In this article, we discuss 10 dividend paying consumer defensive stocks.
The consumer defensive sector includes companies that work in the food, beverages, household products, packaging, and tobacco sectors. These are referred to as consumer staples, given people do not stop spending on these products even when their income is limited.
Valuations in most sectors remain above historical averages, but the consumer defensive sector has valuations that are neither particularly expensive nor too cheap. The consumer defensive sector can fare well through inflationary periods, since higher costs can be passed on to customers. However, there is intense competition among the sector, which leads to limited pricing power. Charles Schwab has a neutral view on the consumer defensive sector.
Restaurants and entertainment establishments opening post pandemic has led to strong demand for wholesale food, which has helped the consumer defensive sector stay afloat, despite the uncertain economic outlook given the Russia-Ukraine crisis, rising rates, and inflationary pressure.
Wells Fargo remains positive on household products and beverage subsectors in 2022, whereas its stance on packaged food is neutral. According to the firm, packaged food can make a strong comeback if it focuses on healthier food choices, in line with customers’ demand. However, this change in strategy will take time to play out.
Some of the most notable consumer defensive stocks include The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Kellogg Company (NYSE:K), and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), in addition to others discussed in detail below.
Our Methodology
We selected consumer defensive stocks that have a rich dividend history and have received positive analyst ratings as of late. Data from 900+ elite hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey at the end of December 2021 was used to identify the number of hedge funds that hold stakes in each firm.
Dividend Paying Consumer Defensive Stocks
10. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 0.55%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 57
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is an American merchandise retailer that sells sundries, dry groceries, liquor, electronics, health and beauty products, and hardware, among others. The company has presence in the United States, Canada, Mexico, the United Kingdom, Japan, South Korea, Taiwan, Australia, Spain, France, Iceland, and China.
On March 30, Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh maintained an Outperform rating on Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) and raised the price target on the shares to $620 from $580. The analyst overall believes that Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST)’s short- and long-term prospects are positive. The company’s business model is extremely well-positioned for the current macro environment, Parikh added.
Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) declared on January 20 a $0.79 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend was distributed on February 18, to shareholders of the company as of February 4. The company delivers a dividend yield of 0.55% as of April 1. Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) has increased its dividends consistently for the last 18 years.
According to the fourth quarter database of Insider Monkey, 57 hedge funds were bullish on Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST), compared to 55 funds in the prior quarter. Fisher Asset Management held the biggest stake in the company, with more than 4 million shares worth $2.3 billion.
In addition to The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Kellogg Company (NYSE:K), and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT), Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) is a notable dividend paying consumer defensive name.
Here is what Ensemble Capital has to say about Costco Wholesale Corporation (NASDAQ:COST) in its Q1 2021 investor letter:
“We saw these dynamics at play in the Fund. Some of the worst-performing stocks this quarter were among our best performers in Q1 2020. Another example was the market’s reaction to Costco Wholesale (1.5% weight in the Fund) during the quarter. From December 31, 2020 to March 8th, Costco shares declined 17% and dropped below their pre-pandemic high. The common rationale offered by sell-side analysts was that Costco would face difficult one-year “comps” (i.e. same-store sales, which compare sales from stores open for at least a year). Because so many consumers rushed to Costco ahead of shelter-in-place and subsequent quarantines, it will be harder for Costco to meaningfully beat those results when compared year-over-year. That may indeed be true, but we struggle to understand how Costco could be “less valuable” than it was a year earlier when it concurrently increased its membership base by over 7%, or 3.9 million members. With membership renewal rates around 90%, the vast majority of the new customers Costco brought in last year will be around for years to come.
Analysts also complained about Costco raising its already industry-leading minimum wage to $16/hour, with an average “effective” pay of $23-$24/hour when you include overtime and bonuses. Costco paying its employees “too much” has been a common gripe of Wall Street analysts for at least two decades. While the extra pay does indeed impact short-term profit margins, it also serves to make Costco more durable, as its flywheel (i.e. a virtuous value cycle) starts with happy employees. A 20-year chart of Costco stock price is evidence that this strategy works and we’re confident that it will continue to work.”
9. Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 0.97%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 44
Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) is an American retailer that operates a network of discount stores across the United States, selling clothing, cleaning supplies, home décor, health and beauty aids, pet supplies, toys, seasonal items, and groceries. The stock delivers a dividend yield of 0.97% as of April 1.
On March 17, Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.55 per share, a 31% increase from its prior dividend of $0.42. The dividend will be paid on April 19, to shareholders of record on April 5.
BMO Capital analyst Kelly Bania on March 18 kept an Outperform recommendation on Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) and lifted the price target on the stock to $265 from $250. According to the analyst, Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG)’s Q4 results were “solid” despite the “transitory” gross margin pressures. She sees a possibility for the company to return to its 10% EPS CAGR from present levels.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 44 funds reported owning stakes in Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) at the end of December 2021, collectively worth $2.20 billion. Tim Hurd and Ed Magnus’ BlueSpruce Investments is the leading shareholder of the company, with 2.70 million shares worth roughly $637 million.
Here is what LRT Capital Management has to say about Dollar General Corporation (NYSE:DG) in its Q3 2021 investor letter:
“Executive Summary
At LRT Capital Management we are continuously searching the market for great investment opportunities. Our favorite finds are companies with moats and growth opportunities that justify a higher price than what the stock is trading for. One of our holdings (approximately 1.5% of our long exposure) is Dollar General (DG), so today, we wanted to tell you a bit about this great company.
Company Overview
Dollar General is a discount retailer with the largest brick-and-mortar presence in the United States by store count. The company’s largest concentration of stores can be found in the southern, southwestern, midwestern, and eastern parts of the United States.10 Dollar General was founded in 1939 by J.L. Turner, who originally named the company “J.L. Turner and Son, Wholesale”. As the name suggests, the company began its life as a wholesaler, but quickly turned to a retailer of general store goods. By the early 1950s, the company had annual sales of $2 million per year,12 which is the equivalent of $22.95 million in 2021 dollars when adjusted for inflation.
The first Dollar General store opened on June 1st, 1955 in Springfield Kentucky. The simple concept was that no item in the store would cost more than one dollar. The company changed its name to Dollar General Corporation in 1968 when Dollar General became publicly traded. At the time of its initial public offering, the business generated more than $40 million in annual sales. The company’s common stock was publicly traded from 1968 until July 2007, when it was taken private by KKR. The company went public again in November 2009, under the ticker DG.
Today, Dollar General is an evolved, and phenomenal business with more room for growth. Annual sales reached a record $33.7 billion in fiscal year 2021 after consecutively growing the top line for many years. The company’s main products are every-day necessities and consumables purchased by lower income consumers on tight budgets…”
8. Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 1.60%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38
Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW) is an Idaho-based food processing company that sells frozen and packaged foods. The company delivers a dividend yield of 1.60% as of April 1.
On March 24, Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW) declared a $0.245 per share quarterly dividend, in line with previous. The dividend will be distributed on June 3, to shareholders of the company at the close of business on May 6.
Jefferies analyst Rob Dickerson on March 29 maintained a Buy recommendation on the stock, but lowered the price target on Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW) to $75 from $80. Although he is reducing his FY23 and FY24 EBITDA estimates by approximately 4% ahead of the company’s Q3 report on April 7 to reflect recent energy-related cost inflation and possibly lower profits in Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW)’s European joint venture, he continues to view the risk/reward as attractive at current levels, the analyst told investors.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in Q4 2021, 38 funds were bullish on Lamb Weston Holdings, Inc. (NYSE:LW), compared to 31 funds in the previous quarter. The total stakes held in Q4 amounted to approximately $744 million. Paul Marshall and Ian Wace’s Marshall Wace LLP is the largest shareholder of the company, with 3.5 million shares worth $225 million.
7. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 1.75%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 41
Headquartered in Minneapolis, Minnesota, Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) is a food processing company that sells cereal grains and oilseeds for the production of food and animal feed.
Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) on January 25 declared a $0.40 per share quarterly dividend, an 8.1% increase from its last dividend of $0.37. The dividend was paid on March 1, to shareholders of the company as of February 8. Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM)’s dividend yield on April 1 came in at 1.75%.
On March 4, Barclays analyst Benjamin Theuer maintained an Overweight rating on Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) and raised the price target on the shares to $88 from $80. The analyst said that he sees upside to the shares since Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM) is strategically positioned to take advantage from the short-term market disruption. The company also displays solid long-term fundamentals.
According to the fourth quarter database of Insider Monkey, 41 hedge funds held long positions in Archer-Daniels-Midland Company (NYSE:ADM), compared to 27 funds in the previous quarter. Ric Dillon’s Diamond Hill Capital is the biggest stakeholder of the company, owning 5.70 million shares worth roughly $386 million.
6. Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 1.86%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 38
Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) is a Missouri-based company that operates as an agribusiness and food company. The company has four main segments – Agribusiness, Refined and Specialty Oils, Milling, and Sugar and Bioenergy.
Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) published its fourth quarter results on February 9, posting earnings per share of $3.49, exceeding estimates by $0.62. Revenue over the period climbed 32.30% year-over-year to $16.68 billion, outperforming market consensus by $1.19 billion.
On February 24, Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.525 per share. The dividend is payable on June 2, to shareholders of the company as of May 19. Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG)’s dividend yield on April 1 stood at 1.86%.
Barclays analyst Benjamin Theurer raised the price target on Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) to $120 from $110 and kept an Overweight rating on the shares on February 14. The analyst expects “another solid year” after the company’s 2022 fiscal guidance reported earnings per share of at least $9.50.
According to Insider Monkey’s Q4 data, 38 hedge funds placed long bets on Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG), with collective stakes worth $655.6 million, compared to 37 funds in the third quarter, holding stakes in Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) valued at $538.8 million. Candlestick Capital Management is the largest position holder in the company, with more than 1 million shares worth $95.6 million.
Bunge Limited (NYSE:BG) is a significant consumer defensive stock to look out for, just like The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), Kellogg Company (NYSE:K), and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT).
5. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 1.91%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 17
Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) was founded in 1366 and is headquartered in Leuven, Belgium. The company manufactures and distributes alcoholic beverages and soft drinks worldwide. Some of the global beer brands under Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) include Budweiser, Corona, and Stella Artois.
On February 26, 2021 Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) declared a €0.50 per share annual dividend. The dividend was paid to shareholders on June 3 last year. Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD)’s dividend yield stood at 1.91% as of April 1.
Barclays analyst Laurence Whyatt on March 14 maintained an Overweight rating on Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) and raised the price target on the shares to €83 from €82.
According to Insider Monkey’s Q4 data, Fisher Asset Management is the largest stakeholder of Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD), with 8.2 million shares worth approximately $502 million. Overall, 17 hedge funds were bullish on the stock at the end of December 2021, up from 11 funds in the earlier quarter.
Here is what Broyhill Asset Management has to say about Anheuser-Busch InBev SA/NV (NYSE:BUD) in its Q4 2021 investor letter:
“Shares of ABI struggled to buck the double-digit decline in emerging market indices in the second half of the year. Consensus concerns around commodity cost headwinds certainly didn’t help matters, but beyond short term margin pressures, both businesses continue to grow their profits as well as their economic moats. ABI controls over a quarter of the nearly $600 billion global beer market, based on Euromonitor data, and remains well positioned for a rebound in post-pandemic industry sales.”
4. Dole plc (NYSE:DOLE)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 2.52%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 16
Dole plc (NYSE:DOLE) is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. The company supplies fresh fruits and vegetables to retailers and wholesalers worldwide. Dole plc (NYSE:DOLE)’s dividend yield on April 1 stood at 2.52%.
Dole plc (NYSE:DOLE) posted its fourth quarter results on March 15, announcing earnings per share of $0.14, beating estimates by $0.04. Revenue for the period amounted to $2.24 billion, surpassing market consensus by $66.20 million.
