom#NYSE">XOM</a>)
iShares US Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="https://www.benzinga.com/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>)

General

LULU

Wednesday's CNBC Fast Money Halftime Report Mentions

iShares Dow Jones US Energy Sector Index Fund

Benzinga Pro Mid-Day Price Check For Sector ETFs: Technology (XLK) Up 1.3%, Industrial (XLI) Up 1%, Healthcare (XLV) Up 0.6%, Retail (XRT) Up 0.2%, Materials (XLB) Down 0.6%, Energy (IYE) Down 0.8%

In a move to bolster deregulation in the telecom space, Federal Communications Commission (FCC) unveiled a draft to repeal the Net Neutrality regulation undertaken in the Obama era. The FCC is slated to vote on the proposed changes at its next monthly meeting on Dec 14.
The rules so far have prevented high-speed Internet service providers (I.S.P), from stopping or slowing down the delivery of websites. They also inhibited the companies from charging customers additional fees for <a href="https://www.nytimes.com/2017/11/21/technology/fcc-net-neutrality.html">high-quality streaming and other services</a>, as per the source.
Below we highlight a few ETF winners and losers if the FCC rule is passed.
Winners 
All ISPs along with several cable TV and telecommunications industry behemoths have been fervently opposing Net Neutrality. The Obama era move proved to be less profitable for these companies thanks to a deluge of prohibitions.
Abandoning of the discriminatory policy in turn results in lower investments in the high-speed broadband sector. In any case, &quot;per a recent study by USTelecom, investment in broadband infrastructure declined from its peak at $<a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/283774/fcc-plans-to-abandon-net-neutrality-major-boon-for-isps">78.4 billion</a> in 2014 to $77.9 billion in 2015 and $76 billion in 2016.&quot;
Needless to say, such prohibition will make telecom ETFs winners.
Vanguard Telecommunications Services ETF VOX
The fund gives exposure to the telecom industry. Verizon Communications, AT&amp;T and Level 3 Communications are the top three holdings of the fund. It holds 27 stocks in total and charges 10 bps in fees (read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/281116/etfs-to-watch-on-telecom-earnings">ETFs to Watch on Telecom Earnings</a>).
Fidelity MSCI Telecommunication Services Index ETF FCOM
The fund represents the performance of the telecommunication services sector in the U.S. equity market. Verizon Communications takes about 23.3% of the fund followed by AT&amp;T (22.2%) and T-Mobile US (4.65%). The fund charges 8 bps in fees.
Losers 
The announcement and the likely repeal of the rule is likely to put pressure on Internet-based companies like Google GOOGL and Amazon AMZN. Higher broadband prices and tolls for content could be imminent outcomes, as per an article published on <a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/22/whats-stake-fccs-net-neutrality-vote/888870001/">usatoday.com</a>. This is because content developers might have to pay higher sums to ISPs for high-speed data transfer.
Christian Dawson, executive director of i2Coalition, a group of Net infrastructure companies which includes Amazon and Google went on to explain that &quot;<a href="https://www.usatoday.com/story/tech/news/2017/11/22/whats-stake-fccs-net-neutrality-vote/888870001/">this vote will negatively impact</a> small and medium-sized Internet business, and has the potential to decrease jobs and economic growth system-wide&quot;, to the benefit of a very few large organization, quoted on usatoday.
Side by side, consumers may also be negatively impacted by this move as they might end up paying high charges.
So, a few Internet and consumer ETFs need to be watched out.
PowerShares NASDAQ Internet Portfolio PNQI
The underlying index looks to track the performance of the largest &amp; most liquid U.S.-listed companies engaged in Internet-related businesses and that are listed on one of the three major U.S. stock exchanges. The fund charges 60 bps in fees. Internet software and services companies account for about 56.1% of the fund. Amazon.com, Netflix, Alphabet and Facebook are the top four holdings of the fund (read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/281437/topranked-tech-etfs-to-buy-on-facebooks-robust-q3">Top-Ranked Tech ETFs to Buy on Facebook&#39;s Robust Q3</a>). &nbsp;
Global X Social Media Index ETF SOCL
The fund looks to track the Solactive Social Media Total Return Index. Tencent Holdings (11.3%), Twitter (10.3%) and Facebook (9.8%) are top three holdings of the fund.
iShares US Consumer Services ETF IYC
The fund looks to track the price and yield performance of the Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Index. Retailing (40.2%), Media (21.6%), Consumer Services (17.3%) and Food &amp; Staples Retailing (12.79%) are the top four industries here (read: <a href="https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/280694/amazon-etfs-to-buy-on-q3-blowout-results">Amazon ETFs to Buy on Q3 Blowout Results</a>).
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Politics

