3 Stocks to Cushion Your Portfolio This Earnings Season

Group 1: Earnings Outlook - Many big technology stocks are expected to perform well, while consumer staples stocks are projected to have negative earnings growth of around 3% and consumer discretionary stocks are expected to average negative growth of approximately 5.4% [1] - Persistent inflation in consumer-facing areas, particularly food, is affecting earnings outlook, leading companies to hedge or refrain from issuing future guidance due to uncertainties around tariffs [2] Group 2: Company-Specific Insights - PepsiCo's stock is down 11.75% in 2025 and over 18% in the last 12 months, with revenue declining year-over-year for four consecutive quarters, resulting in negative earnings per share growth [4][5] - Procter & Gamble's stock is down 9.1% in 2025, hitting a 52-week low, as consumers shift towards private label brands, and the company missed on topline expectations while beating EPS expectations by 1 cent [8][9] - Costco Wholesale has delivered a total return of 233.5% over the last five years, but its high P/E ratio over 55x may deter some investors despite its strong growth and profitability [12][13] Group 3: Technical Analysis - PepsiCo's stock shows signs of a bullish reversal with the price above the 50-day simple moving average, although potential resistance exists at the current level [6] - Procter & Gamble's stock is trading at 24x earnings, around the average of the S&P 500, but at a discount to its historical averages, with a significant portion of revenue generated overseas [10] - Costco's stock may face further declines if it breaks support at its 200-day SMA, with a notable support and resistance area around $957 [15]