Five Royal Wedding Stocks (TIF, COH, NILE, VGK, NRT)

The royal wedding is just around the corner and people across the world will be tuning in to watch the lavish ceremony. More than one million visitors are expected to make the trip to London for a front-row seat. Huge spikes in tourism coupled with retailers of all kinds are developing products to cash in on the event and are expected to boost Britain's economy. Britain is still recovering from high unemployment and government spending cuts. Prime Minister David Cameron backed an investment of 50 million pounds to promote Britain as a tourist destination by using the royal wedding and Summer Olympic Games in 2012. While the investment may end up paying for itself further down the line, the extravagant nuptials are rubbing UK citizens the wrong way. However, some argue the ‘feel-good' impact of the wedding buzz is having positive effects on people's stressed out attitudes due to the economy. Retailers are forecasting 620 million pounds in additional sales generated from the event. According to the New York Times, “Hotels have started to assemble special royal wedding packages, a retailer is selling an engagement ring replica and a brewery is producing a special ‘Kiss Me Kate' beer.” The bride, Kate Middleton, has been the focus of every fashion media outlet since the engagement news broke and is now going to be looked at as British fashion icon. High-end, European-based fashion stocks that are expecting growth stemming from current trends could benefit from the royal wedding. Tiffany & Co. TIF has rose 8% YTD and is currently trading at $67.33. Coach COH has seen a 5% YTD increase and is trading at $57.94, and Blue Nile NILE has jumped 35% in the past six months and is trading at $56.92. In fashion, one day something is in and the next it's not. Less specific European-based stocks like Vanguard European ETF VGK continue to do well, with 12% growth YTD. Since people will be traveling from all over to attend the royal wedding, it can be assumed oil consumption will see a spike. North European Oil Royalty NRT has increased 7% YTD and is currently trading at $30.74.