united technologies

Consumer sentiment is at its lowest level in two years, while the so-called "Misery Index" stands at a three decade-high. And it's true: Americans aren't spending as robustly as they once were. But when you look at the numbers, it becomes clear that U.S. consumers aren't down for the count just yet.

The short-term investors may account for most of the daily trading volume in stock markets, but slow and steady usually wins the investment race. The trick is to identify stocks likely to perform well over a period of years -- or even decades. Here are three strong options.

With corporate earnings season in full swing -- watch for McDonalds, along with Catepillar, Amazon and other -- and with the Fed meeting on interest rates, the GDP estimate and housing numbers coming out -- the week ahead is expected to be quite busy.

China and other emerging markets will be a growth story for a long time to come, creating opportunity for American companies and investors. Nikhil Hutheesing and Dan Burrows face-off in this video about which U.S. stocks stand to benefit the most.

The U.S. State Department says it will sell as much as $60 billion worth of military aircraft to Saudi Arabia over the next two decades in an attempt to protect the Middle East against the threat of Iranian military expansion. Boeing and United Technologies could benefit from the deal.

CEOs who cut the most jobs during the recession earned an average of 42% more than their S&P 500 peers, according to a study by the Institute for Policy Studies. Top execs at the 50 firms that laid off the most workers since the economic crisis began averaged nearly $12 million in 2009.

Even as homebuilding remains in the doldrums, a booming replacement business for air conditioning systems and a new venture with Carrier are giving Watsco a boost. Now in the high $50s, it could return to its all-time high of $73 within a year.

American manufacturers of weapons and aerospace systems could face a backlash from China over a $6.4 billion weapons deal between the U.S. and Taiwan. The People's Republic says it will impose sanctions on the companies involved, adding another layer to U.S.-China friction.

Stocks rallied on the first trading day of the new year as manufacturing data at both home and abroad bolstered the case for the global economic recovery.

United Technologies makes elevators, air conditioning systems and jet engines -- all of which emerging markets need as their economies develop. The stock is riding the global recovery and has room to run.