Considering investing in consumer staples stocks? While the best consumer staples stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals, we've identified some consumer staples stocks that are worth keeping an eye on in the defensive sector. Keep reading to learn more about consumer staples stocks and how to start investing.
We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the defensive industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap stocks.
| Best stock | 1-year return | Market cap | Exchange | Volume | Buy on Questrade |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| Loblaw Companies (L.TO) | 9.94% | $73.2 billion (CAD) | Toronto Stock Exchange | 1,447,977 | Buy now |
| Dollarama (DOL.TO) | -1.97% | $50.9 billion (CAD) | Toronto Stock Exchange | 590,342 | Buy now |
| Empire Company (EMP-A.TO) | -11.34% | $11 billion (CAD) | Toronto Stock Exchange | 620,186 | Buy now |
| Maple Leaf Foods (MFI.TO) | 19.66% | $3.8 billion (CAD) | Toronto Stock Exchange | 125,601 | Buy now |
| George Weston (WN.TO) | 10.44% | $37.6 billion (CAD) | Toronto Stock Exchange | 330,257 | Buy now |
| The Coca-Cola Company (KO.US) | 19.66% | $362 billion (USD) | NYSE | 17,823,364 | Buy now |
| Procter-and-Gamble Company (PG.US) | -3.26% | $352.6 billion (USD) | NYSE | 8,053,108 | Buy now |
| General Mills (GIS.US) | -27.57% | $20.1 billion (USD) | NYSE | 8,777,408 | Buy now |
| Walmart (WMT.US) | 14.88% | $890 billion (USD) | NASDAQ | 19,446,310 | Buy now |
| Costco Wholesale (COST.US) | -3.89% | $422 billion (USD) | NASDAQ | 1,938,037 | Buy now |
The defensive industry is affected by a range of complex factors such as trade policies, regulations, and fluctuating supply and demand. So when considering consumer staples stocks to buy, it's important that you have access to vital information about a company's financial health, leadership team, and market positioning.
Also keep in mind that, while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look for stocks to offer steadier gains over time.
A lot of factors go into picking the best consumer staples stocks. Stock performance can be impacted by factors like market conditions, company decisions and global events. Plus, what may be a strong consumer staples stock investment for one person might not be suitable for another.
That said, we rounded up this list of popular consumer staples stocks in or related to the defensive industry to help narrow down your options:
Keep in mind that this is not a "best" list or a recommendation. It highlights some consumer staples stocks for informational purposes only and does not indicate past or future performance or investment advice. We do not guarantee any investment performance.
We've outlined detailed company and stock performance details for each consumer staples stock below. Keep reading to decide if any of these companies are the right investment for you.
Loblaw Companies Limited, a food and pharmacy company, provides grocery, pharmacy and healthcare services, health and beauty products, apparel, general merchandise, financial services, and wireless mobile products and services in Canada and the United States. It operates through two segments, Retail and Financial Services.
The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food, and associate-owned drug stores.
| Closing stock price | C$61.69 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | C$73.2 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | C$20.2 billion |
| Profit margin | 4.28% |
| Revenue (TTM) | C$64.5 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | C$2.21 |
| 52-week stock price range | C$52.55 – C$69.27 |
Dollarama Inc. operates a chain of stores and provides related logistical and administrative support activities. Its stores offer general merchandise, consumables, and seasonal products.
The company operates in Canada, Latin America, Colombia, Peru, Australia, and Mexico.
| Closing stock price | C$185.86 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | C$50.9 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | C$3.4 billion |
| Profit margin | 17.65% |
| Revenue (TTM) | C$7.6 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | C$4.85 |
| 52-week stock price range | C$165.89 – C$209.70 |
Empire Company Limited, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the food retail and related real estate businesses in Canada. It operates through two segments, Food Retailing, and Investments and Other Operations.
The company owns, affiliates, and franchises retail stores under the Sobeys, Safeway, IGA, Foodland, FreshCo, Thrifty Foods, Farm Boy, Longo's, and Lawtons Drugs brands; operates grocery e-commerce stores under the Voilà, IGA, and ThriftyFoods.com brands; and operates and/or supplies retail fuel locations.
| Closing stock price | C$48.77 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | C$11 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | C$8.7 billion |
| Profit margin | 0.62% |
| Revenue (TTM) | C$32 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | C$0.86 |
| 52-week stock price range | C$43.61 – C$57.51 |
Maple Leaf Foods Inc., together with its subsidiaries, operates as a protein-focused consumer packaged goods company in Canada, the United States, Japan, Korea, the Philippines, China, and internationally. It offers fresh and frozen poultry, bacon, hams, wieners, meat snacks, a variety of delicatessen products, specialty sausages, a line of cooked meats, sliced meats, cooked sausage products, lunch kits, and canned meats; processed chicken products comprising fully cooked chicken breasts and wings; and a range of plant-based products, including tempeh and plant-based chicken, sausages, wieners, bacon, grounds, burgers, deli meat, cheeses, and frozen appetizers under the Maple Leaf, Maple Leaf Prime, Schneiders, Mina, Greenfield Natural Meat Co., Fantino & Mondello, Grab'N Snack, Lunch Mate, LightLife, Field Roast, Chao, Swift Premium, Hygrade, Mitchell's Gourmet, Larsen, and Shopsy's brands, as well as private label brands.
