Sectors & IndustriesConsumer Defensive
Best Consumer Staple Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top consumer staple stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Due Diligence Score. See the best consumer staple stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the consumer defensive sector.

Sector: Consumer Defensive

Overview Zen Rating Price Value Growth Financials

Momentum Sentiment Forecast Dividends Due Diligence

Ticker	Company	Market Cap	ROE	ROA	ROCE	ROIC	D/E	Current Ratio	Gross Margin	Profit Margin	Operating Margin
ACU	ACME UNITED CORP	$232.18M	8.30%	5.30%	8.58%	9.10%	0.65	3.23	40.10%	4.60%	6.73%
DAR	DARLING INGREDIENTS INC	$10.24B	12.20%	5.60%	9.70%	9.30%	1.08	1.57	26.30%	9.10%	14.61%
TGT	TARGET CORP	$72.10B	26.70%	7.40%	15.20%	11.30%	2.43	0.99	29.30%	4.10%	5.65%
HELE	HELEN OF TROY LTD	$641.00M	-48.20%	-18.40%	-19.61%	-18.90%	1.47	1.78	45.40%	-22.70%	-17.27%
ADM	ARCHER-DANIELS-MIDLAND CO	$41.66B	7.70%	3.30%	7.99%	7.60%	1.27	1.39	6.90%	2.20%	3.26%
MH	MCGRAW HILL INC	$2.53B	12.00%	1.60%	6.36%	10.20%	5.82	0.78	81.70%	4.40%	12.71%
ANDE	ANDERSONS INC	$2.44B	14.10%	4.90%	12.72%	9.20%	1.61	1.51	7.20%	1.60%	2.44%
SENEA	SENECA FOODS CORP	$1.26B	16.40%	9.40%	16.24%	13.40%	0.63	3.77	13.40%	6.70%	9.69%
NWL	NEWELL BRANDS INC	$2.46B	-8.90%	-2.00%	1.90%	1.80%	3.51	1.11	35.50%	-3.00%	2.14%
GHC	GRAHAM HOLDINGS CO	$4.94B	11.60%	6.70%	10.94%	12.70%	0.70	1.86	29.90%	10.70%	14.94%
DLTR	DOLLAR TREE INC	$22.36B	45.60%	11.70%	20.65%	13.40%	3.10	1.13	38.70%	8.00%	11.04%
KOF	COCA COLA FEMSA SAB DE CV	$24.47B	16.50%	7.70%	18.02%	22.60%	1.10	1.12	45.60%	8.20%	15.30%
DAO	YOUDAO INC	$1.75B	-8.30%	8.80%	-24.94%	101.80%	-2.04	0.58	45.10%	2.70%	3.92%
CHEF	CHEFS' WAREHOUSE INC	$4.60B	15.10%	4.60%	11.06%	9.10%	2.13	2.15	24.50%	2.10%	3.96%
AFYA	AFYA LTD	$1.28B	16.30%	8.30%	17.19%	31.70%	0.90	2.20	64.00%	20.40%	37.93%
BJ	BJ's WHOLESALE CLUB HOLDINGS INC	$12.04B	27.40%	7.70%	17.07%	13.20%	2.64	0.73	18.20%	2.60%	3.76%
SJM	J M SMUCKER CO	$12.96B	4.10%	1.40%	5.64%	7.70%	1.82	0.87	38.70%	2.50%	8.58%
UNFI	UNITED NATURAL FOODS INC	$2.73B	5.30%	1.20%	4.88%	3.10%	3.39	1.29	13.50%	0.30%	0.73%
APEI	AMERICAN PUBLIC EDUCATION INC	$813.14M	15.30%	8.60%	13.93%	19.00%	0.71	3.25	55.90%	6.80%	9.40%
USFD	US FOODS HOLDING CORP	$20.51B	16.70%	5.20%	12.15%	14.00%	2.35	1.14	17.60%	1.80%	3.16%
SPB	SPECTRUM BRANDS HOLDINGS INC	$1.96B	4.20%	2.30%	3.65%	6.40%	0.90	2.41	39.60%	2.80%	3.75%
