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Enjoy Alcohol Stocks -- In Moderation
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Ann Gilpin, beverage analyst at Morningstar, isn't afraid of soaring commodity prices or tepid consumer spending.
"As we go into any kind of consumer slowdown, [alcohol] stocks should hold up relatively well," she maintains.
Gilpin explained her confidence to CNBC -- and offered her top stock picks.
Outlook
Throughout economic see-sawing of the last 50 years, "Alcohol consumption per capita in the U.S. has remained relatively flat," Gilpin said.
"Alcohol stocks are classically counter-cyclical."
Recommendations
The analyst suggests sticking with companies that have broad product reach and very deep pockets. Her No. 1 pick: Diageo [DEO
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], a "behemoth" that "dominates distribution in the U.S." and has "left rivals in the dust in developing markets."
She also likes Anheuser-Busch [BUD
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], Brown-Forman [BFB
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] and eponymous Molson-Coors Brewing [TAP
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].
(Sorry, Sam Adams quaffers: Boston Beer Company [SAM
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] is "relatively overpriced" at current levels, Gilpin said.)
Disclosure
Neither Gilpin nor her employer currently hold shares in any of the companies mentioned.
Data is a real-time snapshot *Data is delayed at least 15 minutes
