Skip to content
All news
Analysis

Why Walmart and Other Consumer Stocks Aren’t Getting the Gains They Deserve

Yardeni Research's Jackie Doherty points to several companies with strong quarterly results, including Dollar General and Ulta Beauty. RBC Capital Markets favors Walmart and Ollie's Bargain Outlet. Despite this, consumer discretionary ETFs are down year-to-date.

June 4, 2026
2 min read
Source: Barrons.com
Share:

Why Walmart and Other Consumer Stocks Aren’t Getting the Gains They Deserve

Yardeni Research Contributing Editor Jackie Doherty highlights several companies that delivered strong results in their latest quarters. Dollar General attracted more six-figure households and boosted its earnings-per-share target, while Ulta Beauty delivered broad-based growth. RBC Capital Markets calls out Walmart and Ollie’s Bargain Outlet Holdings as among the best positioned to navigate the current environment.

Consumer Sector Performance

Despite these positive results, both the consumer discretionary ETF and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF are lower since the start of the year, even as the S&P 500 is up double digits in percentage terms.

What This Means for Investors

This disconnect between individual company performance and stock prices may reflect broader concerns about the consumer sector, such as slowing consumer spending or rising costs. Investors should watch whether these companies can translate their strong operational results into stock price gains going forward.

Frequently Asked Questions

The analysis highlighted Dollar General, Ulta Beauty, Walmart, and Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings.

Found this useful? Share it

Share:
This article was rewritten in Wrqti's editorial style based on information from the original source above. Content is informational only — not investment advice.