BRCC	BRC INC	$224.76M	-8.10%	-1.80%	1.57%	1.10%	2.75	1.42	33.90%	-0.90%	0.48%
STRA	STRATEGIC EDUCATION INC	$1.84B	8.20%	6.50%	10.20%	63.90%	0.27	1.10	49.10%	10.50%	14.31%
HNST	HONEST COMPANY INC	$595.43M	-7.00%	-5.40%	-7.05%	-13.20%	0.32	3.94	35.70%	-3.60%	-3.49%
LW	LAMB WESTON HOLDINGS INC	$6.63B	16.10%	4.00%	10.04%	7.00%	3.04	1.42	20.60%	4.40%	9.05%
IMKTA	INGLES MARKETS INC	$1.58B	6.30%	4.00%	6.73%	6.40%	0.56	3.21	24.50%	1.90%	2.86%
DG	DOLLAR GENERAL CORP	$28.50B	19.60%	5.40%	9.76%	7.20%	2.46	1.21	31.20%	3.90%	5.57%
DMC	DEL MONTE CORP	$1.49B	1.70%	1.10%	2.80%	2.90%	0.68	2.23	9.20%	0.80%	1.80%
COUR	COURSERA INC	$1.43B	-17.70%	-11.00%	-11.02%	61.30%	0.67	1.59	55.90%	-15.40%	-14.68%
EL	ESTEE LAUDER COMPANIES INC	$35.54B	4.60%	0.90%	6.29%	5.80%	4.19	1.22	75.50%	1.20%	5.65%
CVSA	COVISTA INC	$4.27B	17.80%	9.00%	15.51%	33.90%	1.08	1.09	57.30%	12.90%	19.18%
NGVC	NATURAL GROCERS BY VITAMIN COTTAGE INC	$676.63M	21.10%	7.00%	11.95%	7.80%	1.87	1.10	29.60%	3.50%	4.71%
PXED	PHOENIX EDUCATION PARTNERS INC	$976.52M	29.00%	15.10%	28.90%	70.80%	0.87	1.92	56.50%	8.20%	11.98%
VFF	VILLAGE FARMS INTERNATIONAL INC	$347.29M	7.60%	5.40%	9.72%	13.90%	0.35	3.17	44.30%	9.80%	15.92%
HITI	HIGH TIDE INC	$233.80M	-36.10%	-9.40%	-1.87%	-2.50%	2.37	1.50	26.10%	-4.60%	-0.70%
SYY	SYSCO CORP	$40.02B	75.50%	6.40%	16.74%	12.10%	9.65	1.28	18.50%	2.10%	3.54%
HLF	HERBALIFE LTD	$1.26B	-32.10%	5.90%	21.63%	12.90%	-7.01	1.20	77.70%	3.20%	7.84%
LAUR	LAUREATE EDUCATION INC	$4.94B	28.60%	14.20%	23.84%	32.60%	1.12	0.71	27.30%	17.60%	24.88%
LOPE	GRAND CANYON EDUCATION INC	$4.00B	31.20%	22.90%	36.53%	55.40%	0.37	2.82	53.30%	19.60%	25.63%
SMPL	SIMPLY GOOD FOODS CO	$879.30M	-12.30%	-8.80%	-11.93%	-34.30%	0.45	4.80	32.70%	-14.30%	-16.85%
PRDO	PERDOCEO EDUCATION CORP	$2.07B	17.70%	13.70%	20.51%	31.70%	0.29	4.69	77.10%	20.60%	27.79%
COKE	COCA-COLA CONSOLIDATED INC	$13.36B	-889.20%	11.70%	26.45%	18.60%	-9.86	1.21	39.10%	7.20%	10.91%
KR	KROGER CO	$37.32B	14.70%	2.10%	5.93%	3.70%	6.77	0.79	23.20%	0.70%	1.29%
HFFG	HF FOODS GROUP INC	$90.01M	-16.10%	-6.10%	-7.60%	-6.40%	1.69	1.11	16.60%	-2.70%	-2.26%
MAMA	MAMA's CREATIONS INC	$701.55M	9.10%	6.40%	5.68%	22.80%	0.20	6.93	24.30%	3.50%	4.84%
ABEV	AMBEV SA	$47.76B	16.60%	10.10%	23.47%	74.40%	0.64	0.96	51.40%	17.60%	26.46%
NATR	NATURES SUNSHINE PRODUCTS INC	$236.66M	10.90%	6.90%	14.77%	24.40%	0.54	2.60	73.20%	3.70%	5.73%
