03:46 PM EDT, 10/08/2025 (MT Newswires) -- Consumer stocks were mixed late Wednesday afternoon, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLP) down 0.6% and the Consumer Discretionary Select Sector SPDR Fund (XLY) adding 0.3%.

In corporate news, Paramount Skydance ( PSKY ) Chief Executive David Ellison is in talks with private equity firms to explore a potential acquisition of Warner Bros. Discovery ( WBD ) that could cost over $60 billion, the New York Post reported Wednesday. Paramount shares were down 0.2%, and Warner fell 3.3%.

Freshpet ( FRPT ) is facing demand headwinds amid decelerating growth in the dog food category and a slowdown in pet adoptions, BofA Securities said in a note. BofA lowered its rating on the pet food company's stock to neutral from buy and the price target to $60 from $81. BofA's rating downgrade comes as Freshpet ( FRPT ) on Tuesday named Ivan Garcia as interim chief financial officer, effective Oct. 17. Garcia, who is the company's vice president of finance, will succeed Todd Cunfer, who is leaving to become Campbell Soup's (CPB) CFO.

Coca-Cola (KO) said Wednesday that it is launching 7.5-ounce mini single-serve cans of some of its sodas in US convenience stores from Jan. 1. The company will also introduce Coca-Cola in glass bottles sweetened with cane sugar instead of high fructose corn syrup, said Joel Bishop, Coca-Cola's president of commercial leadership for its North American unit, according to Reuters. Coca-Cola shares were falling 1%.

Tesla (TSLA) has abandoned its target to begin producing thousands of its Optimus humanoid robots by the end of this year, The Information reported Tuesday. Tesla shares were up 1.3%.