Apple Inc. (AAPL), Google Inc (GOOG): Why Gay Marriage Could Be Good for Investors

The Walt Disney Company (NYSE:DIS)

Possibly the most GLBT-friendly large corporation in the world, Disney has consistently withstood attempts at boycotts and other pressures to continue welcoming GLBT patrons and promoting equality for all. There’s a good reason for GLBT folks to appreciate what happens at the house of the mouse.

Disney’s stock – long thought of as sort of dormant by some investors – has been on a bit of a tear this last year, growing 37% since mid-April 2012. The acquisition of LucasFilm – and the Star Wars and Indiana Jones franchises – isn’t going to hurt going forward, either. It’s time to buy some Disney.

Starbucks Corporation (NASDAQ:SBUX)

Starbucks comes in at #17 on the GLBT brand index and just last week the company showed why. At a shareholder meeting CEO Howard Schultz took a question from a shareholder about whether the company’s support for same sex marriage is lowering the firm’s performance. His response was that Starbucks didn’t always make decisions purely on financial data and that, if the shareholder didn’t like it, he could feel free to sell his shares.

The stock is essentially flat for the last 12 months. However, since bottoming last August its climbed 31% and the company increased its dividend 23.5%. Not too shabby. If Starbucks is considered by some to be not doing as well as it should, it will be a monster when it catches up.

Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN)

Amazon won hearts in the gay community with its recent commercial that featured a pair of married men. In addition, CEO Jeff Bezos donated millions to help pass the same sex marriage referendum in Washington State last year. It’s no wonder the GLBT community considers Amazon a friend.

Still, I’ve never been high on Amazon as an investment. I just think the company needs to stop focusing on expansion and start showing a real profit before any more investment dollars should be committed to it. That won’t stop people from investing, but it’s too risky for me.

Look, I’m not saying that all GLBT people will have the same likes and dislikes. Nor am I saying that all GLBT people should have the same investment strategies and choices. But demographically, there’s a real reason to think that some companies will be helped a bit should gay marriage spread nationwide.

The article Why Gay Marriage Could Be Good for Investors originally appeared on Fool.com and is written by Nate Wooley.

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