The Bullish Bears break down a list of the largest consumer staples stocks and ETF list. Consumer staples stocks manufacture, distribute, and sell everyday goods such as food, beverages, and personal hygiene products. These products are typically considered essential and are less affected by economic changes. Companies in the consumer staples sector can be broken down into sub-sectors: retail, food and beverage, household products, personal products, and tobacco.
The main advantages of investing in consumer staples stocks are their consistent performance under market conditions, strong dividends, stability, and longevity. However, there are risks to consider, such as low-profit margins and slow growth, vulnerability to disruption from e-commerce, and the potential for high inflation to affect consumer purchasing power.
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Table of Contents
Consumer Staples Stocks List
| Symbol | Name | Industry |
|---|---|---|
| WMT | Walmart Inc. | Discount Stores |
| PG | The Procter & Gamble Company | Household & Personal Products |
| KO | The Coca-Cola Company | Beverages - Non-Alcoholic |
| PEP | PepsiCo, Inc. | Beverages - Non-Alcoholic |
| COST | Costco Wholesale Corporation | Discount Stores |
| PM | Philip Morris International Inc. | Tobacco |
| MDLZ | Mondelez International, Inc. | Confectioners |
| EL | The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. | Household & Personal Products |
| MO | Altria Group, Inc. | Tobacco |
| TGT | Target Corporation | Discount Stores |
| CL | Colgate-Palmolive Company | Household & Personal Products |
| DG | Dollar General Corporation | Discount Stores |
| MNST | Monster Beverage Corporation | Beverages - Non-Alcoholic |
| KDP | Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. | Beverages - Non-Alcoholic |
| ADM | Archer-Daniels-Midland Company | Farm Products |
| KHC | The Kraft Heinz Company | Packaged Foods |
| GIS | General Mills, Inc. | Packaged Foods |
| HSY | The Hershey Company | Confectioners |
| KMB | Kimberly-Clark Corporation | Household & Personal Products |
| STZ | Constellation Brands, Inc. | Beverages - Wineries & Distilleries |
Consumer Staples ETF List
| Symbol | Name | Industry |
|---|---|---|
| XLP | Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Fund | Broad Consumer Staples |
| VDC | Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| IYK | iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF | Consumer Goods |
| IEV | iShares Europe ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| KXI | iShares Global Consumer Staples ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| FSTA | FIDELITY COVINGTON TRUST MSCI CONSUMER STAPLES INDEX ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| FTXG | First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF | Food & Beverage |
| FXG | First Trust Consumer Staples AlphaDEX Fund | Broad Consumer Staples |
| RHS | Invesco S&P 500® Equal Weight Consumer Staples ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| PBJ | Invesco Dynamic Food & Beverage ETF | Food & Beverage |
| PSL | Invesco DWA Consumer Staples Momentum ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| ECON | Columbia Emerging Markets Consumer ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| PSCC | Invesco S&P SmallCap Consumer Staples ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| WBIL | WBI BullBear Quality 3000 ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| CHIS | Global X MSCI China Consumer Staples ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| CLIX | ProShares Long Online/Short Stores ETF | Broad Consumer Staples |
| UGE | ProShares Ultra Consumer Goods | Consumer Goods |
| YUMY | VanEck Future of Food ETF | Food & Beverage |
| EATZ | AdvisorShares Restaurant ETF | Food & Beverage |
| SZK | ProShares UltraShort Consumer Goods | Consumer Goods |
Consumer Staples Stock Characteristics
Consumer staples, such as Procter & Gamble and Costco, deal in essential goods with stable demand, offering defensive stability even in economic downturns. In contrast, consumer discretionary companies like Amazon and Tesla rely on non-essential products, making them more sensitive to economic fluctuations and consumer sentiment shifts. Investors balance these sectors for stability and growth potential.
Consumer staples stocks are the bedrock of investment portfolios, prized for their stability and resilience in turbulent market conditions. Sure, it might not be the flashiest corner of the market, but it can be a beacon of consistency in times of uncertainty. Here are a few characteristics of consumer staples stocks.
1. Consistent Performance
Consumer staples companies deal in everyday essentials, from toothpaste to toilet paper. Regardless of economic conditions, this steady demand for their products provides a reliable revenue stream. This makes their financial performance less susceptible to economic downturns.
