<div id="readability-page-1"><div> <h2>Key Points</h2><ul><li>This industry-leading soft drinks enterprise has a powerful brand that consumers across the globe love. </li><li>There are two dominant retailers on this list, and both benefit from durable demand trends even in adverse economies. </li><li>By selling essential household goods, this business is able to support a 136-year streak of consistent dividend payouts. </li><li>10 stocks we like better than Costco Wholesale ›</li></ul>The most successful investors are those who emphasize continual learning. There are always lessons that the stock market is teaching. Just in the past decade, for instance, the S&amp;P 500 index has experienced multiple drawdowns of greater than 10%. The takeaway is that volatility can't be avoided; it's just a part of how things work.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 »Investors might now be more aware of these swings, which could become more pronounced due to the rapidly evolving economy. As a result, maybe it's time to find companies that can withstand the pressure, especially now that artificial intelligence (AI) has everyone worried.Here are four consumer staples businesses that are built to handle any downturn. Their stable operations can boost the safety of a portfolio, although they aren't necessarily going to put up robust investment gains that can beat the market.<img src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2NDkzMy9yZWQtZG93bi1hcnJvdy1vbi10b3Atb2YtMTAwLWRvbGxhci1iaWxscy5qcGcmdz03MDA?x-oss-process=image/auto-orient,1/interlace,1/resize,w_1440,h_1440/quality,q_95/format,jpg" width="700" height="466" original-src="https://imageproxy.pbkrs.com/https://g.foolcdn.com/image//query-dXJsPWh0dHBzOi8vZy5mb29sY2RuLmNvbS9lZGl0b3JpYWwvaW1hZ2VzLzg2NDkzMy9yZWQtZG93bi1hcnJvdy1vbi10b3Atb2YtMTAwLWRvbGxhci1iaWxscy5qcGcmdz03MDA"/>Image source: Getty Images. <h2>1. Coca-Cola</h2>Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has a presence in virtually all corners of the globe, with its more than 200 beverage varieties. An estimated 2.2 billion servings of its products are consumed every day.This business stands out thanks to its powerful brand, durable demand even in recessionary times, and incredible earnings power. Coca-Cola's adjusted operating margin in fiscal 2025 was a stellar 31.2%. Profitability like this supports management's ability to fund dividend payouts that have risen in 64 straight years. This stock isn't known to be a market outperformer, producing a total return of 123% in the past 10 years (as of April 15). The S&amp;P 500 index, by comparison, put up a total return of 300% during the same time. <h2>2. Costco</h2>Next on the list is Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST). This huge warehouse club operator, with 924 locations around the world, specializes in extremely low prices. Consumers pay yearly memberships to shop there, which supports loyalty and repeat visits.It seems that Costco is able to report growth in same-store sales (comps) no matter what's going on with the economy. Whether it's a health crisis, surging inflation, geopolitical tension, or general uncertainty, this company is the envy of its peers.It's impossible to be disappointed by Costco's investment performance. In the past five years, the stock's total return of 182% was more than double the S&amp;P 500's gain.But the shares aren't cheap today. With the price-to-earnings multiple (P/E) at 51.5, this is a company that the investment community might view too favorably.<h2>3. Procter &amp; Gamble</h2>Procter &amp; Gamble (NYSE: PG) can outlast a market downturn by producing some of the most popular and essential items that people need in their daily lives. The list includes Tide laundry detergent, Head &amp; Shoulders shampoo, and Crest toothpaste, among many others. Demand holds steady in any economy because these are goods that households can't be without.For example, revenue dipped by only 3.3% in fiscal 2009 during the Great Recession. And it increased in every quarter in calendar 2020 and 2021 during the pandemic.With a trailing-decade total return of 127%, Procter &amp; Gamble isn't going to wow growth investors. But this company has paid a dividend in 136 straight years, a feat that highlights how much staying power it has. <h2>4. Walmart</h2>And we end with the world's biggest retailer, Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT), which generated $706 billion in net sales in fiscal 2026 (ended Jan. 31). It has 10,900 stores worldwide. With its sprawling physical footprint and everyday low prices, Walmart is a top choice for consumers. Comps were up 4.5% in fiscal 2026. There's no doubt that the company would dominate in a severe recession, while most of its competitors would struggle.Returning capital to shareholders is a priority. The dividend yield of 0.79% isn't impressive, but the business has increased its payout for 53 consecutive years. And Walmart has been a huge winner recently, with its share price soaring 167% in the past five years. However, the current valuation is steep: The stock trades at a P/E of 45.7.<h2>Should you buy stock in Costco Wholesale right now?</h2> Before you buy stock in Costco Wholesale, 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 Costco Wholesale 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 $524,786!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $1,236,406!* Now, it’s worth noting Stock Advisor’s total average return is 994% — a market-crushing outperformance compared to 199% 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 April 19, 2026. Neil Patel has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. 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>

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This article highlights four consumer staples stocks that are resilient during market downturns: Coca-Cola, Costco, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart. Coca-Cola boasts a strong global brand and consistent dividend payouts, while Costco thrives on low prices and membership loyalty. Procter & Gamble offers essential household products, maintaining steady demand, and Walmart, as the largest retailer, excels in sales even during recessions. Each company has a history of dividend payments, making them attractive for investors seeking stability in volatile markets.

- The article discusses consumer staples businesses like Coca-Cola, Costco, Procter & Gamble, and Walmart, highlighting their resilience during economic downturns.  
- Each company maintains strong demand, consistent dividend payouts, and stable operations, with Costco and Walmart ranking particularly high in investment returns.  
- The piece suggests that these firms offer protection for investors amid market volatility and evolving economic conditions, recommending a cautious approach to stock purchases.

4 Consumer Staples Stocks Built to Outlast Any Market Downturn