The S&P 500 snapped a three-day winning streak on Tuesday after a fall in consumer confidence and mixed earnings reports, but analysts said U.S. stocks were taking a breather and the rally could resume.

The Dow Jones industrial average <.DJI> gained 12.26 points, or 0.12 percent, to end unofficially at 10,537.69. The Standard & Poor's 500 Index <.SPX> dropped 1.17 points, or 0.10 percent, to 1,113.84. The Nasdaq Composite Index <.IXIC> dropped 8.18 points, or 0.36 percent, to 2,288.25.

(Reporting by Chuck Mikolajczak; Editing by Jan Paschal)