LGCY	LEGACY EDUCATION INC	$130.70M	18.80%	11.70%	19.93%	28.70%	0.52	3.36	47.20%	10.90%	15.96%
FMX	MEXICAN ECONOMIC DEVELOPMENT INC	$41.62B	7.20%	2.40%	10.34%	9.30%	1.90	1.35	40.60%	2.30%	7.21%
TAL	TAL EDUCATION GROUP	$6.44B	24.50%	15.10%	26.04%	53.60%	0.66	1.69	56.00%	28.40%	37.42%
COCO	VITA COCO COMPANY INC	$3.16B	31.10%	22.10%	34.40%	94.60%	0.43	3.36	41.10%	15.50%	20.15%
BG	BUNGE GLOBAL SA	$23.29B	6.30%	2.20%	7.02%	5.00%	1.85	1.57	4.90%	1.10%	2.30%
MICC	MAGNUM ICE CREAM CO NV	$12.19B	9.20%	2.30%	11.10%	12.10%	8.04	1.01	7.60%	2.20%	6.93%
EDU	NEW ORIENTAL EDUCATION & TECHNOLOGY GROUP INC	$8.87B	11.90%	5.70%	13.69%	18.20%	1.12	1.50	54.60%	8.40%	11.86%
PSMT	PRICESMART INC	$5.21B	12.20%	6.70%	14.21%	14.20%	0.81	1.28	17.60%	2.80%	4.21%
HSY	HERSHEY CO	$34.90B	32.20%	10.80%	19.98%	21.40%	2.06	1.18	38.40%	12.20%	17.44%
KVUE	KENVUE INC	$34.40B	15.60%	6.10%	12.45%	24.50%	1.53	1.01	58.20%	10.80%	16.87%
PEP	PEPSICO INC	$186.09B	50.20%	9.60%	18.44%	17.00%	4.07	0.93	54.00%	10.80%	14.67%
PRMB	PRIMO BRANDS CORP	$7.65B	3.30%	0.90%	5.32%	6.10%	2.57	1.05	29.20%	1.50%	7.33%
PFGC	PERFORMANCE FOOD GROUP CO	$14.68B	7.60%	1.90%	6.57%	5.50%	2.85	1.51	11.90%	0.50%	1.33%
CCU	UNITED BREWERIES CO INC	$2.12B	9.20%	3.60%	6.67%	5.70%	1.38	1.90	44.40%	4.70%	6.54%
YSWY	YESWAY INC	$1.44B	N/A	N/A	N/A	N/A	3.08	1.48	N/A	N/A	N/A
AGRO	ADECOAGRO SA	$1.69B	3.00%	1.00%	6.14%	4.90%	1.94	1.73	24.30%	3.00%	16.61%
INGR	INGREDION INC	$6.22B	13.60%	7.50%	13.07%	14.30%	0.77	2.80	23.70%	8.20%	12.34%
PM	PHILIP MORRIS INTERNATIONAL INC	$303.71B	-112.20%	15.90%	35.61%	25.10%	-8.73	0.98	67.50%	25.60%	34.93%
STZ	CONSTELLATION BRANDS INC	$21.35B	23.10%	8.40%	14.83%	12.80%	1.64	0.91	52.60%	20.10%	30.76%
COST	COSTCO WHOLESALE CORP	$407.52B	28.30%	10.70%	26.85%	35.50%	1.58	1.07	12.90%	3.00%	4.05%
CL	COLGATE PALMOLIVE CO	$70.06B	631.10%	12.10%	28.88%	24.90%	68.75	1.03	60.40%	9.70%	14.60%
BUD	ANHEUSER-BUSCH INBEV SA	$161.18B	10.70%	4.30%	9.58%	19.90%	1.25	0.66	56.50%	14.90%	28.28%
BTI	BRITISH AMERICAN TOBACCO PLC	$124.03B	14.10%	5.90%	10.21%	24.50%	1.29	0.84	83.60%	25.00%	37.26%
EPC	EDGEWELL PERSONAL CARE CO	$1.23B	-6.30%	-2.60%	-1.54%	-2.10%	1.42	1.84	40.40%	-4.50%	-2.21%
TBBB	BBB FOODS INC	$6.07B	-73.00%	-10.80%	-5.80%	-3.90%	5.13	0.68	16.40%	-3.70%	-1.21%
DEO	DIAGEO PLC	$53.74B	15.80%	3.60%	6.49%	5.20%	3.12	1.60	59.50%	8.80%	11.93%
ELF	ELF BEAUTY INC	$5.71B	5.20%	2.50%	5.85%	9.40%	1.11	2.55	74.40%	3.40%	7.04%
