08:51 AM EDT, 09/19/2024 (MT Newswires) -- Consumer stocks were edging higher pre-bell Thursday with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) flat and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) almost 2% higher recently.

Darden Restaurants ( DRI ) shares were up more than 7% after the company reported fiscal Q1 sales of $2.76 billion, up from $2.73 billion a year earlier.