2. Dividends
Many consumer staples stocks are renowned for their consistent dividend payments. These companies often have a track record of increasing dividends over time, making them attractive to income-focused investors seeking a reliable income stream. Have you heard of the dividend aristocrats? Many consumer staples stocks are part of this prestigious list.
3. Brand Power
Strong brand recognition is a hallmark of consumer staples companies. Brands like Coca-Cola and Procter & Gamble have become synonymous with quality and reliability. This brand power fosters customer loyalty and creates a competitive advantage in the market.
4. Inelastic Demand
The demand for consumer staples tends to be inelastic, meaning it doesn’t fluctuate significantly with price changes. Consumers prioritize these essential products, and the relatively stable demand contributes to the predictability of revenue for companies in this sector.
WMT Stock Rover Report
Consumer Staples Stocks Breakdown
Consumer staples products can be found in most households. Regardless of our income and global economic conditions, their prices and demand remain stable. Here are a few of the most popular consumer staples stocks.
1. Walmart (NYSE: WMT)
While Walmart is primarily known as a large retail corporation present in 24 countries with over 10,000 stores, the majority of its sales come from consumer staples. Walmart sells a wide range of everyday essentials, including groceries, household goods, personal care products, and more. The products offered by Walmart, especially in its grocery and household sections, have relatively stable and inelastic demand. Regardless of economic conditions, consumers tend to continue buying essential items, providing Walmart with a consistent revenue stream.
Dividend: 1.41%, $0.57 quarterly
2. Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG)
P&G is a global consumer goods company known for producing various everyday essentials. Some popular household products include Tide and Febreze, personal care items such as Gillette and Head & Shoulders, and well-known brands in other categories like Pampers, Always, Crest, Oral-B, Vicks, and Tampax. P&G’s focus on these essential products provides a consistent and predictable revenue stream
Dividend: 2.50%, $0.94 quarterly
3. Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO)
Coca-Cola is undoubtedly one of the most famous brands in the world. Regardless of where you live, you will find this beverage. The consumption of beverages like Coca-Cola is relatively consistent, making the company less susceptible to economic downturns. Without knowing it, you might have bought one of Coca-Cola’s products, such as Fanta, Sprite, Minute Maid, Powerade, or Dasani. On top of this, Coca-Cola has strategically forged partnerships and cultivated a powerful brand presence to solidify its position in the global market. Some of its globally renowned partners include FIFA and the Olympics.
Dividend: 3.05%, $0.46 quarterly
4. PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP)
The battle between Coca-Cola and Pepsico is one of the biggest rivalries since the dawn of competition. The latter sells products found virtually anywhere in the world, such as Pepsi, Lay’s, Mountain Dew, Doritos, Gatorade, and Tropicana. Similar to Coca-Cola’s products, their demand is relatively inelastic. However, Pepsi’s response to inflation has been a little controversial. The giant has increased its prices more than other big brands while reducing the quantity and quality of its products—profits before everything.
Dividend: 3.03%, $1.27 quarterly
5. Costco (NASDAQ: COST)
Costco primarily sells everyday essentials, including groceries, household goods, personal care products, and other consumables. The majority of the products sold can be considered essential. Costco operates on a membership-based model, where customers pay an annual fee to access the store and take advantage of bulk purchasing discounts. This membership model fosters customer loyalty and contributes to a steady flow of recurring revenue for the company. Costco is also a discount retailer known for offering products at lower prices than traditional retailers. This value proposition is particularly appealing during economic downturns when consumers may prioritize cost savings on essential items.
Dividend: 0.60%, $1.02 quarterly
6. Philip Morris (NYSE: PM)
Despite being part of the tobacco industry, Philip Morris International is often considered a consumer staples stock. While controversial due to health concerns, tobacco products are considered consumer staples because they fall into the category of everyday essentials for a significant number of consumers. Smokers often continue buying cigarettes even when prices increase.
Dividend: 5.46%, $1.30 quarterly
7. Mondelez Intl. (NASDAQ: MDLZ)
Mondelez is a global snacking company that offers a wide range of well-known brands in the food and beverage sector. Some popular examples include Oreo, Cadbury, Toblerone, Ritz, and Milka. These popular snacks enjoy significant market recognition and consumer loyalty. This brand strength contributes to the company’s stability and competitiveness in the consumer staples sector.
