A look at the fourth quarter based on the last five years.
The average return of the S&P 500 during the fourth quarter during the last five years has been a loss of 2%. However there have been a few sector standouts that consistently beat the benchmark. Three sectors in particular have done well recently: Tobacco, Internet, and Leisure. When I appeared on Fox Business this past week I highlighted on stock from each sector.
Phillip Morris International (PM) - Manufacturer of 7 of the top 15 cigarette brands internationally, including Marlboro. The stock is a pure international play with exposure to over 160 countries. There is also the 4.4% annual dividend yield.
Vail Resorts (MTN) - Own and operates ski resorts in Colorado and Lake Tahoe. The company is known for the big name mountains Breckenridge and Vail. Just last week the company reported that advance sales of their season ski passes came in better than expected and the stock has pulled back offering a buying opportunity.
Citrix Systems (CTXS) - The company is known for its virtualization software and is a player in one of my favorite sectors, Cloud Computing. CTXS also owns GoTo Meeting, an online meeting software that I have to say is top-notch. | 