FCOM

GOOG

PNQI

SOCL

ETF Winners And Losers If FCC Repeals Net Neutrality

Matt Boss, JPMorgan's retail analyst, was a guest on <a href="http://video.cnbc.com/gallery/?video=3000567097">CNBC</a> Thursday afternoon to offer his take on the state of the retail market. The analyst quickly pointed out that the retail sector has now lapsed the most worrying week of the year with the U.S. election.
"There is no question that some of this uncertainty held the consumer back in the third quarter &mdash; it's hard to parse through the noise," he said. "We had really bad weather in the third quarter, it was much warmer year-over-year so that was an aspect for a lot of the apparel retailers."
Meanwhile, the analyst believes that department stores have delivered <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/16/11/8680543/q3-a-mixed-bag-for-department-store-stocks-so-far">encouraging earnings reports</a> and the off-price retailers are on deck to report next week.
Boss continued that the retail sector will likely benefit in the fourth quarter and first quarter of 2017 from easy year-over-year compares, especially on the traffic aspect so the sector could see more optimism.
<h3>Retailer Sector Post-Election</h3>
Boss stated that post-election the retail sector as a whole could benefit from lower corporate tax rates under President-elect <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/topic/donald-trump">Donald Trump</a>, while the consumer could also benefit from a reduction in personal tax rates.
He shied away from offering any specific recommendation but did say that the "inspirational consumer" could be shopping more in 2017.
<h3>Relevant ETFs And Trusts</h3>
<ul>
<li>VanEck Vectors Retail ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/rth#NYSE">RTH</a>).</li>
<li>SPDR S&amp;P Retail (ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xrt#NYSE">XRT</a>).</li>
<li>Consumer Discretionary SPDR (ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xly#NYSE">XLY</a>).</li>
<li>Guggenheim S&amp;P Equal Weight Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/rcd#NYSE">RCD</a>).</li>
<li>Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vcr#NYSE">VCR</a>).</li>
<li>PowerShares Dynamic Retail (ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pmr#NYSE">PMR</a>).</li>
<li>First Trust Cnsmer Disry Alpha Fnd (ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fxd#NYSE">FXD</a>).</li>
<li>iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Ser. (ETF) (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>).</li>
</ul>

Analyst Color

CNBC

PowerShares ETF Trust Dynamic Retail Portfolio

Rydex ETF Trust Rydex S&P Equal Weightnsumer Discretionary ETF

JPMorgan's Retail Analyst: Trump, Warm Weather And The Back Half Of 2016

UPDATE: Morgan Stanley Says Cyclicals & Defensives May Outperform If Macro Economic Variables Continue To Improve

Exchange traded funds tracking consumer discretionary stocks have been impressive performers this year.

	The Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xly#NYSE">XLY</a>) highlights as much as that ETF is the third-best performer of the nine sector SPDR funds this year. XLY trails only its health care and financial services equivalents.

	Over the past three years, however, XLY stands as the only <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/13/03/3447304/risk-on-rally-these-etfs-say-no">somewhat risky SPDR</a> that has outpaced lower beta fare such as the staples and health care funds. Other discretionary funds have been stellar performers as well.

	For example, the iShares U.S. Consumer Services ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>) and the Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vcr#NYSE">VCR</a>) are up an average of 25 percent year-to-date.

	It is trailing performances like those that could be signs that investors looking to grab discretionary sector exposure will pay up for the privilege. Russ Koesterich, global chief investment strategist for iShares, says some recent economic trends show the discretionary sector is richly valued.

	"The shifting nature of the job market and weak income growth are also significant headwinds facing US consumption," said Koesterich <a href="http://www.blackrockblog.com/2013/07/23/bargains-consumer-discretionary-aisle/">on the BlackRock blog</a>. "In June, higher mortgage rates seemed to take some of the wind out of the housing market's sales. If this were to continue, it would remove one of the big props holding up the US consumer. As such, consumer-related companies continue to look expensive."

	Koesterich also points out that the price-to-book ratio of discretionary stocks compared to the S&amp;P 500 is high, currently around 1.7. Three years ago, <a href="http://d2a9w60vuvf6aq.cloudfront.net/content/uploads/2013/07/Consumer-Discretionary.png">the ratio was 1.2</a> and at 1.7 today, that is nearly double what was seen during some of the boom times of the mid-1990s.

	Related: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/13/04/3526196/causes-for-concern-with-discretionary-stocks-etfs">Causes For Concern With Discretionary Stocks, ETFs</a>

	"And as of last Friday, US consumer discretionary companies traded at nearly 4x book value about a 70% premium to the broader market. In other words, investors are currently paying a big premium for retailers and restaurants at a time when consumers are still struggling and spending remains weak," said Koesterich.

	Rich valuations are seen with ETFs as well. XLY's P/E ratio is close to 19 with a price-to-book ratio of 3.8. Those numbers for IYC are 20.8 and 5.3, though in the case of IYC, its valuations are inflated by its exposure to staples names such as Wal-Mart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>).

	It is easy to see why some discretionary ETFs are richly valued. Amazon.com (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) wit a forward P/E of almost 97, is a top-10 holding in both IYC and XLY. After soaring 26.5 percent this year, Home Depot (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/hd#NYSE">HD</a>) now looks frothy at over 18 times next year's estimated profits.

	Caution could be warranted going forward with discretionary ETFs because the sector, as Koesterich notes, could be "discounting too much optimism."

	For more on ETFs, click <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs">here</a>.

Short Ideas

Intraday Update

Discretionary ETFs Are Getting Pricey

Here is the ETF Professor's ETF Watch List for Wednesday November 14, 2012.

The U.S. Natural Gas Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ung#NYSE">UNG</a>) perked up on Tuesday.

The Market Vectors Junior Gold Miners ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gdxj#NYSE">GDXJ</a>) had a tough day.

The iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>) will be on to watch in the coming weeks.

Leveraged play of the day: ProShares UltraShort Oil &amp; Gas (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dug#NYSE">DUG</a>).

Emerging markets plays of the day: iShares MSCI Taiwan Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ewt#NYSE">EWT</a>), iShares MSCI South Korea Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ewy#NYSE">EWY</a>) and the Market Vectors Russia ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/rsx#NYSE">RSX</a>).

Forex play of the day: CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fxb#NYSE">FXB</a>).

Bond play of the day: Market Vectors International High Yield Bond ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ihy#NYSE">IHY</a>).

Broad U.S. Equity ETFs

Specialty ETFs

New ETFs

Emerging Market ETFs

Currency ETFs

Forex

Pre-Market Outlook

CurrencyShares British Pound Sterling Trust

GDXJ

Market Vectors Russia ETF Trust Shares of Beneficial Interest

ETFs to Watch November 14, 2012 (EWT, GDXJ, IHY)

It is getting to be that time of year. The time when retail stocks come into the spotlight due to the holiday shopping season and that means plenty of investors will be giving discretionary ETFs careful consideration. That is not a bad idea, given that <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/12/11/3044945/these-etfs-could-soar-in-november">the discretionary sector is usually a strong November performer</a>. 

The sector also has a tendency to deliver solid returns to investors into the first quarter as well. Speaking of returns, not all discretionary ETFs are created equal, something S&amp;P Capital IQ points out in a recent research note.

"Thus far in 2012, some of the best performing sub-industries in the consumer discretionary sector are cable &amp; satellite, homebuilding, household appliances and Internet retail. All of these are up more than 30% this year. In contrast, auto parts &amp; equipment, casino &amp; gaming, footwear and restaurants are all in the red," according to the note.

In other words, discretionary ETFs with large weights to stocks such as Amazon (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>) and Comcast (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/cmcsa#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>) have performed well, but those performances have been hampered by exposure to stock such as Las Vegas Sands (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/lvs#NYSE">LVS</a>) and AutoZone (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/azo#NYSE">AZO</a>).

"For one of the best performing groups, homebuilding, there is a negative fundamental outlook," S&amp;P Capital IQ notes. "Meanwhile, two of the largest sub-industries, movies &amp; entertainment and cable &amp; satellite, have
neutral outlooks."

Home to 82 stocks, the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xly#NYSE">XLY</a>) is the largest discretionary ETF by assets with $3.35 billion. Comcast, Amazon and Priceline (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pcln#NASDAQ">PCLN</a>) combine for about 15 percent of that fund's weight. By comparison, Nike and five auto-related retailers combine for less of XLY's than Comcast alone. XLY garnered a Marketweight rating from S&amp;P.

The $311.1 million iShares Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Sector Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>) is a standout among discretionary ETFs, according to S&amp;P. The firm rated IYC Overweight. Comcast, Amazon and eBay (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ebay#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>) combine for 12.3 percent of the ETF's weight. Although IYC is home to almost 190 stocks, that broad lineup includes just six auto-related names and only token exposure to casino names. Combined, Las Vegas Sands, Wynn Resorts (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/wynn#NASDAQ">WYNN</a>) and MGM International (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mgm#NYSE">MGM</a>) represent less than three percent of IYC's weight.

The Market Weight-rated Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vcr#NYSE">VCR</a>) devotes just 2.3 percent of its weight to auto retailers and 2.4 percent of its weight to casino names. Conversely, cable and Internet retail stocks combine for 18 percent of the fund's weight. 

Among the trio of discretionary ETFs highlighted by S&amp;P, the leader in year-to-date returns is IYC. Up 18.6 percent this year, the iShares fund nudges VCR and its 18.4 percent gain for top honors among major discretionary ETFs. IYC has also been significantly less volatile than XLY and VCR. IYC's year-to-date volatility is 12.5 percent compared to 14 percent for XLY and 14.7 percent for VCR. 

IYC is the most expensive of the trio in terms of fees at 0.47 percent per year. XLY is the cheapest with an annual expense ratio of 0.18 percent. VCR charges 0.19 percent.

For more on ETFs, click <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/etfs">here</a>.

CMCSA

EBAY

PCLN

WYNN

Discretionary ETFs: Same Sector, Different Returns

For all the chatter regarding a slowing U.S. economy, the consumer, two-thirds of this country's GDP, has been strong in 2012. Consumer strength is all the more impressive when factoring in a tight presidential election and the possibility of a fiscal cliff. 

Even with those issues in mind, the consumer has chugged along, helping boost the fortunes of consumer discretionary ETFs in the process. Although some of these funds have run far enough fast enough that calling them overbought is not entirely inaccurate, the holiday shopping season will be here before investors know it and that could provide another lift to discretionary ETFs.

"In this country, most consumers prefer to spend rather than save, and this tends to ring even more true over the holiday season," S&amp;P Capital IQ said in a research note. "The International Council of Shopping Centers (ICSC) expects holiday chain store sales to increase 3.0%. The National Retail Federation (NRF), which includes online sales in its estimate, is projecting a 4.1% increase for the traditional November-December time period. This is higher than the 10-year average holiday sales increase of 3.5%, and is the most optimistic forecast that the NRF has released since the recession."