LINC	LINCOLN EDUCATIONAL SERVICES CORP	$792.09M	11.60%	4.60%	7.84%	5.80%	1.62	0.96	59.80%	4.00%	5.76%
VLGEA	VILLAGE SUPER MARKET INC	$659.91M	10.70%	5.40%	9.69%	8.00%	0.96	1.17	28.20%	2.30%	3.34%
GIS	GENERAL MILLS INC	$19.46B	-1.00%	-0.30%	3.72%	5.70%	3.07	0.68	33.60%	-0.50%	4.70%
JJSF	J&J SNACK FOODS CORP	$1.56B	5.40%	3.70%	5.49%	7.00%	0.52	2.34	31.30%	3.20%	4.17%
LRN	STRIDE INC	$3.44B	21.30%	14.20%	21.09%	26.90%	0.49	5.94	37.80%	13.40%	17.98%
MNST	MONSTER BEVERAGE CORP	$86.59B	25.00%	20.30%	28.73%	68.20%	0.22	3.73	55.50%	23.10%	30.11%
USNA	USANA HEALTH SCIENCES INC	$282.14M	-4.20%	-3.00%	1.68%	5.10%	0.25	2.66	77.40%	-2.40%	1.10%
OLLI	OLLIE's BARGAIN OUTLET HOLDINGS INC	$4.58B	14.60%	9.20%	13.88%	15.10%	0.60	2.23	41.60%	9.80%	13.00%
COTY	COTY INC	$2.40B	-18.70%	-5.70%	-6.13%	-10.00%	2.28	0.76	62.90%	-10.60%	-8.09%
JBSS	SANFILIPPO JOHN B & SON INC	$810.71M	16.50%	9.80%	17.41%	15.30%	0.73	2.08	18.00%	5.30%	7.26%
WMK	WEIS MARKETS INC	$1.80B	7.10%	4.80%	7.55%	7.70%	0.48	2.03	25.50%	1.90%	2.55%
BRBR	BELLRING BRANDS INC	$1.07B	-35.50%	16.80%	44.19%	19.50%	-3.25	2.25	28.60%	7.30%	13.25%
SFM	SPROUTS FARMERS MARKET INC	$7.00B	34.80%	12.00%	18.81%	14.80%	1.89	0.99	38.70%	5.60%	7.43%
FIZZ	NATIONAL BEVERAGE CORP	$2.98B	32.60%	23.50%	51.47%	56.80%	0.58	2.39	36.20%	14.80%	19.41%
BGS	B&G FOODS INC	$256.83M	-16.50%	-2.40%	2.62%	2.40%	7.50	1.62	21.50%	-4.00%	3.86%
CCEP	COCA-COLA EUROPACIFIC PARTNERS PLC	$46.39B	24.90%	6.30%	12.85%	18.70%	2.87	0.89	35.60%	9.50%	13.91%
OTLY	OATLY GROUP AB	$409.56M	-3,133.10%	-16.70%	-26.82%	-8.20%	-31.36	0.43	33.00%	-13.80%	-4.90%
AVO	MISSION PRODUCE INC	$1.12B	0.30%	0.10%	1.73%	2.20%	1.06	1.92	11.40%	0.10%	1.81%
DOLE	DOLE PLC	$1.25B	4.40%	1.30%	6.02%	5.60%	2.28	1.28	7.30%	0.60%	1.94%
KO	COCA COLA CO	$384.43B	43.00%	13.50%	22.62%	21.80%	1.93	1.31	61.90%	28.60%	37.32%
KMB	KIMBERLY CLARK CORP	$32.96B	122.60%	11.20%	25.28%	19.70%	9.53	0.91	36.80%	11.80%	17.63%
UL	UNILEVER PLC	$136.89B	54.60%	12.10%	26.78%	32.20%	3.62	0.74	18.70%	20.20%	27.97%
POST	POST HOLDINGS INC	$3.49B	8.70%	2.20%	6.90%	7.10%	3.17	1.85	28.80%	3.50%	9.66%
LFVN	LIFEVANTAGE CORP	$78.30M	15.20%	8.20%	14.48%	16.30%	0.85	1.89	77.60%	2.80%	3.32%
MO	ALTRIA GROUP INC	$117.90B	-265.20%	23.10%	44.80%	38.50%	-13.49	0.52	63.00%	34.00%	48.90%
CAG	CONAGRA BRANDS INC	$7.08B	-24.30%	-9.90%	-10.24%	-12.40%	1.72	0.90	23.90%	-17.00%	-12.78%

