5 Consumer Staples Stocks That Are Feeling the Effects of President Trump's Tariffs

Core Insights - The consumer staples sector, particularly food and beverage companies, has faced significant challenges due to tariff impacts, with many stocks underperforming the S&P 500 since April [4][5][11] - Major companies in the sector reported declines in operating income and net sales, with some experiencing drops of 20% or more [1][6][10] Company Performance - Constellation Brands reported a 13% decline in operating income and a 15% drop in net sales for its fiscal Q2 2026 [1] - Hormel Foods experienced a 20% decline in stock value, citing unexpected surges in commodity input costs [6] - Molson Coors Beverage's stock is down 25%, with upcoming earnings reports anticipated to provide insights on sales and pricing [7] - Keurig Dr. Pepper also saw a 25% decline, with management highlighting challenges from rising costs and tariffs [8] - Conagra Brands reported a 5.8% year-over-year drop in revenue and a 26% decline in adjusted earnings per share, while maintaining its full-year guidance [10] Sector Trends - The Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR Trust has underperformed the S&P 500 by over 30 percentage points since early April, indicating a broader struggle within the sector [4] - Only two out of 37 components in the trust have outperformed the S&P 500 since tariff announcements, highlighting the severity of the downturn [3] - The defensive nature of food companies has been challenged, as the expected stability from consistent consumer demand has not materialized amid tariff turmoil [5] Economic Environment - The macroeconomic environment remains volatile, with low consumer sentiment impacting consumption trends [8] - Rising inflation and tariff costs are expected to continue affecting profit margins and consumer behavior, particularly during the critical holiday quarter [11]