The company was founded in 1836 and is headquartered in Mississauga, Canada.
| Closing stock price | C$30.70 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | C$3.8 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | C$689 million |
| Profit margin | 13.56% |
| Revenue (TTM) | C$4 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | C$0.57 |
| 52-week stock price range | C$22.32 – C$31.79 |
George Weston Limited provides food and drug retailing, and financial services in Canada. The company operates in two segments, Loblaw Companies Limited (Loblaw) and Choice Properties Real Estate Investment Trust (Choice Properties).
The Loblaw segment provides grocery, corporate and franchise-owned retail food, and associate-owned drug stores, including in-store pharmacies, health care services, health and beauty products, apparel, and other general merchandise.
| Closing stock price | C$98.54 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | C$37.6 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | C$20.8 billion |
| Profit margin | 1.79% |
| Revenue (TTM) | C$65.1 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | C$2.70 |
| 52-week stock price range | C$82.00 – C$105.84 |
The Coca-Cola Company, a beverage company, manufactures and sells various nonalcoholic beverages in the United States and internationally. The company provides Trademark Coca-Cola, sparkling soft drinks and flavors; water, sports, coffee, and tea; juice, value-added dairy, and plant-based beverages; and emerging beverages.
It also offers beverage concentrates and syrups, as well as fountain syrups to fountain retailers comprising restaurants and convenience stores.
| Closing stock price | $84.05 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | $362 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | $30.4 billion |
| Profit margin | 27.80% |
| Revenue (TTM) | $49.3 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | $3.18 |
| 52-week stock price range | $64.04 – $84.14 |
The Procter & Gamble Company provides branded consumer packaged goods worldwide. It operates through Beauty; Grooming; Health Care; Fabric & Home Care; and Baby, Feminine & Family Care segments.
The company offers conditioners, shampoos, styling aids, and treatments under the Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, and Rejoice brands; antiperspirants, deodorants, and personal cleansing products under the Native, Old Spice, Safeguard, and Secret brands; and facial moisturizers, cleaners, and treatments under the Olay and SK-II brands.
| Closing stock price | $152.75 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | $352.6 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | $44.2 billion |
| Profit margin | 19.16% |
| Revenue (TTM) | $86.7 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | $6.84 |
| 52-week stock price range | $135.63 – $166.00 |
General Mills, Inc. manufactures and markets branded consumer foods in the United States and internationally. The company operates through four segments: North America Retail; International; North America Pet; and North America Foodservice.
It offers grain, ready-to-eat cereals, refrigerated yogurt, soup, meal kits, refrigerated and frozen dough products, dessert and baking mixes, bakery flour, frozen pizza and pizza snacks, snack bars, fruit and savory snacks, ice cream and frozen desserts, unbaked and fully baked frozen dough products, frozen hot snacks, ethnic meals, side dish mixes, frozen breakfast and entrees, nutrition bars, and frozen and shelf-stable vegetables.
| Closing stock price | $37.10 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | $20.1 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | $6.2 billion |
| Profit margin | -0.48% |
| Revenue (TTM) | $18.4 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | -$0.16 |
| 52-week stock price range | $31.75 – $50.39 |
Walmart Inc. engages in the operation of retail and wholesale stores and clubs, ecommerce websites, and mobile applications worldwide. The company operates through three segments: Walmart U.S., Walmart International, and Sam's Club U.S. It operates supercenters, supermarkets, warehouse clubs, cash and carry stores, and discount stores under Walmart and Walmart Neighborhood Market brands; membership-only warehouse clubs; and ecommerce websites, such as walmart.com.mx, walmart.ca, flipkart.com, PhonePe and other sites.
It offers grocery items, including dry grocery, snacks, dairy, meat, produce, deli and bakery, frozen foods, alcoholic and nonalcoholic beverages, as well as consumables, such as health and beauty aids, pet supplies, household chemicals, paper goods, and baby products; and fuel and other categories.
| Closing stock price | $111.54 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | $890 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | $181.2 billion |
| Profit margin | 3.14% |
| Revenue (TTM) | $725.3 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | $2.84 |
| 52-week stock price range | $93.45 – $135.16 |
Costco Wholesale Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, engages in the operation of membership warehouses in the United States, Puerto Rico, Canada, Mexico, Japan, the United Kingdom, Korea, Australia, Taiwan, China, Spain, France, Iceland, New Zealand, and Sweden. It offers merchandise, including sundries, dry groceries, candies, coolers, freezers, deli, liquor, and tobacco; non-food merchandise comprising appliances, small electronics, health and beauty aids, hardware, lawn and garden, sporting goods, tires, toys and seasonal, automotive, stamps, tickets, apparel, furniture, domestics, housewares, special order kiosks, and jewelry; and fresh food, such as meat, produce, service deli, and bakery products.
The company is also involved in warehouse ancillary operations, which include gasoline, pharmacies, optical, food courts, hearing-aid centers, and tire installation centers.
| Closing stock price | $947.50 |
|---|---|
| Market Capitalization | $422 billion |
| Gross profit (TTM) | $37.8 billion |
| Profit margin | 3.01% |
| Revenue (TTM) | $293.6 billion |
| Earnings per share (TTM) | $19.88 |
| 52-week stock price range | $841.69 – $1,096.50 |
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