Consumer Staple Industries

Industry	Stocks	1d %	1w %	1m %	1y %	P/E ratio	P/B Ratio	ROE	ROA	ROCE	Upside/Downside	Consensus
Beverages - Brewers	6	+1.12%	+2.55%	-3.42%	-1.02%	47.04x	1.91x	+10.20%	+4.61%	+11.48%	+16.55%	Hold
Beverages - Non-Alcoholic	18	+2.08%	+1.18%	-0.85%	+14.77%	27.04x	6.98x	+21.01%	+11.89%	+20.49%	+16.33%	Buy
Beverages - Wineries & Distilleries	13	+1.47%	+1.01%	-8.81%	-57.00%	19.80x	3.11x	+17.54%	+5.36%	+9.51%	+33.40%	Buy
Confectioners	4	+0.10%	+0.49%	-4.88%	-4.40%	23.11x	3.65x	+18.97%	+6.72%	+12.66%	+14.82%	Buy
Discount Stores	9	+1.71%	+0.34%	-2.86%	+5.43%	38.89x	8.47x	+24.37%	+8.42%	+19.85%	+16.29%	Buy
Education & Training Services	42	+1.88%	+1.82%	-2.15%	-88.41%	15.89x	2.07x	+15.27%	+9.43%	+15.40%	+35.42%	Buy
Farm Products	20	+0.00%	-0.85%	+1.00%	-62.49%	20.88x	1.41x	+6.00%	+2.63%	+6.75%	+24.98%	Buy
Food Distribution	10	+0.47%	-0.29%	-4.24%	+17.38%	33.81x	5.19x	+41.66%	+4.95%	+12.90%	+18.40%	Strong Buy
Grocery Stores	13	+1.90%	+2.13%	-0.80%	-27.91%	33.86x	3.80x	+13.96%	+2.95%	+6.96%	+105.39%	Buy
Household & Personal Products	30	+0.76%	-1.87%	-2.34%	-23.05%	29.48x	6.65x	+65.11%	+10.79%	+22.39%	+9.18%	Buy
Packaged Foods	62	-0.37%	-2.58%	-6.39%	-98.48%	-12.59x	1.56x	+4.33%	+2.00%	-2.15%	+28.46%	Buy
Pharmaceutical Retailers	8	-0.23%	+0.81%	-11.08%	-96.51%	-6.41x	15.31x	-38.66%	-18.65%	-12.77%	+175.67%	Strong Buy
Tobacco	10	+1.73%	+2.59%	-1.57%	-54.47%	22.20x	10.12x	-115.23%	+15.04%	+31.51%	+20.13%	Buy

Consumer Staple Stocks FAQ

What are the best consumer staple stocks to buy right now in Sep 2026?

