6 stocks with full analysis pages and real-time alerts
Consumer defensive (also called consumer staples) includes companies producing essential goods that consumers purchase regardless of economic conditions: food producers (General Mills, Kraft Heinz), beverage companies (Coca-Cola, PepsiCo), household products (Procter & Gamble, Colgate), and tobacco (Philip Morris, Altria). These companies offer lower growth than other sectors but provide stability, consistent dividends, and inflation protection through pricing power. Consumer staples historically outperform during recessions and bear markets while underperforming during bull markets, making them portfolio stabilizers. The sector benefits from global population growth and premiumization trends, where consumers trade up to higher-quality branded products. Dividend yields in this sector are typically 2.5-4%, with decades-long track records of annual increases.
Consumer staples focus on organic revenue growth (stripping out acquisitions and currency effects), volume vs. price growth (volume growth is more sustainable), gross margin trends (indicate pricing power and input cost management), and dividend payout ratio (typically 50-70%, leaving room for growth). Inventory levels and market share data from Nielsen/IRI track competitive positioning. Free cash flow yield relative to dividend yield shows dividend safety. Currency headwinds are important for global brands, with 40-60% of revenue coming from international markets.
Consumer staples move slowly, making them ideal for long-term accumulation strategies. Dividend ex-date alerts help income investors time purchases. P/E ratio alerts identify rare buying opportunities when these premium-valued stocks sell off during market panics or sector rotations. Price below 52-week low alerts catch extreme dislocations that historically recover within 6-12 months. These stocks rarely make dramatic moves, so even small percentage alerts capture meaningful events.
Dividend ex-date and payment alerts are the foundation for consumer staples investing, ensuring you capture every quarterly distribution. P/E ratio below alerts at 18-20x flag when these premium stocks trade at discounts to their 10-year averages. Price below alerts at 52-week lows identify oversold conditions in what are typically very stable stocks. New 52-week low alerts across multiple staples names simultaneously can signal a sector-wide buying opportunity.
Based on active alerts set by the StockAlert.pro community.
Sorted by market capitalization. Only stocks with full analysis pages are shown.
| Symbol | Company | Price | Change | 52W High | 52W Low | Market Cap | Alert |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| BYND | Beyond Meat, Inc. | $0.71 | +2.90% | $7.69 | $0.50 | $322.4M | |
| COST | Costco Wholesale Corporation | $1018.48 | +1.96% | $1071.00 | $844.06 | $452.2B | |
| ELF | ELF Beauty Inc | $74.90 | +0.77% | $150.99 | $49.40 | $4.9B | |
| KO | Coca-Cola Company (The) | $78.67 | -0.42% | $80.41 | $65.35 | $338.5B | |
| PEP | Pepsico, Inc. | $165.94 | -0.75% | $171.48 | $127.60 | $226.9B | |
| WMT | Walmart Inc. | $133.89 | +0.19% | $134.65 | $79.81 | $1.1T |
People buy food, beverages, and household products regardless of economic conditions, giving these companies stable revenue even during recessions. Most consumer staples companies have raised dividends for 25-50+ years (Dividend Kings and Aristocrats), providing reliable income. During the 2008-2009 financial crisis, consumer staples declined only 29% vs. 57% for the S&P 500. Set price below alerts to buy during market panics when even defensive stocks get sold indiscriminately.
Current yields typically range from 2.5-4.0% for large-cap staples. Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola yield around 2.5-3%, while Altria and tobacco names offer 7-9%. Higher yields often come with slower growth. The total return (price appreciation plus dividends) for quality staples averages 8-10% annually over long periods. Set P/E below alerts at 20x to buy when yields are temporarily above average due to price declines.
Consider trimming when P/E ratios exceed 25-28x (historically expensive for the sector) or when the yield drops below 2% (indicating overvaluation). During strong economic recoveries, rotating from defensive to cyclical stocks captures better returns. Price change up alerts at 15%+ in a quarter can signal when staples have gotten ahead of their fundamentals and may underperform going forward.
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