Seven of eight S&P 500 consumer staples firms beat profit forecasts this week

what happened

According to Seeking Alpha, seven of the eight consumer staples companies in the S&P 500 that reported this week beat earnings-per-share forecasts for the third quarter of 2026, while the eighth matched expectations. On revenue, seven topped consensus and one came in slightly short.

Coca-Cola posted adjusted EPS of $0.91 and revenue of $13.4 billion, up 7.2% year on year, and lifted its 2026 comparable EPS growth outlook to at least 11%. Altria earned $1.52 per share on $5.44 billion in revenue, expanded its buyback authorization by $1 billion, and saw its shares climb 5%. Mondelez beat on profit but missed revenue by $20 million, with shares up 3.5%. Colgate-Palmolive raised its 2026 adjusted EPS growth target to 5–7%.

Seven more sector companies are scheduled to report next week, including Estee Lauder and Clorox, alongside food makers, beverage producers and food distributor Sysco.

why it matters

The broader signal for the sector is that makers of everyday goods are growing sales through volumes and pricing, and raised guidance tends to support investor interest in defensive staples stocks.

market impact

US consumer staples stocks: results above forecasts and raised outlooks support sector sentiment

• ▲US consumer staples stocks pressure up — major members beat forecasts and raised their profit growth outlooks

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