Most Consumer Staples Are Underperforming but not Walmart and Costco
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Jun 07 2024
0mins
Should l Buy PG?
Source: barron's
- Economic Concerns: Americans are worried about the economy as retail sales in April remained flat compared to March, affecting consumer stocks.
- Stock Performance: While Consumer Staples ETF is up 9% this year, it lags behind the broader market. The Consumer Discretionary ETF is in the red for 2024.
- Retail Giants' Success: Retail giants like Costco and Walmart have seen their shares rise by nearly 30% this year, outperforming the market and trading at record highs.
- Consumer Behavior: Consumers are seeking bargains at Walmart and Costco due to stretched budgets, impacting traditional consumer goods firms negatively.
- Investor Trends: Investors may favor Walmart and Costco over traditional staples companies, leading to a potential market lag for the latter.
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Analyst Views on PG
Wall Street analysts forecast PG stock price to rise
17 Analyst Rating
10 Buy
7 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 143.380
Low
150.00
Averages
164.50
High
180.00
Current: 143.380
Low
150.00
Averages
164.50
High
180.00
About PG
The Procter & Gamble Company is focused on providing branded consumer packaged goods to consumers across the world. The Company’s segments include Beauty, Grooming, Health Care, Fabric & Home Care and Baby, Feminine & Family Care. The Company’s products are sold in approximately 180 countries and territories primarily through mass merchandisers, e-commerce, including social commerce channels, grocery stores, membership club stores, drug stores, department stores, distributors, wholesalers, specialty beauty stores, including airport duty-free stores), high-frequency stores, pharmacies, electronics stores and professional channels. It also sells direct to individual consumers. It has operations in approximately 70 countries. It offers products under brands, such as Head & Shoulders, Herbal Essences, Pantene, Rejoice, Olay, Old Spice, Safeguard, Secret, SK-II, Braun, Gillette, Venus, Crest, Oral-B, Ariel, Downy, Gain, Tide, Always, Always Discreet, Tampax, Bounty and others.
About the author

Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
- Unsolicited Tender Offer: Potemkin Limited has made an unsolicited offer to purchase up to 100,000 shares of Procter & Gamble at $100.00 per share, which represents a 30% discount from the last closing price of $142.77 on April 6, 2026, potentially leading shareholders to sell at below-market prices and negatively impacting their investment returns.
- P&G's Recommendation: Procter & Gamble strongly advises shareholders against tendering their shares in this unsolicited offer due to the below-market price and numerous conditions attached, which could adversely affect shareholder rights and interests.
- Withdrawal Opportunity: Shareholders who have tendered their shares may withdraw them within 14 days after submitting their acceptance form, and P&G emphasizes the importance of considering current market quotes and consulting financial advisors before making decisions.
- SEC Advisory: The SEC has issued warnings regarding mini-tender offers, advising investors to be cautious of offers made at below-market prices, and P&G urges shareholders to remain vigilant to protect their interests.
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- Number of Funds Holding: In the latest 13F filings, 34 hedge funds reported holding Procter & Gamble (PG), indicating sustained market interest, although these figures only reflect long positions.
- Holding Change Trends: As of March 31, 2026, 16 funds increased their PG holdings while 13 funds decreased theirs, suggesting a divergence in market sentiment regarding PG.
- Overall Holding Increase: The total PG shares held by hedge funds rose to 14,567,509 as of March 31, 2026, up from 14,375,510 on December 31, 2025, representing an increase of 191,999 shares or approximately 1.34%, reflecting a mildly bullish sentiment towards the stock.
- Research Value: Despite the limitations of 13F filings, analyzing changes across multiple funds can provide investors with a more comprehensive market insight, particularly when conducting in-depth research on blue-chip stocks like PG.
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- Leadership Change: Conagra announced the replacement of CEO Sean Connolly with John Brase, effective June 1, marking a significant shift after 11 years of leadership, which may indicate ongoing challenges faced by the company.
- Market Reaction: The appointment of the new CEO led to a 4% drop in Conagra's stock price on the day, raising investor concerns about the company's future strategic direction and highlighting market sensitivity to leadership changes.
- New CEO Background: John Brase brings extensive experience in the food industry, having served as COO of J.M. Smucker and spending 25 years at Procter & Gamble, where he was the general manager of North America's family care business, suggesting he may provide a fresh strategic perspective for Conagra.
- Strategic Adjustment Expectations: Despite the company's mention of a “thoughtful approach to succession planning” in the announcement, market expectations for future strategies remain low, prompting investors to monitor potential new strategies from Brase and his team to address current market challenges.
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- Leadership Change: Conagra announced the replacement of CEO Sean Connolly with John Brase, a move that raised concerns about the company's future and led to a 4% drop in stock price on the announcement day.
- New CEO Background: John Brase is a seasoned food industry executive, having served as COO at J.M. Smucker and spending 25 years at Procter & Gamble, which may bring a new strategic direction to the company.
- Market Reaction: Investors expressed nervousness over the abrupt leadership change, despite the company's press release mentioning a 'thoughtful approach to succession planning', indicating a cautious outlook on future performance.
- Strategic Adjustment Expectations: Analysts suggest that this change may reflect the company's recognition of the need for executive adjustments to address current poor performance and a product portfolio that does not align with health-conscious consumer trends.
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- Dividend Yield Decline: The average dividend yield of the S&P 500 has shrunk to just over 1.2%, marking a 50-year low, which poses challenges for income investors and may prompt a reevaluation of investment strategies.
- AbbVie's Strong Position: AbbVie boasts a current dividend yield of 3.3%, despite its stock price dropping over 7% due to the FDA approval of competitor Johnson & Johnson's drug Icotyde; however, its robust commercial portfolio and extensive pipeline maintain its competitive edge in the pharmaceutical sector.
- Procter & Gamble's Stability: Procter & Gamble offers a dividend yield of 2.9%, with net sales reaching $84.3 billion in 2025 and annual free cash flow ranging from $13.6 billion to $16.5 billion, ensuring its ability to sustain dividend payments and highlighting its significant influence in the consumer goods market.
- Coca-Cola's Continued Growth: Coca-Cola's dividend yield stands at 2.7%, as it maintains its
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- Dividend Yield Analysis: The average dividend yield of the S&P 500 has dropped to 1.2%, marking a 50-year low, indicating challenges for income investors, although companies like AbbVie, Procter & Gamble, and Coca-Cola still offer yields above average.
- AbbVie's Market Challenges: Despite AbbVie's long history of dividend growth, its stock has fallen over 7% this year, primarily due to competition from Johnson & Johnson's new drug Icotyde, although Skyrizi's multiple indications remain a competitive advantage.
- Procter & Gamble's Stable Cash Flow: Procter & Gamble reported net sales of $84.3 billion in 2025, with free cash flow ranging from $13.6 billion to $16.5 billion over the past five years, ensuring its ability to maintain dividend payments and demonstrating its strong influence in the retail market.
- Coca-Cola's Profitability: Coca-Cola has maintained a net margin above 20% since 2021 and successfully executed its 64th annual dividend increase in February, raising its quarterly dividend by 4% to $0.51 per share, showcasing its robust cash flow and ongoing profitability.
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