According to Zen Ratings, our proprietary rating system that evaluates 115 factors proven to drive growth in stocks and assigns each stock in our system an overall letter grade as well as 7 individual Component Grades for Value, Growth, Momentum, Sentiment, Safety, Financials, and proprietary AI algorithms, the 3 best consumer staple stocks to buy right now are:

1. Acme United (NYSEMKT:ACU)

Acme United (NYSEMKT:ACU) is the #1 top consumer staple stock out of 245 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Acme United (NYSEMKT:ACU) is: Value: B, Growth: C, Momentum: B, Sentiment: B, Safety: C, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Acme United (NYSEMKT:ACU) has a Due Diligence Score of 43, which is 12 points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 31. It passed 15 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Acme United has seen its stock return 48.76% over the past year, overperforming other consumer staple stocks by 140 percentage points.

2. Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR)

Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR) is the #2 top consumer staple stock out of 245 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR) is: Value: B, Growth: B, Momentum: C, Sentiment: B, Safety: B, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR) has a Due Diligence Score of 39, which is 8 points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 31. It passed 13 out of 33 due diligence checks and has average fundamentals. Darling Ingredients has seen its stock return 106.82% over the past year, overperforming other consumer staple stocks by 198 percentage points.

Darling Ingredients has an average 1 year price target of $74.00, an upside of 13.99% from Darling Ingredients's current stock price of $64.92.

Darling Ingredients stock has a consensus Strong Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 8 analysts covering Darling Ingredients, 62.5% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 25% have issued a Buy, 12.5% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 0% have issued a Strong Sell.

3. Target (NYSE:TGT)

Target (NYSE:TGT) is the #3 top consumer staple stock out of 245 with a Zen Rating of A. Stocks with a rating of A have had an average return of +28.5% per year. Learn more.

The Component Grade breakdown for Target (NYSE:TGT) is: Value: B, Growth: B, Momentum: B, Sentiment: B, Safety: D, Financials: B, and AI: C.

Target (NYSE:TGT) has a Due Diligence Score of 46, which is 15 points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 31. It passed 16 out of 38 due diligence checks and has strong fundamentals. Target has seen its stock return 79.2% over the past year, overperforming other consumer staple stocks by 171 percentage points.

Target has an average 1 year price target of $163.25, an upside of 2.87% from Target's current stock price of $158.70.

Target stock has a consensus Buy recommendation according to Wall Street analysts. Of the 22 analysts covering Target, 22.73% have issued a Strong Buy rating, 18.18% have issued a Buy, 54.55% have issued a Hold, while 0% have issued a Sell rating, and 4.55% have issued a Strong Sell.

What are the consumer staple stocks with highest dividends?

Out of 89 consumer staple stocks that have issued dividends in the past year, the 3 consumer staple stocks with the highest dividend yields are:

1. Pilgrims Pride (NASDAQ:PPC)

Pilgrims Pride (NASDAQ:PPC) has an annual dividend yield of N/A, which is N/A percentage points lower than the consumer staple sector average of 3.31%. Pilgrims Pride's dividend payout is stable, having never dropped by more than 10% in the last 10 years. Pilgrims Pride's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Pilgrims Pride's dividend payout ratio of 91.3% indicates that its dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

2. B&G Foods (NYSE:BGS)

B&G Foods (NYSE:BGS) has an annual dividend yield of 21.04%, which is 18 percentage points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 3.31%. B&G Foods's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% two times in the last 10 years. B&G Foods's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

B&G Foods's dividend payout ratio of -74.7% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

3. Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO)

Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO) has an annual dividend yield of 12.43%, which is 9 percentage points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 3.31%. Flowers Foods's dividend payout is not stable, having dropped more than 10% one times in the last 10 years. Flowers Foods's dividend has not shown consistent growth over the last 10 years.

Flowers Foods's dividend payout ratio of 321.7% indicates that its high dividend yield might not be sustainable for the long-term.

Why are consumer staple stocks up?

Consumer staple stocks were up 1.14% in the last day, and up 0.19% over the last week. Skillsoft was the among the top gainers in the consumer defensive sector, gaining 13.66% yesterday.

Shares of services-related industrials companies are trading higher after AI executives from firms including Anthropic, OpenAI and SpaceXAI signaled that the industry's growth may have to be slowed, which may limit harmful competition for firms that rely on tech-heavy business segments.