As S&amp;P Capital IQ notes, retail stocks follow the broader market higher in the October through March time frame with March and February ranking as two of the best three months in which to own retail names. 

"Given the historical data, it appears that now is a relatively good time to shop for some retail stocks. Of course, past
performance is no guarantee of future results, and if the holiday shopping season falls short of expectations, Q4 results may disappoint (and the stocks could suffer)," the firm said in the note.

In the note, S&amp;P rated three discretionary ETFs, applying an Overweight rating to the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xly#NYSE">XLY</a>) and Market-weight ratings to the iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>) and the Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vcr#NYSE">VCR</a>).

With $3.94 billion in assets under management and an expense ratio of 0.18 percent, XLY is the largest and least expensive discretionary ETF on the market. XLY has outperformed both its Lipper peers and the S&amp;P 500 over the past 1-year, 3-year, 5-year and 10-year periods, with significant outperformance versus its peers over the 3-year period (19.9% vs. 16.2%), according to S&amp;P. 

XLY's top-10 holdings include Comcast (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/cmcsa#NASDAQ">CMCSA</a>), McDonald's (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mcd#NYSE">MCD</a>), Home Depot (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/hd#NYSE">HD</a>) and Amazon (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>).

The Marketweight-rated iShares Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Sector Index Fund is home to $320.6 million in AUM and charges 0.47 percent per year. Top-10 holdings in that ETF include Wal-Mart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>), McDonald's, Home Depot and Amazon. IYC is up 23.1 percent year-to-date.

The Vanguard Consumer Discretionary is only slightly more expensive than XLY with fees of 0.19 and its top-10 holdings are similar. Those include Comcast, McDonald's, Home Depot, Amazon and Walt Disney (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>). Over the past five years, XLY has outpaced VCR, but since early 2004, the Vanguard fund has come out on top.

For more on discretionary and retail ETFs, click <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/12/10/2974263/resilient-consumer-good-for-some-etfs-s-p-says">here</a>.

Econ #s

Economics

S&P Likes XLY, Tepid on Rival ETFs

As if the already fragile U.S. economy does not have enough issues to deal with already, there is the looming specter of a so-called fiscal cliff: the scenario under which some dire fiscal issues could come to roost. 

Among other issues, the fiscal cliff would consist of the Bush-era tax cuts from 2001 and 2003 (including the dividend tax reduction) expiring, the alternative minimum tax applying to more taxpayers and a major increase in payroll taxes in 2013. 

J.P. Morgan has estimated <a href="http://bonds.about.com/od/Issues-in-the-News/a/What-Is-The-Fiscal-Cliff.htm">$280 billion would be sapped from the economy if the Bush tax cuts expire</a>. Bank of America economists say the ensuing economic drag at the hands of the fiscal cliff <a href="http://www.businessinsider.com/fiscal-cliff-worst-case-scenario-2012-7?op=1">could be as high as $720 billion, or 4.6 percent of U.S. GDP</a>. 

Morgan Stanley's analysis is even more dire. "Our analysis suggests that the potential fiscal tightening in calendar year 2013 under current law is closer to 5% of GDP," <a href="http://www.morganstanley.com/views/gef/archive/2012/20120413-Fri.html">the bank said</a>.

Assuming the folks on Capitol Hill can get their acts together and a fiscal cliff is avoided, plenty of ETFs stand to benefit. Conversely, if the worst-case scenario plays out, there is no shortage of ETFs that could be savagely repudiated. Here are a few ideas for both situations:

SPDR S&amp;P Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/sdy#NYSE">SDY</a>)
Really, any dividend ETF would do in this spot. If the Bush tax cuts expire, the tax rate on dividends would jump to 20 percent from 15 percent. Amid intense efforts by dividend-paying firms, it appears Senate Democrats are taking a softer stance on the dividend tax issue and some compromise could come to pass <a href="http://www.reuters.com/article/2012/07/16/usa-congress-taxes-dividends-idUSL2E8IGAWV20120716">Reuters reported Monday</a>.

President Obama has proposed raising the dividend tax to 20 percent from 15 percent on those earning more than $250,000 a year, but that is not necessarily the point. The point is dividends are a key driver of returns for most investors, regardless of their income. 

Even speculation that some companies could halt dividend increases, in turn hurting retirees, if the Bush tax cuts are not extended, might be enough to get politicians to compromise on this issue. After all, politicians have one priority: Keeping their jobs.

The bottom line is SDY, the Vanguard Dividend Appreciation ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vig#NYSE">VIG</a>), the iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dvy#NYSE">DVY</a>) and related fare may not rally if the fiscal cliff does not happen. However, those funds could easily falter if the dividend tax cuts are allowed to expire.

ProShares UltraShort Consumer Services (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/scc#NYSE">SCC</a>)
The ProShares UltraShort Consumer Services, the double-leveraged inverse equivalent of the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Sector Index Fund (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>), will not win any volume contests with average daily turnover of just about 2,600 shares. However, it could be a winner in terms of performance if the fiscal cliff comes to pass.

Like many discretionary ETFs, the iShares Dow Jones U.S. Consumer Services Sector Index Fund has is home to a few stocks that have the potential to be less bad in a recession. Costco (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/cost#NASDAQ">COST</a>) and Target (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/tgt#NYSE">TGT</a>) come to mind. However, IYC and other large discretionary ETFs also features stocks such as Amazon (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/amzn#NASDAQ">AMZN</a>), eBay (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ebay#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>) and Walt Disney (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>).

