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.
9. The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL)
On April 23, 2026, TD Cowen lowered its price target on The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) to $85 from $95 and maintained a Hold rating as part of a broader Q1 preview for beauty companies. The firm said it sees value in the stock’s pullback but wants clearer signs of improving business fundamentals.
On April 21, 2026, reports said Estée Lauder had hired JPMorgan Chase & Co. to structure a financing package worth roughly €5B ($5.89B) to support its takeover bid for Spanish beauty company Puig. Last month, Puig and Estée Lauder said they were exploring a merger that would create the world’s largest premium beauty company, bringing brands such as Tom Ford, Carolina Herrera, Rabanne, Jean Paul Gaultier, and Clinique under one umbrella.
On April 17, 2026, JPMorgan Chase & Co. lowered its price target on The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) to $98 from $121 and maintained an Overweight rating while removing the stock from its Analyst Focus List ahead of earnings. The firm said growing deal activity has reduced visibility, though it still believes the stock’s current valuation presents an attractive entry point.
The Estée Lauder Companies Inc. (NYSE:EL) manufactures and sells skincare, makeup, fragrance, and hair care products worldwide.
8. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD)
On April 17, 2026, JPMorgan lowered its price target on Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) to $98 from $100 and maintained a Neutral rating as part of a broader preview for the household and personal care sector ahead of earnings season. The firm said SharkNinja, Inc., Church & Dwight, and e.l.f. Beauty, Inc. are likely to deliver the strongest results relative to peers, adding that investor focus will likely center on consumer behavior, cost pressures, and deal activity.
On April 9, 2026, RBC Capital lowered its price target on Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) to $112 from $114 and maintained an Outperform rating as part of a broader Q1 preview for home and personal care, beverage, and packaged food companies. The firm said the March quarter should be relatively stable despite sluggish top-line trends, but noted that investor attention is shifting toward forward guidance following inflation and demand risks tied to the Middle East conflict. RBC added that while the ceasefire announcement was a positive development, commodity prices remain elevated compared with pre-conflict levels.
Earlier in the month, Wells Fargo lowered its price target on Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) to $105 from $110 and maintained an Overweight rating. The firm said it broadly reduced estimates across the sector ahead of earnings, using company-specific commodity assumptions that reflect inflation pressures extending through late 2026 and into 2027, with recovery expected in 2028.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) develops, manufactures, and markets household, personal care, and specialty products.
7. JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS)
On April 24, 2026, JPMorgan analyst Lucas Ferreira raised the price target on JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS) to $20.50 from $20 and maintained an Overweight rating ahead of the company’s Q1 report. The firm said it expects a weak start to the year but noted that JBS remains more optimistic about performance in the quarters ahead.
On April 13, 2026, JBS USA announced it had reached a new collective bargaining agreement with United Food and Commercial Workers Local 7, allowing its Greeley beef production facility to return to normal operations after weeks of uncertainty. The agreement runs through April 2028 and maintains the same economic framework outlined in JBS USA’s final offer.
The company said it was disappointed that UFCW Local 7 leadership chose to eliminate a pension benefit that had been included in a broader national agreement negotiated with the United Food and Commercial Workers International Union last year. According to JBS, the union instead redirected those funds toward wage increases. As part of the agreement, Local 7 also agreed to withdraw seven alleged unfair labor practice charges.
JBS N.V. (NYSE:JBS) processes animal proteins globally, with operations spanning beef, pork, lamb, and poultry.
6. Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:KDP)
On April 27, 2026, Barclays raised its price target on Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:KDP) to $30 from $28 and maintained an Equal Weight rating. The firm said the company’s Q1 report made a case for why the stock should return to investors’ watchlists.
On April 24, 2026, JPMorgan analyst Andrea Teixeira raised her price target on Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:KDP) to $33 from $32 and maintained an Overweight rating.
A day earlier, Keurig Dr Pepper reported Q1 adjusted EPS of 39c, above the 37c consensus estimate, while revenue rose to $3.98B from the $3.83B consensus estimate. CEO Tim Cofer said the company saw strong momentum in its cold beverage portfolio and coffee business despite elevated costs. He also highlighted the completion of Keurig Dr Pepper’s acquisition of JDE Peet’s N.V. earlier in the month, calling it a major step in the company’s strategy to build a global coffee platform.
For 2026, Keurig Dr Pepper expects net sales of $25.9B to $26.4B, and low-double-digit adjusted diluted EPS growth in constant currency. That outlook includes 4% to 6% constant-currency net sales growth and EPS growth for its legacy business, along with additional contributions from the JDE Peet’s acquisition. The company also expects foreign exchange to provide a roughly one-percentage-point tailwind to full-year sales and earnings growth.
Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (NASDAQ:KDP) manufactures and distributes beverages and single-serve brewing systems globally.
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