What are the most undervalued consumer staple stocks?

Based on the Valuation rating, one of the 7 components of a stocks overall Zen Ratings grade, which evaluates factors including estimated earnings yield, earnings before interest and taxes/enterprise value, cash flow yield, free cash flow to price, and price-to-earnings growth (PEG ratio), the 3 most undervalued consumer staple stocks right now are:

1. Herbalife (NYSE:HLF)

Herbalife (NYSE:HLF) is the most undervalued consumer staple stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Herbalife has a valuation score of 57, which is 31 points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 26. It passed 4 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Herbalife's stock has gained 29.71% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the consumer staple sector by 121 percentage points.

2. Phoenix Education Partners (NYSE:PXED)

Phoenix Education Partners (NYSE:PXED) is the second most undervalued consumer staple stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Phoenix Education Partners has a valuation score of 0, which is -26 points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 26. It passed 0 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks. Although this number is below the industry average, our proven quant model rates PXED a Valuation Rating of "A".

3. Natures Sunshine Products (NASDAQ:NATR)

Natures Sunshine Products (NASDAQ:NATR) is the third most undervalued consumer staple stock based on its Valuation Rating of A. Valuation is one of 7 Component Grades used to calculate the overall Zen Rating.

Natures Sunshine Products has a valuation score of 71, which is 45 points higher than the consumer staple sector average of 26. It passed 5 out of 7 valuation due diligence checks.

Natures Sunshine Products's stock has dropped -20.93% in the past year. It has overperformed other stocks in the consumer staple sector by 71 percentage points.

Are consumer staple stocks a good buy now?

39.13% of consumer staple stocks rated by analysts are a strong buy right now. On average, analysts expect consumer staple stocks to rise by 22.54% over the next year.

2.35% of consumer staple stocks have a Zen Rating of A (Strong Buy), 14.71% of consumer staple stocks are rated B (Buy), 65.88% are rated C (Hold), 14.12% are rated D (Sell), and 2.94% are rated F (Strong Sell).

What is the average p/e ratio of the consumer defensive sector?

The average P/E ratio of the consumer defensive sector is 29.79x.

WallStreetZen does not provide financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security.

Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes and is not advice. WallStreetZen does not bear any responsibility for any losses or damage that may occur as a result of reliance on this data.

Sectors & IndustriesConsumer Defensive
Best Consumer Staple Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top consumer staple stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Due Diligence Score. See the best consumer staple stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the consumer defensive sector.

Consumer Staple Industries

Consumer Staple Stocks FAQ

1. Acme United (NYSEMKT:ACU)

2. Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR)

3. Target (NYSE:TGT)

1. Pilgrims Pride (NASDAQ:PPC)

2. B&G Foods (NYSE:BGS)

3. Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO)

1. Herbalife (NYSE:HLF)

2. Phoenix Education Partners (NYSE:PXED)

3. Natures Sunshine Products (NASDAQ:NATR)

Company

Stock Tools

Stock Ideas

Sectors & IndustriesConsumer DefensiveBest Consumer Staple Stocks to Buy Now (2026)Top consumer staple stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Due Diligence Score. See the best consumer staple stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the consumer defensive sector.

Consumer Staple Industries

Consumer Staple Stocks FAQ

1. Acme United (NYSEMKT:ACU)

2. Darling Ingredients (NYSE:DAR)

3. Target (NYSE:TGT)

1. Pilgrims Pride (NASDAQ:PPC)

2. B&G Foods (NYSE:BGS)

3. Flowers Foods (NYSE:FLO)

1. Herbalife (NYSE:HLF)

2. Phoenix Education Partners (NYSE:PXED)

3. Natures Sunshine Products (NASDAQ:NATR)

Company

Stock Tools

Stock Ideas

Sectors & IndustriesConsumer Defensive
Best Consumer Staple Stocks to Buy Now (2026)
Top consumer staple stocks in 2026 ranked by overall Due Diligence Score. See the best consumer staple stocks to buy now, according to analyst forecasts for the consumer defensive sector.