Those are not recession-proof names. Those are names that are heavily dependent on consumer spending. The consumer accounts for two-thirds of U.S. GDP. U.S. GDP is expected to fall under the fiscal cliff scenario. Do the math and things do not look good for discretionary ETFs and that is good for an ETF such as SCC.

Direxion Daily Energy Bear 3X Shares (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ery#NYSE">ERY</a>)
With the Congressional Budget Office and almost every bank that has commented on the matter saying the fiscal cliff would throw the U.S. into another recession, that would be grim news for oil prices. The U.S. is still the world's largest oil consumer and is three percent, five percent or more of GDP is slashed due to the fiscal cliff, oil equities and futures will plunge.

Under that scenario, there is almost no way the broader market will hold up because the energy currently accounts for almost 11 percent of the <a href="https://www.spdrs.com/product/fund.seam?ticker=SPY">S&amp;P 500's weight</a>. 

The reality is no base metal or fossil fuel is likely to shine if the fiscal cliff comes around and that will pressure almost all of the commodities complex. Regarding equities, the declines for the likes of Exxon Mobil (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xom#NYSE">XOM</a>), Apache (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/apa#NYSE">APA</a>) and Schlumberger (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/slb#NYSE">SLB</a>) would be dramatic. All are top-10 holdings in the Energy Select SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xle#NYSE">XLE</a>), which tracks the S&amp;P Energy Select Sector Index. That is the same index ERY is designed to deliver three times the daily inverse performance of.

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/uup#NYSE">UUP</a>)
Recessions have predictable affects. One of those affects is spurring a flight to quality and in this case, that means investors will be left with few safe havens beyond the U.S. dollar. In a recession, U.S. demand for imported goods declines, boosting the dollar in the process. Not to mention, the fiscal cliff could trigger up to $600 billion in government spending cuts, a catalyst that could increase the allure of greenbacks..

Commodities

Events

COST

iShares Dow Jones Select Dividend Index Fund

PowerShares DB US Dollar Index Bullish Fund

4 ETFs for a Fiscal Cliff (ERY, SDY, UUP)

Here is a quick look at some of the top-performing service sector stocks in May. These companies all have a market cap of more than $500 million and their share prices are all more than 15% higher than 30 days ago.

AFC Enterprises (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/afce#NASDAQ">AFCE</a>) shares are trading more than 45% higher year to date, including up about 23% in the past month. The recent first-quarter report of the Atlanta-based franchiser and operator of Popeyes restaurants sent shares to a multiyear high. AFC has a long-term EPS growth forecast of 12.0% and a return on equity of 163.2%. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed competitor Yum! Brands (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/yum#NYSE">YUM</a>) and the broader markets.

See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/12/05/2614454/afc-enterprises-posts-upbeat-q1-profit-lifts-full-year-forecast">AFC Enterprises Posts Upbeat Q1 Profit, Lifts Full-Year Forecast</a>

The Fresh Market (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/tfm#NASDAQ">TFM</a>) is trading more than 45% higher than at the beginning of the year after a surge of more than 23% in the past week to a new high. The supermarket chain operator just posted its fifth-consecutive quarter of double-digit revenue growth. The $2.8 billion market cap company has a long-term EPS growth forecast of 21.0%. The stock has outperformed rival Kroger (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/kr#NYSE">KR</a>) and the broader markets over the past six months.

Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/lqdt#NASDAQ">LQDT</a>) is more than 206% higher than a year ago and recently hit a multiyear high. The operator of online auction marketplaces reported better-than-expected results for the most recent quarter. The Washington, DC-based company has a long-term EPS growth forecast of 29.7% and a return on equity of 21.9%. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed eBay (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ebay#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>) and the broader markets.

Pandora Media (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/p#NYSE">P</a>) is up more than 25% in the past month but only up a little over 7% year to date. The Internet radio company beat top line and bottom line estimates in its most recent report. The company is based in Oakland, Calif., and has a market cap of $1.7 billion. Its long-term EPS growth forecast is 43.7%. Short interest is 11.8% of the float. The stock's performance has been in line with Sirius XM Satellite Radio (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/siri#NASDAQ">SIRI</a>) over the past six months.

See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/long-ideas/12/05/2624027/stocks-to-watch-for-the-all-things-digital-conference-aapl-or">Stocks to Watch for the All Things Digital Conference</a>

Papa John's International (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pzza#NASDAQ">PZZA</a>) is up almost 18% in the past month, but has pulled back more than 7% from a recent multiyear high. This Louisville, Ky.-based pizza purveyor exceeded consensus estimates for the first quarter and raised its full-year guidance. It has a market cap of %1.1 billion. Its P/E ratio is less than the industry average and the return on equity is 25.8%. The stock has outperformed rival Domino's Pizza (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dpz#NYSE">DPZ</a>) over the past six months.