On March 8, Deutsche Bank analyst Christopher Barnes reiterated a Buy recommendation on Dole plc (NYSE:DOLE) but lowered the price target to $17 from $19. The company is unlikely to avoid feeling pressure from inflation, supply chain bottlenecks, and volatile supply/demand headwinds, the analyst told investors in a research note.
According to the fourth quarter database of Insider Monkey, 16 hedge funds held stakes worth $151 million in Dole plc (NYSE:DOLE). Ian Simm’s Impax Asset Management is the biggest shareholder of the company, with 3.4 million shares worth $45.7 million.
3. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 2.80%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), a multinational beverage corporation, is one of the most notable dividend paying consumer defensive stocks. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a significant dividend king, with 60 years of consecutive dividend increases under its belt.
On February 17, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) declared a $0.44 per share quarterly dividend, a 4.8% increase from its prior dividend of $0.42. The dividend was distributed on April 1, to shareholders of the company as of March 15. The stock delivers a yield of 2.80% as of April 1.
Guggenheim analyst Laurent Grandet on April 1 raised the price target on The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) to $68 from $67 and kept a Buy rating on the shares. The analyst made the bull case for The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) given its plan to acquire Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST), as its valuation is now approaching an all-time low.
Among the hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey, 70 funds were bullish on The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), compared to 61 funds in the prior quarter. Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway is the biggest shareholder of the company, owning 400 million shares worth $23.6 billion.
2. Kellogg Company (NYSE:K)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 3.54%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31
Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) is a Michigan-based multinational food manufacturing corporation that markets and sells cereals, crackers, toaster pastries, cereal bars, snacks, frozen waffles, and vegetarian foods. Kellogg Company (NYSE:K)’s dividend yield on April 1 came in at 3.54%.
On February 18, Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.58 per share, in line with previous. The dividend was distributed on March 15, to shareholders of the company as of March 1.
The company published its fourth quarter earnings on February 10, posting an EPS of $0.83, beating estimates by $0.04. The Q4 revenue came in at $3.42 billion, outperforming analysts’ predictions by $28.64 million.
UBS analyst Cody Ross initiated coverage of Kellogg Company (NYSE:K) on March 30 with a Buy rating and a $73 price target. The analyst noted that Kellogg Company (NYSE:K)’s consumers are currently “the healthiest they have been in some time”, with record high net worth and increasing wages. In this macro environment, the analyst prefers companies with greater pricing power. Margin expansion is also driven by investment in innovation and a strong brand equity, he added.
According to the Q4 database of Insider Monkey, 31 hedge funds were bullish on Kellogg Company (NYSE:K), up from 22 funds in the prior quarter. Renaissance Technologies is the biggest shareholder of the company, with 2.1 million shares worth $139.2 million.
1. Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL)
Dividend Yield as of April 1: 4.30%
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 26
Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) is a Georgia-based producer of consumer and commercial products. The company operates via five segments – Commercial Solutions, Home Appliances, Home Solutions, Learning and Development, and Outdoor and Recreation.
On February 3, Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) declared a quarterly dividend of $0.23 per share. The dividend was paid on March 15, to shareholders of record on February 28. The stock delivers a dividend yield of 4.30% as of April 1.
JPMorgan analyst Andrea Teixeira on March 30 maintained an Overweight rating on Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL) but lowered the price target on the shares to $26 from $29. With the ongoing Russia/Ukraine conflict and its impact on commodities prices, the analyst expects demand to remain resilient, noting that consumers continue to prefer brands over private labels.
The Q4 database of Insider Monkey suggests that 26 hedge funds were bullish on Newell Brands Inc. (NASDAQ:NWL), with collective stakes worth $1.75 billion. Carl Icahn’s Icahn Capital LP held the biggest position in the company, owning 43.70 million shares worth $954.5 million.
You can also take a look at Top 10 Blue Chip Stocks to Buy in 2022 and 10 Best High Dividend Stocks to Buy Now.
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Disclosure: None. 10 Dividend Paying Consumer Defensive Stocks is originally published on Insider Monkey.
