3 Stocks to Buy When Consumer Confidence Is Down Consumer confidence is a leading economic indicator and can forecast forward-looking economic performance. With consumer confidence recently hitting its lowest level in 16 months, that’s not a great sign for the stock market. Accordingly, finding high-quality stocks to buy in this environment can seem tricky. Companies in the consumer discretionary, non-essential, or durable goods sectors remain more uncertain regarding their financial outlook. As consumers save more and spend less, the financials of companies operating in these sectors can take a hit. That said, not all companies are created equal. Various blue-chip stocks with competitive advantages can weather the storm. Indeed, we’ve seen a bifurcation with respect to performance in these sectors. I’m going to highlight three companies I think are great picks right now, despite consumer confidence being low. These stocks may be surprising, but they are worth your consideration today. HSY Hershey $233.65 CMG Chipotle Mexican Grill $1,635.35 ORLY O’Reilly Automotive $712.10 Hershey (HSY) Source: George Sheldon | Shutterstock.com Hershey (NYSE: HSY ) is a world-class purveyor of confectionary products that doesn’t really need any introduction.