Sonic (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/sonc#NASDAQ">SONC</a>) is more than 26% higher year to date but still about 27% below the 52-week high. Analysts predict that it will post results that are essentially flat for the current quarter and for the full year. The drive-in restaurant operator is based in Oklahoma City. Its operating margin is higher than the industry average. Over the past six months, the stock has outperformed larger competitors McDonald's (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mcd#NYSE">MCD</a>) and Wendy's (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/wen#NASDAQ">WEN</a>).

US Airways Group (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/lcc#NYSE">LCC</a>) is more than 160% higher year to date and reached a new multiyear high yesterday. The Tempe, Ariz.-based airline rose as analysts upgraded the industry due in part to lower fuel costs. It has a $2.1 billion market cap and a P/E ratio of 10.6. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 38.5% and the return on equity is 275.3%. The stock has outperformed competitors such as Delta Air Lines (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dal#NYSE">DAL</a>) and Southwestern Airlines (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/luv#NYSE">LUV</a>) over the past six months.

See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/trading-ideas/12/05/2633866/trade-setups-to-watch-on-friday-june-01">Trade Setups To Watch on Friday, June 1</a>

<div id="action-items">ACTION ITEMS:

Bullish: Investors also might want to consider the following trades:

<ul><li>ProShares Ultra Consumer Services (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ucc#NYSE">UCC</a>) is up more than 21% year to date.</li>
<li>iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>) is up more than 10% year to date.</li>
<li>EGShares Consumer Services GEMS ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vgem#NYSE">VGEM</a>) is up more than 2% year to date.</li>
</ul>Bearish: Traders may prefer to consider these alternative positions:

<ul><li>ProShares UltraShort Consumer Services (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/scc#NYSE">SCC</a>) is more than 8% higher than a month ago.</li>
<li>ProShares UltraShort Consumer Goods (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/szk#NYSE">SZK</a>) is more than 8% higher than a month ago.</li>
</ul>Neither Benzinga nor its staff recommend that you buy, sell, or hold any security. We do not offer investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Benzinga recommends that you conduct your own due diligence and consult a certified financial professional for personalized advice about your financial situation.</div>

AFCE

LQDT

PZZA

SIRI

SONC

VGEM

Papa John's, US Airways and Other Top Performers in May

Having surpassed the $1 billion mark worldwide last week, "Marvel's The Avengers" is set to climb further up the list of all-time worldwide top-grossing films, as well as to battle this weekend's new releases -- game-based action flic "Battleship" and Sacha Baron Cohen's "The Dictator." 

Inspired by "The Avengers," here are a few stock picks that could help pump up a weakling portfolio.

Iron Man

The closest thing to a real-life Stark Industries may be Raytheon (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/rtn#NYSE">RTN</a>), the maker of Patriot Missiles. The $16.7 billion market cap defense contractor announced this week a new contract with the Navy, and in April posted better-than-expected first-quarter results. Its P/E ratio and operating margin are better than the industry averages. The stock is about 12% higher than six months ago, despite pulling back more than 8% from a recent 52-week high. It has outperformed General Dynamics (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gd#NYSE">GD</a>) year to date.

See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/12/05/2567624/raytheon-bbn-technologies-awarded-1-9m-contract-to-extend-force-protection">Raytheon BBN Technologies Awarded 1.9M Contract to Extend Force Protection</a>

Captain America

His indestructible shield is key for this superhero. And steelmaker Metals USA Holdings (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/musa#NYSE">MUSA</a>) is one of the few in its industry whose stock has seen momentum recently. The Fort Lauderdale, Fla.-based company posted double-digit percentage EPS and sales growth for the first quarter. Its return on equity is 29.6%. The share price is about 25% higher year to date, though it has pulled back more than 9% in the past week. The stock has outperformed larger competitor U.S. Steel (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/x#NYSE">X</a>) over the past six months.

Thor

Thor Industries (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/tho#NYSE">THO</a>) makes and sells recreational vehicles. That may not be the first industry investors would consider as the economy struggles out of a prolonged recession, but the Ohio-based company recently reported nearly $1 billion in sales for the quarter that ended in April. The $1.5 billion market cap company also has a 2.0% dividend yield. Despite pulling back from a recent 52-week high, the share price is more than 11% higher than six months ago. Five of seven analysts polled recommend buying the stock.

The Hulk

Biotech firm Biogen Idec (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/biib#NASDAQ">BIIB</a>) may not blast patients with monstrous doses of gamma radiation, but it does develop, produce and market therapies for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases, hemophilia and autoimmune disorders. The Massachusetts-based company is an S&amp;P 500 component with a market cap of $31.8 billion. It sports a return on investment of 20.9%. The stock has risen more than 20% since the beginning of the year and reached a multiyear high earlier this week.

Spider-Man

Spider-Man is not, technically speaking, one of the Avengers, and neither is the selection here a stock. Rather it is the SPDR family of exchange traded funds. SPDR S&amp;P Biotech (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xbi#NYSE">XBI</a>) is one of the top-performing SPDR funds at the moment. It is up more than 29% over the past six months and recently hit a multiyear high. SPDR S&amp;P Homebuilders (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xhb#NYSE">XHB</a>) is more than 21% higher than six months ago, despite pulling back in the past week. And Technology Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xlk#NYSE">XLK</a>) more than 9% higher year to date.

