Consumer Cyclical Stocks
Track 64 consumer cyclical companies from the S&P 500 and NASDAQ 100 indices with historical returns, performance rankings, and investment analysis.
What's Driving Consumer Stock Returns?
Updated: May 2026Consumer cyclical stocks are highly sensitive to economic conditions and consumer confidence. These companies sell discretionary goods and services — things people want but don't strictly need. When the economy is strong and employment is high, these stocks tend to outperform; in recessions, they typically underperform.
Retail currently leads the sector with an average 1-year return of +23.9%, while Automotive lags at +21.8%. E-commerce continues to take share from traditional retail, while EV competition intensifies in automotive.
Key themes driving returns: consumer spending resilience, e-commerce vs. brick-and-mortar, EV adoption rates, and housing market dynamics. Amazon dominates the sector by market cap, while Tesla remains the most volatile major holding.
Of the 64 consumer cyclical stocks tracked, 38 delivered positive returns over the past year while 26 declined. The top performer, W, returned +127.5%, while LCID was the weakest at -57.4%. The median consumer stock returned +5.2%.
Top 5 by 1-Year Return
Consumer Stocks Monthly Returns (Jun'25 – May'26)
Which consumer stocks are winning? Use this heatmap to identify the best and worst performers, spot which months hurt or helped specific stocks, and compare volatility across the sector. Over the past 12 months, 38 stocks gained while 26 declined. The leader is TPR at +86.5%; the laggard is LCID at -53.8%.
| Stock | Jun'25 | Jul'25 | Aug'25 | Sep'25 | Oct'25 | Nov'25 | Dec'25 | Jan'26 | Feb'26 | Mar'26 | Apr'26 | May'26 | Total |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| TPR | +12% | +23% | -6% | +12% | -3% | -0% | +17% | -1% | +23% | -7% | — | — | +86.5% |
| W | +24% | +28% | +14% | +20% | +16% | +7% | -9% | +3% | -26% | +0% | — | — | +85.6% |
| BWA | +2% | +10% | +16% | +3% | -2% | +0% | +5% | +5% | +21% | -6% | — | — | +65.9% |
| NIO | -3% | +42% | +31% | +19% | -5% | -24% | -7% | -8% | +4% | +20% | — | — | +64.4% |
| GM | -0% | +8% | +10% | +4% | +13% | +6% | +11% | +3% | -6% | -4% | — | — | +54.2% |
| ROST | -9% | +7% | +8% | +4% | +4% | +11% | +2% | +5% | +9% | +4% | — | — | +53.6% |
| HAS | +11% | +2% | +9% | -7% | +1% | +9% | -1% | +9% | +12% | -7% | — | — | +42.9% |
| EXPE | +1% | +7% | +19% | -0% | +3% | +16% | +11% | -7% | -19% | +10% | — | — | +42.7% |
| VFC | -5% | -0% | +29% | -4% | -3% | +25% | +4% | +8% | -1% | -12% | — | — | +39.1% |
| SEE | -3% | -6% | +11% | +10% | -5% | +28% | -3% | +1% | +0% | +1% | — | — | +33.1% |
| LVS | +6% | +20% | +11% | -7% | +10% | +15% | -5% | -19% | +8% | -5% | — | — | +33.1% |
| MAR | +4% | -3% | +2% | -3% | +0% | +17% | +2% | +2% | +9% | -4% | — | — | +24.6% |
| TJX | -3% | +1% | +10% | +6% | -3% | +9% | +1% | -2% | +8% | -3% | — | — | +24.4% |
| EBAY | +2% | +23% | -1% | +0% | -11% | +2% | +5% | +5% | -0% | -1% | — | — | +24.0% |
| RL | -1% | +9% | -1% | +6% | +2% | +15% | -3% | -0% | +3% | -6% | — | — | +23.6% |
| PHM | +8% | +7% | +17% | +0% | -9% | +6% | -8% | +7% | +10% | -13% | — | — | +22.0% |
| HLT | +7% | +1% | +3% | -6% | -1% | +11% | +1% | +4% | +4% | -4% | — | — | +21.2% |
