Consumer Staples Hold Steady Amid Market Volatility

The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) rose slightly by about 0.17% during the week of Sept. 21 to Sept. 25, while the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) fell more than 1%. This divergence between consumer staples and discretionary stocks mirrors broader market consolidation.

Costco Wholesale Corp. (COST) emerged as one of the week's strongest performers after its fiscal fourth-quarter (Q4) 2026 earnings beat Wall Street estimates. Paid memberships rose 3.8% to 84.1 million, while executive memberships increased 9.4% to 42.3 million.

Walmart stock (WMT) gained more than 1% as shoppers focused on value. Strong store traffic and steady demand for groceries and essentials helped the retailer attract more consumer spending.