Short This Stock Ahead of Earnings

As consumer spending grinds to a complete halt amid the worst economic slowdown since the Great Depression, it is certainly surprising to see some companies dependent on discretionary spending that are actually holding up fairly well in this brutal market.

Helen of Troy(HELE Quote) is one such consumer discretionary company. The company designs, produces and markets brand-name personal-care electrical products, including hair dryers, hot-air brushes and women's shavers. It also produces and markets nonelectric items such as massage cushions, footbaths and various kitchen items.

All of Helen of Troy's products are for services that people can either live without, use less frequently or find cheaper alternatives to. Spas and salons bear a disproportionate burden than normal consumer services because they epitomize luxury and extravagance. These are usually the first items cut from a tightening household budget.

High-end retailers such as Jones Apparel(JNY Quote) and Liz Claiborne(LIZ Quote), both of which are down 80% or so on the year, give investors a nasty taste of what happens when the consuming public turns to discount retailers, such as Wal-Mart(WMT Quote) and Family Dollar(FDO Quote). Bare Essentials(BARE Quote) also fits the category of a once-high-flying discretionary stock that has seen a huge drop off in sales given the economic recession.

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