Cyclical Stock: What It Is, Examples, Risk and Return Potential

what is a consumer cyclical stock

If the stock has a beta value of below one, then it probably won’t be counted as cyclical and is considered to be less volatile than the market average. Cyclical stocks are stocks of companies that are highly sensitive to the economic cycle. These companies typically perform well during periods of economic expansion and may experience significant declines during periods of economic contraction. The performance of cyclical stocks tends to correlate with the economy but the same can’t be said about noncyclical stocks. These stocks tend to beat the market regardless of the economic trend, even when there’s a slowdown in the economy.

Sector Rotation

Nordstrom, which traces its history to a shoe store opened in Seattle in 1901, continues to be partially owned and managed by members of the Nordstrom family. Spread bets and CFDs are complex instruments and come with a high risk of losing money rapidly due to leverage. 69% of retail investor accounts lose money when spread betting and/or trading CFDs with this provider.

These are also the goods and services that people cut first when times are tough. Cyclical stocks are sensitive to changes in underlying economic conditions and are, therefore, volatile. This means they are more similar to growth stocks, which have the potential to outperform the market when it is growing. However, they are also more likely to lose value during downturns, making them riskier than value stocks (that is, non-cyclical or defensive stocks). These trends apply to the automobile industry as a whole, but there will still be some new car purchases during economic downturns. For this reason, some stocks are more volatile (or cyclical) than others, even when they form part of the same industry.

Strategies for Investing in Cyclical Stocks

what is a consumer cyclical stock

These discretionary expenses are some of the first things consumers cut when an economy does poorly. Cyclical stocks can become completely worthless if a recession is citigroup stock falls below $1 a share severe enough and companies may go out of business. Secondly, they tend to have more volatile earnings per share or EPS, as earnings fluctuate in economic cycles.

What are counter-cyclical stocks?

The travel industry is cyclical as it relies heavily on consumer spending on vacations and travel. In good economic times, people are more likely to take holidays and take flights to go on these trips than in bad economic times, when people are more concerned about spending. Stocks are considered cyclical if the prices correlate with these four phases. For example, in the expansion and peak phases, the prices of cyclical stocks also rise, and during contraction and through stages, prices also decline. When people delay or stop buying anything dispensable, the revenues of the companies that produce and sell them fall.

Consumer spending is affected by economic factors such as interest rates, inflation, unemployment and wage growth. When economic conditions begin to deteriorate, consumers are less inclined to spend their money on non-essentials, for example, flat screen televisions, vacations, new clothes, and new cars. Consumer confidence is an important gauge of consumers’ attitudes toward spending. A decline in the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) often precedes a decline in consumer spending on discretionary items. Travel, particularly airlines, as well as hospitality (such as hotels and restaurants), are typical examples of non-durable consumer cyclical industries.

As a result, these businesses tend to see footfall increase during recessions, alongside share price increases accordingly. Global economic conditions can also impact the performance of cyclical stocks. For example, if there is a recession in a major global economy, it can lead to decreased demand for products and services offered by cyclical industries. They encompass the consumer staples category with goods and services that people continue buying through all types of business cycles, even economic downturns. Cyclical stocks are seen as more volatile than noncyclical or defensive stocks, which tend to be more stable during periods of economic weakness. However, they offer greater potential for growth because they tend to outperform the market during periods of economic strength.

  1. But for the same reason, when the economy grows, non-cyclical stocks won’t surge in price either.
  2. Cyclical stocks can be highly volatile, and it is tough to predict what will happen, as the Covid-19 pandemic showed us.
  3. Investors tend to invest in the REIT sector when they see prices going down, and buyers feel encouraged to buy when the economy is doing well.
  4. The economic crisis reduced spending on luxury products and reduced travel, delaying new car purchases.

The acquisition of distributor Interline Brands in 2015 allowed Home Depot to enter the maintenance, repair, and operations business, which has daily treasury bill rates data 2021 been expanded through the tie-up with HD Supply (2020). The addition of the Company Store brought textile exposure to Home Depot’s lineup. Foot Locker Inc operates thousands of retail stores throughout the United States, Canada, Europe, Australia, and New Zealand. It also has one franchisee in the Middle East and one in South Korea, each of which operates multiple stores in those regions.

Since falling rates normally stimulate the economy, cyclical stocks fare best when interest rates are falling. But it’s important to keep in mind that the first year of falling interest rates may not be the right time to buy. Investors will usually have better luck buying in the last year of falling interest rates, just before they begin to rise again. High interest rates usually reduce the performance of cyclical stocks, as they make it more expensive to borrow money, and thereby reduce capital available for investment in stocks or in company expansions. However, some financial stocks benefit from higher interest rates, as these increase their profit margins.

Investing in cyclical stocks requires careful evaluation of potential risks and rewards, as well as a solid investment strategy. Here are a few strategies that investors can consider when investing in cyclical stocks. During periods of economic downturn, cyclical stocks may be undervalued, providing an opportunity for investors to purchase stocks at a lower price.

When the economy does poorly, these discretionary expenses are some of the first things consumers cut. If a recession is severe enough, cyclical stocks can become completely worthless, and companies may go out of business. Cyclical companies follow the trends in the eu looks for trade action on china in trimmed down summit with xi jinping overall economy, and therefore their stock prices are volatile. Non-cyclical companies produce consumer staples that are always in demand regardless of the state of the economy. Therefore, non-cyclical stocks can be profitable regardless of economic trends, and they can outperform the market when economic growth slows.

In contrast, consumer spending on discretionary items is up during an economic boom, so cyclical stocks are also prospering and growing. Non-cyclical stocks repeatedly outperform the market when economic growth slows. They may also be known as consumer staples since they are always in demand as basic needs. For investing in cyclical stocks, price-to-book multiples are better to use than the P/E.