Staples Inclusion:
The consumer staples group is on the verge of potentially becoming just the third of the 11 major S&P sectors to be positive for 2022 thus far. The XLP is now down 1% YTD and is has benefitted from tobacco for the most part. MO is bull flagging right above the very round 50 number, with the last 4 weeks all CLOSING very taut within just .62 of each other, and each one CLOSING above the 50 figure too. PM is acting well too higher 8 of the last 10 weeks and the last 4 weeks all CLOSING tight within .67 of each other. Of course, the soft drink names play a large role in the group as KO trades at all-time highs, and has advanced 8 of the last 9 weeks. PEP is slightly underperforming its rival and is on a current 3 week losing streak, although it is just 3% off recent 52-week highs. Some personal product plays are well off highs including former best of breed EL now 16% off its peak in early January and the round 300 number should be considered an inflection point. Below is the chart of the XLP and it demonstrates why it deserves to be a part of one’s portfolio for appreciation and dividend yield.