# Consumer Discretionary ETF Lags Broader Market Ahead of Q3 Earnings

- URL: https://stocks.freetheai.org/news/consumer-discretionary-etf-lags-broader-market-ahead-of-q3-earnings-c262b1
- Published: 2026-10-12T15:50:36Z
- Category: earnings; sentiment: mixed; impact: medium
- Symbols: [AMEX:XLY](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/AMEX-XLY), [NASDAQ:AMZN](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/NASDAQ-AMZN), [NASDAQ:TSLA](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/NASDAQ-TSLA), [NYSE:UGP](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/NYSE-UGP), [NASDAQ:GCT](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/NASDAQ-GCT), [NYSE:GM](https://stocks.freetheai.org/symbols/NYSE-GM)
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The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (AMEX:XLY) declined nearly 8% during the third quarter of 2025, lagging the broader S&P 500 index, which gained 2.25%. Quantitative stock ratings highlight key sector divergence, with Ultrapar Participacoes S.A. Sponsored ADR (NYSE:UGP), GigaCloud Technology, Inc. Class A (NASDAQ:GCT), and General Motors Company (NYSE:GM) ranking among the top-graded stocks, while AB Electrolux (OTC:ELUXY) and Patrick Industries (NASDAQ:PATK) landed at the bottom.

Despite recent sector headwinds, broader corporate guidance shows strength heading into the third-quarter earnings period. Out of 116 S&P 500 companies issuing third-quarter earnings guidance as of October 2, 72 companies provided positive forecasts. This figure tops the five-year average of 42 companies and the ten-year average of 40 companies. Overall S&P 500 year-over-year earnings growth is estimated at 29.5% for Q3 2026.

Investors are tuning in to corporate reports to evaluate retail performance, pricing pressures, and consumer resilience amid economic volatility. Sector heavyweights such as Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) are slated to release their quarterly results in the coming weeks.

## Key points

- The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (AMEX:XLY) fell nearly 8% in Q3 2025, while the S&P 500 rose 2.25%.
- Out of 116 S&P 500 companies issuing Q3 guidance, 72 issued positive outlooks, topping 5-year and 10-year historical averages.
- Total S&P 500 earnings growth for Q3 2026 is projected at 29.5% year-over-year.
- Major consumer companies Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN) and Tesla, Inc. (NASDAQ:TSLA) report quarterly results in the coming weeks.

## Questions and answers

### How did the consumer discretionary sector perform in Q3 2025?

The State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF dropped nearly 8% in the third quarter of 2025, lagging behind the broader S&P 500, which gained 2.25%.

### Which consumer discretionary companies are reporting earnings soon?

Industry leaders including Amazon.com, Inc. and Tesla, Inc. are scheduled to report their third-quarter financial results in the coming weeks.

### How many S&P 500 companies issued positive Q3 guidance?

As of October 2, 72 out of 116 S&P 500 companies that issued earnings per share guidance provided positive outlooks, exceeding five-year and 10-year historical averages.