See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/analyst-ratings/analyst-color/12/05/2590458/s-p-bullish-on-biotech-etfs-fbt-ibb-xbi">S&amp;P Bullish on Biotech ETFs</a>

Marvel

Walt Disney (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/dis#NYSE">DIS</a>) has been the parent company of Marvel Entertainment since 2009. And shareholders are no doubt pleased with the success of "The Avengers," after the flop of "John Carter," as well as happy that several Marvel sequels are in the works. Shares are trading near a multiyear high. The Burbank, Calif.-based company has a long-term EPS growth forecast of 13.2% and a dividend yield of 1.3%. Disney stock has outperformed competitor Time Warner (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/twx#NYSE">TWX</a>) over the past six months.

See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/12/05/2585124/will-batman-dethrone-the-avengers">Will Batman Dethrone the Avengers?</a>

<div id="action-items">ACTION ITEMS:

Bullish: Investors interested in exchange traded funds invested in Disney may want to consider the following trades: 

<ul><li>PowerShares Dynamic Leisure &amp; Entertainment (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pej#NYSE">PEJ</a>) is up about 12% higher year to date.</li>
<li>Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/xly#NYSE">XLY</a>) is up almost 9% year to date.</li>
<li>Vanguard Consumer Discretionary ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vcr#NYSE">VCR</a>) is more than 8% higher year to date.</li>
<li>iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>) is more than 8% higher year to date.</li>
</ul>Bearish: Traders may prefer to consider these alternative positions in microcap stocks with stellar momentum:

<ul><li>Goldfield (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/gv#NYSE">GV</a>) is up about 448% year to date.</li>
<li>BioDelivery Sciences International (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/bdsi#NASDAQ">BDSI</a>) is up more than 403% year to date.</li>
<li>Patrick Industries (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/patk#NASDAQ">PATK</a>) is about 202% higher year to date.</li>
</ul>Neither Benzinga nor its staff recommend that you buy, sell, or hold any security. We do not offer investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Benzinga recommends that you conduct your own due diligence and consult a certified financial professional for personalized advice about your financial situation.</div>

BDSI

BIIB

MUSA

PATK

PowerShares ETF Leisure & Entertainment Port

Disney, Raytheon and Other Avenger Picks for a Heroic Portfolio

eBay (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/ebay#NASDAQ">EBAY</a>) is scheduled to report fourth-quarter 2011 results tomorrow, January 18, after the markets close. CEO John Donahoe said at the Consumer Electronics Show that mobile commerce is expected to be surge this year, with PayPal payments increasing as much as 75%. Investors could use more good news, considering eBay's per-share earnings have been relatively flat in the past three quarters and the share price has not moved much lately.

Analysts are looking for the company to report that its per-share earnings rose to $0.57 for the quarter and that revenue totaled $3.3 billion. That is up from $0.52 per share on $2.5 billion in the same period of last year. Note that the EPS estimate is the same as it was 60 days ago, and eBay's per-share earnings have not fallen short of consensus estimates in the past ten quarters.

For the full year, the consensus estimate calls for $2.00 per share earnings, an increase of 13.5% from the previous year. That EPS estimate also is unchanged over the past 60 days. And eBay's revenues are expected to have increased 22.6% year over year to $11.6 billion.

The Company

This San Jose, Calif.-based company is a provider of online marketplaces and online payment solutions to individuals and businesses globally. Its businesses include StubHub, Shopping.com, Rent.com, Half.com, eBay Classifieds, PayPal and Bill Me Later. The company was founded in 1995 and now is an S&amp;P 500 component with a market cap of $39.5 billion.

During the three months that ended in December, the company acquired Hunch.com and BillSAFE. It also launched X.commerce, an open commerce ecosystem, and mobile app RedLaser 3.0, a comparison shopping tool. And, eBay UK launched its first-ever pop-up shop in London's fashionable West End.

Performance

eBay has a long-term earnings per share growth forecast of 12.8%. Its P/E ratio of 22.3 is in line with the industry average, and its operating margin is much better than the industry average. Short interest is only 1.1% of the float. Nineteen of 33 analysts who follow the stock rate it a Buy or Strong Buy. Their mean price target on shares is 20.1% higher than the current share price.

The share price of $30.62 is about the same as a month ago, as well as down more than 6% from six months ago. The 200-day moving average has offered resistance since November, and the 52-week range is $26.86 and $35.35. Over the past six months, the stock has underperformed Yahoo! (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/yhoo#NASDAQ">YHOO</a>) and the broader markets.

See also: <a href="http://www.benzinga.com/news/earnings/12/01/2264430/earnings-expectations-for-the-week-of-january-16">Earnings Expectations for the Week of January 16</a>.

