The business world loves a good economic indicator. Chief executives, budget planners, small-business owners, and others who must make assumptions about the health and direction of the economy take a keen interest in popular indicators such as consumer confidence, gross domestic product, housing starts, stock prices, employment data, and even the price of gold.

Economic indicators may take on extra significance when the nation is in a recession and anxious for signs of a recovery because the national psyche plays a key role in business cycles. People who are not experiencing any personal financial problems may nonetheless rein in their spending or alter the timing of major purchases when the news is telling them that the national economy is in difficult straits.

Right on the Kisser

When investors and economists anticipate that the economy is approaching a turning point, they may look in some unusual places for early indications of a shift in

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Headquartered in New York City, Estee Lauder Companies (EL) is one of the world's leading manufacturers and marketers of skin care, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products. The company has strong brands, market presence, and growth potential demonstrated by over 60 years of uninterrupted sales growth.

Estee Lauder is an above-average growth company among its peers. Despite a slowdown in U.S. consumer spending, sales are still expected to increase in fiscal 2009. It also has excellent long-term growth prospects and brand equity. With the stock trading at the low-end of the historical valuation range, we maintain the Buy rating.

Read the full analyst report on EL

"EL" Free Stock Analysis: Buy? Sell? Hold?Zacks Investment Research