In this article, we will look at the 11 Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Invest In.
Consumer staples stocks are back in the conversation as investors spend more time thinking about what can still hold up if growth stays muted amidst economic uncertainty. Staples companies sell products that people tend to keep buying regardless of whether confidence is booming or softening, which gives the group a different earnings profile from more cyclical sectors. Franklin Templeton says the consumer staples case now rests on “compelling valuations,” “attractive dividends,” and “potential earnings recovery,” while also pointing to “resilient demand” and “stable cash flows and revenue generation.”
Fidelity says the consumer staples sector is “less sensitive to economic cycles than other sectors,” that these firms can be “somewhat resistant to downturns in the business cycle,” and that the sector is considered “more defensive.” AllianceBernstein makes a similar point from a portfolio angle, noting that consumer staples stocks tend to be “less sensitive to the swings of the overall equity market,” while companies with “stable earnings” and dividends can provide an added cushion. Staples are not about explosive upside. They are about steadier demand, better downside behavior, and a business model the market often rediscovers when risk appetite cools.
With that in mind, let’s take a look at the 11 Best Consumer Staples Stocks to Invest In.
Our Methodology
We used the Finviz screener to identify consumer staples stocks that have recently reported noteworthy developments likely to impact investor sentiment. These stocks are also popular among analysts and elite hedge funds.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 498.7% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 303 percentage points (see more details here).
11. The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR)
On April 27, 2026, Erste Group downgraded The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) to Hold from Buy, saying the stock’s valuation remains low and is likely to stay that way in the medium term, limiting upside potential. The downgrade came less than a month after Erste initiated coverage of Kroger with a Buy rating on April 2.
On April 23, 2026, Beyond Meat announced the nationwide rollout of a new Beyond Chicken Pieces product at more than 2,000 Kroger stores.
Last month, The Kroger Co. and The Kroger Family of Pharmacies announced that Eli Lilly’s (NYSE:LLY) newly launched Zepbound KwikPen, a multi-dose delivery option for its weight-loss medication, is now available at participating Kroger pharmacies as part of the company’s efforts to expand access to GLP-1 therapies.
The Kroger Co. (NYSE:KR) operates food and drug retail stores across the U.S., including combination food and drug stores, multi-department stores, marketplace stores, and price-impact warehouses.
10. Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY)
On April 24, 2026, BofA lowered its price target on Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) to $91 from $102 previously and maintained a Buy rating on the shares as part of a broader update to restaurant-sector estimates ahead of calendar Q1 earnings.
On April 17, 2026, Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) raised its quarterly dividend to 55c per share from 54c. The new dividend will be paid on July 24, 2026, to shareholders of record at the close of business on July 2, 2026.
Earlier in the month, Piper Sandler lowered its price target on Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) to $77 from $83 and maintained a Neutral rating on the shares after the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire Restaurant Depot for total consideration of $29.1B. The firm said it was “quite surprised” by the deal and noted that it is not a fan of the transaction, adding that the negative share price reaction appeared rational and that it would not be a buyer on the pullback.
Sysco Corporation (NYSE:SYY) markets and distributes food and related products to restaurants and other food-away-from-home customers across the U.S. and international markets.
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