Dividend: 2.32%, $0.42 quarterly
8. Estee Lauder Inc (NYSE: EL)
Estée Lauder specializes in producing and selling a wide range of beauty and personal care products, including skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care. These items are considered essential for many consumers. Once again, brand and consumer loyalty play a huge part in the brand’s success. Despite operating in the luxury and prestige segment, the consistent demand for high-quality beauty products places Estée Lauder within the broader consumer staples category.
Dividend: 1.96%, $0.66 quarterly
9. Altria Group Inc (NYSE: MO)
Altria’s core business is also in the tobacco industry. Altria’s presence in the U.S. tobacco market is significant, and it also has a global footprint through its ownership stake in Philip Morris International. Altria owns some of the most recognizable and widely consumed cigarette brands, including Marlboro, which has a strong global presence. The brand strength contributes to consumer loyalty and market share. This stock is also very popular among investors due to its attractive dividend yield.
Dividend: 9.48%, $0.98 quarterly
10. Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT)
Target is a retail company that offers a wide range of products, including apparel, electronics, home goods, toys, and groceries. While groceries are a component of its offerings, most products fall into the discretionary category, as they are non-essential and often driven by consumer preferences and trends. This means that some of Target’s products have an elastic demand.
Dividend: 3.12%, $1.10 quarterly
Consumer Staples ETFs Breakdown
Consumer staples ETFs include stocks of companies operating in industries such as food and beverage, household products, personal care, tobacco and other non-cyclical sectors. The goal is to provide investors with exposure to stable and defensive sectors of the economy. Here are a few examples of consumer staples ETFs.
XLP’s top 10 holdings are almost a perfect replica of the consumer staples stocks mentioned above, with the addition of Colgate. Its top holdings are P&G and Costco, representing 25% of the fund.
Dividend: 2.61%
IYK has a slightly different fund composition with stocks like CVS, Colgate, McKesson, and Monster in its top 10 holdings. P&G remains the main holding, followed by Coca-Cola, representing 27% of the fund. IYK has been the best-performing ETF on this list for the last five years.
Dividend: 2.73%
IEV has a very different composition than other ETFs on this list, as it only holds European stocks. It also has more stocks (363) than other funds. Its top holdings include Novo Nordisk, Nestlé, Shell, LVMH and others. Its top holding represents only 3.37% of the entire fund.
Dividend: 2.80%
VDC’s top 10 holdings are the same as XLP’s but the weight attributed to each stock is slightly better distributed. P&G and Costco are the top holdings, but they represent 21% of the fund instead of 25%.
Dividend: 2.62%
FSTA is another popular ETF with some of the top US consumer staples stocks we mentioned earlier with some outliers like Colgate and Constellation Brands. P&G and Costco remain the top holdings, representing 21% of the fund.
Dividend: 2.63%
KXI is a mix of US and global consumer staples stocks. P&G is once again the top holding (8.59%) followed by Nestle and the stocks found in the first section of the article.
Dividend: 2.97%
FTXG is focused on consumer staples in the food & beverage industry. The fund’s top holdings include Kraft, Mondelez, Coca-Cola, Pepsi and Archer-Daniels. The fund’s performance has been below its peers, but its dividend is very attractive.
Dividend: 4.29%
FXG is focused on different consumer staples stocks. None of its top holdings can be found on the list we provided. Instead, the fund managers chose Performance Food Group, Ingredion, Freshpet, Mckesson and Caseys.
Dividend: 1.40%
RSP has over 500 holdings, and none represents more than 1% of the fund. They are all evenly weighted. The most represented sectors are industrials, financials, and health care. It is also a blend of value, blend, and growth large, mid, and small-cap stocks.
Dividend: 1.65%
PBJ has only 32 holdings, but they are well-known food and beverage consumer staples stocks. Top holdings include Kraft and Constellations Brands: monster and Coca-Cola.
Dividend: 1.82%
Final Thoughts: Consumer Staples Stocks
In conclusion, consumer staples stocks include household essentials, food and personal care products, and tobacco. These stocks are known to be very stable, and many investors turn to them during times of economic instability. They are also known as defensive stocks. Consumer staples stocks also provide investors with steady income thanks to their dividends. However, these stocks aren’t very exciting because they don’t provide much growth or exciting opportunities for aggressive investors.