| DHI | +9% | +11% | +19% | -0% | -12% | +7% | -9% | +3% | +8% | -13% | — | — | +18.6% |
| F | +5% | +2% | +8% | +2% | +10% | +2% | -1% | +6% | +3% | -17% | — | — | +17.4% |
| MGM | +9% | +6% | +9% | -13% | -8% | +10% | +3% | -8% | +10% | +0% | — | — | +16.8% |
| SBUX | +9% | -3% | -0% | -4% | -4% | +8% | -3% | +9% | +7% | -4% | — | — | +14.0% |
| NCLH | +15% | +26% | -3% | -1% | -9% | -18% | +21% | -2% | +13% | -19% | — | — | +14.0% |
| WYNN | +3% | +16% | +17% | +1% | -7% | +8% | -6% | -11% | +1% | -7% | — | — | +12.4% |
| YUM | +3% | -3% | +2% | +4% | -9% | +11% | -1% | +3% | +9% | -6% | — | — | +11.7% |
| PKG | -2% | +3% | +13% | +1% | -10% | +4% | +2% | +8% | +4% | -9% | — | — | +10.9% |
| ··· 14 stocks in middle ··· | |||||||||||||
| ORLY | -1% | +9% | +5% | +4% | -12% | +8% | -10% | +8% | -5% | -6% | — | — | -2.7% |
| DECK | -2% | +3% | +13% | -15% | -20% | +8% | +18% | +15% | -2% | -13% | — | — | -2.9% |
| TSCO | +9% | +8% | +9% | -8% | -5% | +2% | -9% | +2% | +2% | -12% | — | — | -4.5% |
| ETSY | -9% | +16% | -9% | +25% | -7% | -13% | +2% | -4% | +4% | -4% | — | — | -5.2% |
| AVY | -1% | -4% | +2% | -5% | +8% | -1% | +6% | +2% | +6% | -16% | — | — | -5.3% |
| ROL | -1% | +2% | -1% | +4% | -2% | +7% | -2% | +6% | -4% | -13% | — | — | -6.2% |
| DRI | +2% | -7% | +3% | -8% | -5% | -0% | +2% | +9% | +7% | -8% | — | — | -6.4% |
| SW | -0% | +3% | +8% | -10% | -13% | -3% | +8% | +8% | +14% | -15% | — | — | -6.5% |
| HD | +0% | +0% | +11% | +0% | -6% | -6% | -3% | +9% | +2% | -13% | — | — | -7.9% |
| NVR | +4% | +2% | +8% | -1% | -10% | +4% | -3% | +5% | -2% | -13% | — | — | -8.2% |
| AZO | -1% | +2% | +11% | +2% | -14% | +8% | -14% | +9% | +1% | -11% | — | — | -10.2% |
| LEN | +4% | +2% | +19% | -5% | -1% | +6% | -22% | +6% | +5% | -18% | — | — | -10.8% |
| NKE | +18% | +5% | +4% | -9% | -7% | +0% | -1% | -3% | +1% | -15% | — | — | -10.8% |
| AMCR | +1% | +2% | -8% | -5% | -3% | +8% | -2% | +6% | +11% | -19% | — | — | -12.4% |
| GPC | -3% | +6% | +8% | +0% | -8% | +2% | -5% | +13% | -14% | -14% | — | — | -17.5% |
| BKNG | +5% | -5% | +2% | -3% | -6% | -3% | +9% | -7% | -15% | +4% | — | — | -19.7% |
| PVH | -18% | +7% | +15% | -1% | -6% | +8% | -21% | -7% | +10% | -3% | — | — | -20.7% |
| DPZ | -5% | +3% | -1% | -5% | -8% | +5% | -0% | -2% | -2% | -8% | — | — | -21.3% |
| IP | -2% | -0% | +7% | -7% | -17% | +3% | -0% | +2% | +9% | -18% | — | — | -23.2% |
| LKQ | -9% | -20% | +12% | -6% | +5% | -6% | +2% | +9% | +1% | -12% | — | — | -26.7% |
| BBWI | +7% | -3% | +2% | -12% | -5% | -28% | +15% | +9% | +5% | -18% | — | — | -31.6% |
| CMG | +12% | -24% | -2% | -7% | -19% | +9% | +7% | +5% | -4% | -10% | — | — | -33.4% |
| KMX | +4% | -16% | +8% | -27% | -7% | -8% | -0% | +15% | -3% | -1% | — | — | -33.5% |
| LULU | -25% | -16% | +1% | -12% | -4% | +8% | +13% | -16% | +6% | -11% | — | — | -48.1% |
| LCID | -5% | +17% | -20% | +20% | -25% | -23% | -22% | +5% | -10% | +3% | — | — | -53.8% |
All Consumer Cyclical Stocks
The table below lists all 64 consumer cyclical stocks sorted by market capitalization. The three largest — AMZN, TSLA, HD — represent 64% of the sector's total $6.3T market cap. Over five years, 37 of these stocks have delivered positive returns.
