Sector Update: Consumer Stocks Rise Late Afternoon

03:46 PM EDT, 10/15/2026 (MT Newswires) -- Consumer stocks were higher late Thursday afternoon, with the State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) rising 0.7% and the State Street Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLY) adding 1.8%. In corporate news, Skydance's (SKYD) CNN said Thursday it signed a multiyear deal giving Alphabet's (GOOGL) Google expanded content rights to enable experimental generative AI features in Google products that can help drive engagement. Skydance shares gained 2.8%. Penske Automotive (PAG) has agreed to be taken private by Penske and Mitsui, its two largest shareholders, in a merger deal that values the company at about $16.3 billion. Penske Automotive shares jumped past 8%. Target (TGT) is not using customer information to boost prices based on shoppers' identities or locations, Reuters reported Thursday, citing the company's statement. Target also said it does not change prices by time of day or during periods of high demand, the report said. Prices can differ based on local costs, pricing regulation, or discounts, but customers on the same platform or location will see the same prices, the report added. Target shares were up 0.9%. Crocs (CROX) shares climbed past 6% after Barclays upgraded the stock to overweight from equalweight with a price target of $139 per share.