<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>All three companies pay consistent dividends.</li><li>Coca-Cola and Hormel have increased their dividends for six decades.</li><li>Costco's membership retention and international expansion are powering its growth.</li><li>10 stocks we like better than Coca-Cola ›</li></ul>Some companies stand the test of time and become synonymous with greatness and excellence. There are three stocks we'll discuss here that meet this standard of success and are worth buying and holding for decades. Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), Costco (NASDAQ: COST), and Hormel Foods (NYSE: HRL) are the cream of the consumer staples crop. Consumer staples stocks tend to be defensive and generally offer lower volatility, greater consistency, and solid dividends.<h2>Coca-Cola is still the leader</h2>It's likely that when you hear the phrase &#34;consumer staple,&#34; one of the very first brands that pops into your head is Coca-Cola. This beverage giant is one of the most durable and reliable companies in the world. Coca-Cola operates in more than 200 countries and has a portfolio of over 200 beverage brands. Will AI create the world's first trillionaire? Our team just released a report on the one little-known company, called an &#34;Indispensable Monopoly&#34; providing the critical technology Nvidia and Intel both need. Continue »Coca-Cola is a free cash flow titan, which is largely how it became a Dividend King. A Dividend King is a company that has raised its dividends for more than 50 consecutive years. Coca-Cola is now well into its sixth decade of dividend increases, and its current yield is 2.67%. The company maintains an asset-light business model that keeps costs in check and profitability high. If you don't believe me and my reasons for owning and keeping Coca-Cola, know that Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway purchased shares back in 1988 and has never sold. Coca-Cola isn't a high-growth company, but it is still expanding. The company released its full fiscal year 2025 results in February, and organic revenue was up 5%. For the 2026 outlook, Coca-Cola expects much of the same, with a 4% to 5% increase. Mid-single-digit growth and six decades of increasing dividends make this a solid long-term buy-and-hold stock. <img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTQ4MS9ncm9jZXJ5LXNob3BwaW5nLmpwZyZ3PTcwMA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="392" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg1OTQ4MS9ncm9jZXJ5LXNob3BwaW5nLmpwZyZ3PTcwMA"/>Image source: Getty Images. <h2>Costco competes on high retention and low prices</h2>Yes, the $1.50 hot dog-and-drink combo is enough to get many cost-conscious customers through the door, but the real reason Costco will dominate for decades is its stellar membership model and renewal rate.Costco stock does trade at a premium, but the company's consistent performance more than justifies it. Not only does Costco provide investors with strong growth, but it also pays regular and special dividends to shareholders. Costco's dividend yield is low at 0.52%, but I prefer Costco for its plan to continue expanding its footprint. Costco is growing internationally, and its flywheel is impressive. Costco's competitive pricing attracts more members, those members continue to renew, and Costco can keep its prices lower than its competitors'. It's going to be very difficult to beat Costco over the next several years. Costco has a bit more to offer than Coca-Cola in the way of growth. The company reported an 8.1% increase in net sales in the 2025 fiscal year. For the first two quarters of 2026, Costco improved even more to an 8.7% net sales increase. Costco stock is expensive, but there's a lot to love about its growth and income. <h2>Hormel is quietly consistent</h2>Last, but definitely not least, Hormel Foods is a stock you should buy and hold for a very long time. As another Dividend King, Hormel has paid a consistent dividend for nearly a century and has raised the dividend for 60 years. Where Costco trades at premium prices, Hormel's stock is quite inexpensive, particularly for a long-term investor. The company has faced headwinds recently, pushing the stock 15% lower over the past 12 months. This price drop has also increased Hormel's dividend yield to 5.0% as of March 10. Hormel's latest quarterly earnings were cautiously optimistic. The food business reported a 2% increase in net sales, marking its fifth consecutive quarter of net sales growth. Hormel also reaffirmed its 2026 guidance, which could see organic sales growth of 1% to 4%. Hormel knows how to navigate challenges and will remain a global food leader for the foreseeable future.These three stocks are great options for a variety of long-term investors. From their business fundamentals to their global brand recognition, Coca-Cola, Costco, and Hormel Foods are worth buying and holding on to for decades.<h2>Should you buy stock in Coca-Cola right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Coca-Cola, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Coca-Cola wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $511,735!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,140,464!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 946% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 191% for the S&amp;P 500. Don't miss the latest top 10 list, available with Stock Advisor, and join an investing community built by individual investors for individual investors. See the 10 stocks » *Stock Advisor returns as of March 12, 2026. Catie Hogan has positions in Coca-Cola. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway and Costco Wholesale. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc. </div></div>

The article discusses three consumer staples stocks ideal for long-term investment: Coca-Cola, Costco, and Hormel Foods. Coca-Cola, a Dividend King, boasts a 2.67% yield and consistent growth, while Costco excels with a strong membership model and an 8.7% sales increase. Hormel Foods, also a Dividend King, offers a 5.0% yield despite recent price drops. All three companies are recognized for their stability, solid dividends, and potential for long-term growth, making them suitable for investors seeking reliable stocks.

- Coca-Cola, Costco, and Hormel Foods are highlighted as reliable consumer staples with a history of consistent dividends and strong business fundamentals.  
- Coca-Cola and Hormel have increased their dividends for over 60 years, while Costco is expanding internationally and enhancing its membership model, leading to robust sales growth.  
- Despite varying dividend yields, all three companies are positioned as solid long-term investments for stability and growth.

The Best 3 Consumer Staples Stocks to Buy and Hold for Decades