| Stock | Market Cap | 1Y Return | 5Y Return | 10Y Return |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| AMZN Amazon.com, Inc. | $2.3T | +7.1% | +34.0% | +628.4% |
| TSLA Tesla, Inc. | $1.4T | +53.1% | +62.8% | +2516.4% |
| HD The Home Depot, | $330B | -3.4% | +33.5% | +224.1% |
| MCD McDonald's Corporation | $220B | +3.3% | +54.2% | +218.2% |
| TJX The TJX Companies, | $174B | +36.4% | +150.0% | +373.4% |
| BKNG Booking Holdings Inc. | $142B | -4.0% | +81.9% | +236.2% |
| LOW Lowe's Companies, Inc. | $131B | +5.2% | +47.4% | +285.4% |
| SBUX Starbucks Corporation | $107B | -0.7% | -4.7% | +96.1% |
| MAR Marriott International, Inc. | $87B | +38.8% | +117.5% | +409.3% |
| ABNB Airbnb, Inc. | $79B | +2.9% | -34.1% | N/A |
| NKE NIKE, Inc. | $78B | -20.5% | -60.7% | -2.1% |
| RCL Royal Caribbean Cruises | $76B | +31.4% | +212.1% | +331.8% |
| ORLY O'Reilly Automotive, Inc. | $75B | -0.6% | +175.5% | +390.7% |
| GM General Motors Company | $71B | +53.6% | +31.0% | +200.1% |
| HLT Hilton Worldwide Holdings | $70B | +31.4% | +139.6% | +629.8% |
| ROST Ross Stores, Inc. | $69B | +74.2% | +82.1% | +304.3% |
| AZO AutoZone, Inc. | $55B | -7.0% | +159.8% | +322.4% |
| F Ford Motor Company | $47B | +23.6% | +23.5% | +50.4% |
| CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill, | $44B | -31.3% | +12.8% | +231.6% |
| YUM Yum! Brands, Inc. | $44B | +3.1% | +56.7% | +239.1% |
| EBAY eBay Inc. | $41B | +38.5% | +66.2% | +329.6% |
| DHI D.R. Horton, Inc. | $40B | +9.0% | +67.8% | +429.0% |
| LVS Las Vegas Sands | $37B | +31.5% | -13.8% | +35.8% |
| CCL Carnival Corporation & | $35B | +22.1% | -11.6% | -39.3% |
| TPR Tapestry, Inc. | $30B | +100.4% | +263.6% | +391.6% |
| EXPE Expedia Group, Inc. | $29B | +37.3% | +29.0% | +114.2% |
| ROL Rollins, Inc. | $26B | +4.3% | +73.6% | +393.5% |
| TSCO Tractor Supply Company | $24B | -11.4% | +47.4% | +195.7% |
| LEN Lennar Corporation | $23B | -17.4% | +2.9% | +138.2% |
| ULTA Ulta Beauty, Inc. | $23B | +47.2% | +61.8% | +174.7% |
| PHM PulteGroup, Inc. | $23B | +16.4% | +144.1% | +631.7% |
| DRI Darden Restaurants, Inc. | $23B | +1.0% | +63.2% | +290.7% |
| SW Smurfit Westrock Plc | $21B | -5.9% | +3.6% | +129.9% |
| RL Ralph Lauren Corporation | $21B | +53.3% | +209.9% | +325.9% |
| RIVN Rivian Automotive, Inc. | $20B | +36.0% | N/A | N/A |
| LULU lululemon athletica inc. | $19B | -49.0% | -47.9% | +161.0% |
| IP International Paper Company | $19B | -27.9% | -14.0% | +45.9% |
| PKG Packaging Corporation of | $19B | +10.2% | +79.7% | +415.6% |
| NVR NVR, Inc. | $18B | -9.1% | +40.1% | +293.0% |
| AMCR Amcor plc | $18B | -14.3% | -16.7% | +14.3% |
| BALL Ball Corporation | $16B | +16.6% | -25.7% | +88.8% |
| APTV Aptiv PLC | $15B | +13.7% | -53.7% | +24.7% |
| DECK Deckers Outdoor Corporation | $15B | -13.1% | +78.6% | +986.4% |
| NIO NIO Inc. | $15B | +29.3% | -87.0% | N/A |
| GPC Genuine Parts Company | $14B | -12.1% | +1.3% | +42.4% |
| BBY Best Buy Co., | $13B | -8.3% | -29.8% | +183.3% |
| HAS Hasbro, Inc. | $13B | +59.0% | +19.5% | +65.5% |
| AVY Avery Dennison Corporation | $13B | -3.5% | -0.9% | +186.7% |
| DPZ Domino's Pizza, Inc. | $12B | -19.2% | +7.8% | +212.9% |
| BWA BorgWarner Inc. | $11B | +91.2% | +33.0% | +100.9% |
| WYNN Wynn Resorts, Limited | $11B | +23.5% | -25.5% | +37.4% |
| MGM MGM Resorts International | $10B | +17.6% | -10.3% | +89.3% |
| W Wayfair Inc. | $10B | +127.5% | -76.2% | +80.7% |
| NCLH Norwegian Cruise Line | $9B | -1.4% | -34.0% | -58.4% |
| LKQ LKQ Corporation | $7B | -26.1% | -26.0% | +6.2% |