<div id="action-items">ACTION ITEMS:

Bullish: Investors interested in exchange traded funds invested in eBay might want to consider the following trades:

<ul><li>iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>) is more than 20% higher than the 52-week low.</li>
<li>PowerShares NASDAQ Internet (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/pnqi#NASDAQ">PNQI</a>) is about 19% higher than the 52-week low.</li>
<li>First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/fdn#NYSE">FDN</a>) is about 18% higher than the 52-week low.</li>
<li>SPDR Morgan Stanley Technology (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/mtk#NYSE">MTK</a>) is almost 15% higher than the 52-week low.</li>
</ul>Bearish: Traders may prefer to consider these alternative positions in the same industry:

<ul><li>Liquidity Services (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/lqdt#NASDAQ">LQDT</a>) is up more than 191% from the 52-week low.</li>
<li>IAC/InterActiveCorp (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iaci#NASDAQ">IACI</a>) is up about 49% from the 52-week low.</li>
<li>Liberty Interactive (NASDAQ: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/linta#NASDAQ">LINTA</a>) is up more than 37% from the 52-week low.</li>
</ul>Neither Benzinga nor its staff recommend that you buy, sell, or hold any security. We do not offer investment advice, personalized or otherwise. Benzinga recommends that you conduct your own due diligence and consult a certified financial professional for personalized advice about your financial situation.</div>

Earnings

Previews

First Trust Dow Jones Internet Index Fund

IACI

LINTA

YHOO

eBay Earnings Preview: Double-Digit Revenue Growth Expected

With less than three hours remaining in Friday's trading day, the day's gains, assuming they hold, aren't going to set the world on fire. However, U.S. stocks are cruising toward their best one-week performance since 2008 and this week has brought a flurry of good U.S.-specific news.

The week got started with news of a record-setting Black Friday shopping weekend. Expectations were high for a record Cyber Monday as well. Today, the Labor Department said the unemployment rate dropped to 8.6%, the lowest level since March 2009.

We're not saying all of the world's macroeconomic problems have suddenly disappeared. They have not, but this is historically a good time of year to own stocks and it's beginning to look like investors may just be treated to a legitimate Santa Claus rally this year. 

After today, there are 19 trading days left in 2011 and these are some of the ETFs you'll want to warm up to for a Santa Claus rally.

Market Vectors Coal ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/kol#NYSE">KOL</a>):
We noted <a href="">earlier this week</a> coal stocks have a lot of room to run in 2012. Some of have started to perk up in recent days and that has helped the Market Vectors Coal ETF post a double-digit gain over the past week. 

A Santa Claus rally should benefit high-beta fare and obviously KOL fits that bill. Plus, the advantage of getting involved with coal right now is that if coal stocks do rebound in earnest in 2012, you'll already be in KOL, not trying to chase a rally in a volatile ETF. Add into a position in KOL above $39.

iShares Dow Jones US Consumer Services ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/iyc#NYSE">IYC</a>):
As we noted on Thursday, the time is right to <a href="">embrace retail and discretionary ETFs</a>. Standard &amp; Poor's likes IYC and why not? The 200-stock ETF devotes 10.5% of its weight to Wal-Mart (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/wmt#NYSE">WMT</a>) and Amazon (Nasdaq: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/amzn#Nasdaq">AMZN</a>), two prime Santa Claus rally destinations.

Not to mention, the best time to actually own retailers is in the first quarter, so consider buying IYC now as a way of positioning yourself for a bigger rally early next year. A move above $75 could take IYC to $80 and beyond.

Vanguard Growth ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/vug#NYSE">VUG</a>):
We've liked the Vanguard Growth ETF for a while as its heavy combined weight to discretionary and technology names should mean now is the prime time to own ETF like this. The past month has been disappointing for VUG, but things look to be improving as the ETF has surged almost 5% in the past week. Strong retail sales and a rebounding Nasdaq will carry this ETF higher.

Global X Social Media Index ETF (Nasdaq: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/socl#Nasdaq">SOCL</a>):
The Global X Social Media Index ETF has been on the receiving end of an amount of press that would make a five-year old ETF jealous. And all of those headlines have been generated in about two weeks time. Outside of Groupon (Nasdaq: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/grpn#Nasdaq">GRPN</a>), SOCL isn't loaded with stocks that should benefit from increased consumer spending, but the ETF is worth a look because it seems the IPO market is perking up. 

A successful Zynga IPO could help SOCL because the stock is likely to find its way into the ETF and news of Facebook's IPO should shine a positive light on SOCL as a way to get access to multiple social media high-fliers in one ETF.

SPDR S&amp;P Dividend ETF (NYSE: <a class="ticker" href="/stock/sdy#NYSE">SDY</a>):
Easily the most conservative ETF on our list, the SPDR S&amp;P Dividend ETF could easily find its way back to its 52-week high in a matter of days. Again, this is a position play. The first quarter usually brings a spate of dividend increases and many of SDY's constituents raise their dividends in the January-March time frame. A Santa Claus rally and a strong January could have SDY threatening its all-tim high just below $66 late in Q1 2012. 

Bull case:
Consumers keep feeling good. Jobless claims drop (we don't get another monthly jobs report until next year). Fund managers do some year-end buying to show clients they're not missing out on the rally.

Bear case:
Economic data sours and Europe gets worse, not better.

Futures

Technicals

IPOs

Movers

Tech

GRPN

Five ETFs For A Santa Clause Rally

Emphasize Consistency To Navigate Volatility

Weekly Market Pulse: Questions

A Cruel Inflation Summer - BlackRock's Version

Navigating Earnings Season: In The Middle Of The Muddle

Michigan Consumer Sentiment At Highest Reading Since May 2024

Last week, I thought for sure that the market would need more time near the recent lows before it could move higher. However, prices are now pushing up towards all-time highs once again.

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iShares U.S. Consumer Discretionary ETF (ARCA:IYC), Quote.Headers.trade-ideas