ZACKS·2026-02-02 14:35Economic Overview - Consumer confidence in the U.S. has dropped to 84.5 in January, a decline of 9.7 points from the previous month, marking a 12-year low [5] - The percentage of consumers who believe jobs are "plentiful" has decreased to 23.9%, the lowest since February 2021, while 20.8% of respondents find jobs "hard to find," the highest since February 2021 [6] - The labor market has been struggling, with the unemployment rate remaining at 4.4% in December, indicating potential further increases in January due to low consumer confidence [7] - The Federal Reserve has kept interest rates unchanged amid high inflation, leading to uncertainty regarding its near-term monetary policy [8] Investment Recommendations - Investors are advised to focus on low-beta, defensive stocks from the utility, healthcare, and consumer staples sectors to mitigate market volatility [3][4] - Recommended stocks include Ameren Corporation (AEE), Fortis, Inc. (FTS), Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH), and J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF), all of which have a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) or 2 (Buy) [3][10] Company Profiles - Ameren Corporation (AEE): A utility company serving nearly 2.4 million electric and over 900,000 natural gas customers, with an expected earnings growth rate of 8.2% for the current year and a dividend yield of 2.75% [9][11] - Fortis, Inc. (FTS): Engaged in electric and gas utility business, with an expected earnings growth rate of 5.4% for the current year and a dividend yield of 3.42% [12][13] - Cardinal Health, Inc. (CAH): A major healthcare services provider serving nearly 90% of U.S. hospitals, with an expected earnings growth rate of 21.5% for the current year and a dividend yield of 0.95% [14][15] - J&J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF): Manufacturer and distributor of branded snack foods, with an expected earnings growth rate of 4.5% for the current year and a dividend yield of 3.37% [16][17]