| VFC V.F. Corporation | $7B | +5.9% | -74.5% | -63.3% |
| KMX CarMax, Inc. | $6B | -39.9% | -67.5% | -12.9% |
| MHK Mohawk Industries, Inc. | $6B | -9.0% | -45.2% | -44.3% |
| SEE Sealed Air Corporation | $6B | +47.3% | +1.3% | +7.4% |
| CZR Caesars Entertainment, Inc. | $5B | -3.4% | -72.5% | +144.8% |
| ETSY Etsy, Inc. | $5B | +16.4% | -76.0% | +472.4% |
| BBWI Bath & Body | $4B | -36.5% | -58.0% | -63.5% |
| LCID Lucid Group, Inc. | $3B | -57.4% | -96.5% | N/A |
| PVH PVH Corp. | $3B | +2.0% | -36.3% | -23.5% |
About Consumer Cyclical Stocks
The consumer cyclical sector represents 64 companies in our US market coverage, with a combined market capitalization of $6.3T. These stocks span retail, automotive, restaurants, apparel, home improvement, and leisure industries.
The sector is dominated by mega-caps: AMZN ($2.3T), TSLA ($1.4T), and HD ($330B) together account for 64% of the sector's total market value.
Industry Performance Breakdown
Other Key Consumer Industries
Investing in Consumer Stocks
Consumer cyclical stocks are economically sensitive and tend to outperform during expansions and underperform during recessions. They offer exposure to consumer spending trends but come with higher volatility than defensive sectors.
For diversified exposure, investors often consider the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY), which provides broad consumer sector coverage in a single investment.
Frequently Asked Questions About Consumer Stocks
What are the best consumer stocks?
The top-performing consumer cyclical stock over the past year is W with a return of +127.5%. The sector covers 64 companies with a combined market cap of $6.3T, including e-commerce, retail, automotive, restaurants, and travel companies. Over five years, 37 of these stocks have delivered positive returns.
What is the difference between consumer discretionary and consumer staples?
Consumer discretionary (cyclical) stocks sell non-essential goods like electronics, apparel, restaurants, and cars -- things consumers cut back on during recessions. Consumer staples sell essentials like food, beverages, and household products that people buy regardless of economic conditions. Discretionary stocks offer higher growth potential but more volatility, while staples provide stability and dividends.
How do consumer stocks perform in a recession?
Consumer cyclical stocks typically underperform during recessions as consumers reduce discretionary spending. Over the past year, 38 of 64 consumer stocks posted gains. Defensive sub-sectors like discount retail (TJX, ROST) tend to hold up better than luxury goods or automotive during downturns, as consumers trade down rather than stop spending entirely.
What are the best consumer ETFs?
The most popular consumer ETFs are XLY (Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR) for cyclical/discretionary exposure and XLP (Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR) for defensive staples exposure. XLY is heavily weighted toward Amazon and Tesla, while XLP focuses on companies like Procter & Gamble, Coca-Cola, and Walmart.
How has e-commerce impacted consumer stocks?
E-commerce has fundamentally reshaped the consumer sector. Amazon dominates online retail, while traditional retailers have invested heavily in omnichannel capabilities. Currently, Retail leads consumer stocks at +23.9% average 1-year return, while Automotive returns +21.8%. Companies with strong digital strategies have generally outperformed brick-and-mortar-only peers.