Cyclical Stock

Post date: Oct 09, 2012 6:36:42 PM

Definition of 'Cyclical Stock'

An equity security whose price is affected by ups and downs in the overall economy. Cyclical stocks

typically relate to companies that sell discretionary items that consumers can afford to buy more of in a booming economy and will cut back on during a recession. Contrast cyclical stocks with counter-cyclical stocks, which tend to move in the opposite direction from the overall economy, and with consumer staples, which people continue to demand even during a downturn.

Investopedia explains 'Cyclical Stock'

Cyclical stocks rise and fall with the business cycle. This seeming predictability in the movement of these stock’s prices leads some investors

to try to time the market by buying these stocks at the low point in the business cycle and selling them at the high point. Examples of companies whose stocks are cyclical include car manufacturers, airlines, furniture retailers, clothing stores, hotels and restaurants. When the economy is doing well, people can afford to buy new cars, upgrade their home furnishings, go shopping and travel. When the economy is doing poorly, these discretionary expenses are some of the first things consumers will cut. If a recession is bad enough, cyclical stocks can become completely worthless as companies go out of business. Ford , Alcoa (NYSE: AA), Whirlpool (NYSE: WHR),Union Pacific (NYSE: UNP), Deere and Co. (NYSE: DE).