The expressions "sin stock" and "sinful stock" have been used interchangeably to refer to stocks that are issued by companies either directly engaged or indirectly associated with activities that are largely recognized as unethical or immoral. Such activities include the distribution and/or production of alcohol, tobacco, weapons, gambling, and sex-related products.  Just as the industries serving the incredible demand for these elicit goods have been around since the dawn of capitalism, so too have the companies associated, either directly or indirectly, with the sinful activities, been around since the beginning of the S&P 500 and modern stock market more generally.

To invest in the stock of a company is to help fund the activities that that company engages in. Since sin stocks are issued by companies engaged in the production and/or distribution of goods or activities that are widely considered to be immoral and unethical, to invest in a sin stock is to help fund the sinful activities in question. If I buy x shares of BUD for y dollars, for instance, the large majority of y will be used to facilitate Anheuser-Busch Companies Inc. in the production and distribution of beer in the US and internationally. Likewise Buying stocks of Altria Group one of the world's largest tobacco corporation, Inc. previously known as Philip Morris Companies Inc., is to help fund Altria Group's engagement in the direct production and distribution of cigarettes.

It would seem then, that investing in a sin stock is to help the companies associated with the sinful activities successfully carry through their elicit activities. However, it is worth noting that the companies issuing so-called sin stocks are deeply rooted in the world economy and western politics. Just look at Altria Group Inc. Altria has been around since the beginning of the S&P 500. Altria also has ranked in the top five in terms of the amount company lobbyists contribute to certain political causes and parties.  Adding to the difficulty of the moral question is the fact that, in general, sin stocks have been a reliable and secure investment, outperforming the market, and earning expectations almost constantly.

Tobacco Stocks

• British American Tobacco (ticker symbol: BTI)
  
• Imperial Tobacco Group (ticker symbol: ITY)
  
• Altria Group (ticker symbol: MO)
• UST Inc. (ticker symbol: USB)
• Reynolds American (ticker symbol: RAI)
• Philip Morris International (ticker symbol: PM)

Alcohol Stocks

• Anheuser-Busch InBev (ticker symbol: ABI)
  
• SABMiller (ticker symbol: SAB)
• Central European Distribution Corp (ticker symbol: CEDC)
• Boston Beer Co. (ticker symbol:SAM)
• Constellation Brands (ticker symbol: STZ)
• Molson Coors (ticker symbol: TAP)

Gaming and Gambling

• Harrahs Entertainment (ticker symbol: HET)
  
• Las Vegas Sands (ticker symbol: LVS)
  
• Wynn Resorts (ticker symbol: WYNN)
• MGM MIRAGE (ticker symbol: MGM)

Sex Related Products

• Playboy Enterprises (ticker symbol: PLA)
  
• Private Media Group (ticker symbol: PRVT)

Defense Stocks

• Lockheed Martin (ticker symbol: LMT)
  
• Raytheon Company (ticker symbol: RTN)
  
• Smith & Wesson (ticker symbol: SWHC)

Investment Funds

• Vice Fund (ticker symbol: VICEX) - a Dallas-based mutual fund that invests strictly in gambling, alcohol, tobacco and defense, and other sinful stocks.