every week qai rounds up a list of stocks that fit into a particular theme courtesy of our own artificial intelligence algorithms and forbes ai investor and this week we’re starting out right with a healthy portion of us consumer staple stocks consumer staples are those products that consumers can’t – or won’t – go without categories include essential products such as food beverages pharmaceuticals and hygienic items on the less essentialtolife side household goods alcohol and tobacco also count as consumer staples these companies are crucial not just to human life but our economy as well while consumer staples may outperform at least comparatively during periods of economic downturn they’re considered noncyclical industries in other words they’re always in demand regardless of economic and personal finance conditions as investments consumer staples aren’t particularly thrilling – but that’s what makes them important to a welldiversified portfolio these stocks usually offer steady dividends low risk and volatility and slowbutrobust performance even during recession and while their earnings may not blow you away they’re a great place to park your funds when you’re seeking longterm growth and a safe haven during economic downturn qai runs daily factor models to get the most uptodate reading on stocks and etfs our deeplearning algorithms use artificial intelligence ai technology to provide an indepth intelligencebased look at a company – so you don’t have to do the digging yourself sign up for the free forbes ai investor newsletter here to join an exclusive ai investing community and get premium investing ideas before markets open the hershey company – more commonly known as hershey’s – nipped down 01 to 18003 on friday closing out the day with 631k trades on the docket the stock sits up 182 for the year and trades at 247x forward earnings hershey’s is an american multinational that produces baked goods sweet beverages and raw baking products and of course they’re one of the largest chocolate manufacturers in the world throughout the pandemic this us consumer staple performed well overall though it did encounter some initial hiccups in the months after the market tanked but since january hershey’s has continued to climb to new 52week highs time and again as postpandemic buying and baking trends favor its bottom line in its late july q2 2021 earnings call management credited its “robust recovery” to an increase in awayfromhome consumption and sustained elevated athome consumption all told hershey’s saw nearly 2 billion in sales during the quarter with a net income of 3012 million or 145 per diluted share over the last three fiscal years hershey’s revenue leapt 115 to 815 billion compared to 779 billion in the threeyearago period operating income too saw handsome growth of 186 from 173 billion to 18 billion meanwhile eps jumped over 233 to 611 compared to 558 although return on equity plunged from 100 to just 64 all told hershey’s forward 12month revenue is expected to see minor growth around 06 our artificial intelligence rates this us consumer staple stock a in technicals growth and quality value with an f in low volatility momentum keurig dr pepper slipped 02 friday to 3482 per share closing out the day on the back of 25 million trades the stock is trading within pennies of both its 10 and 22day price averages currently keurig dr pepper trades up 88 for the year at 207x forward earnings keurig dr pepper is a wellknown american beverage conglomerate and the parent group of dr pepper snapple group the company functions out of two primary divisions east coast operations handle coffee tea and keurig brewer sales while the texas division sells sodas juices and soft drinks unlike some of its beveragebrewing peers keurig dr pepper saw very little growth during the pandemic – or in the two years before the stock never regained its former glory following its overnight valuation plunge after the merger of keurig green mountain with the dr pepper snapple group in mid2018 though it has gained around 10 per share from its 2020 low but that doesn’t mean it’s struggling overall – in its most recent quarterly report keurig dr pepper noted net sales of 314 billion compared to 286 billion yoy with a net profit of 448 million in the last three fiscal years keurig dr pepper’s revenue soared from 74 billion to 116 billion seeing total gains of 637 operating income saw even more explosive growth of 135 rising from 136 billion to 289 billion while pershare earnings saw a similar rise of 117 to 93 cents from just 53 cents meanwhile return on equity climbed from 39 to 56 looking forward keurig dr pepper is expected to see around 14 revenue growth in the next 12 months at this time our ai rates this us consumer stock a in technicals growth and quality value and f in low volatility momentum kellogg company – colloquially known as kellogg’s – slipped 01 by friday’s bell closing out the day at 6616 with 188 million trades on the docket the stock remains up 63 for the year and now trades at 162x forward earnings kellogg’s is an american multinational that manufactures and markets products such as cereals snacks and frozen breakfast items in over 180 countries as a foodbased us consumer staple stock you might expect kellogg’s to have performed admirably during the pandemic – and for a few months it did however kellogg’s stock plunged in late 2020 and early 2021 after analysts predicted that its pandemicera performance and profits wouldn’t hold up in the new year somewhat ironically these reports alongside its own earnings announcements sent the company’s stock spiraling downward to start 2021 on a low note that said since january the company has regained some of its market cap – though its stock chart has marked some notable bumps along the way kellogg’s threeyear performance saw its revenue rise an incremental 36 to 1377 billion compared to 1355 billion while operating income expanded over 7 from 18 billion to 185 billion in the same period pershare earnings slipped from 383 to 363 even as return on equity plunged from 502 to 364 currently kellogg is expected to see around 1 revenue growth in the next year our artificial intelligence grades this us consumer stock a in technicals growth and quality value and f in low volatility momentum cocacola consolidated inc jumped 1 friday to 401 even trading 25611 shares in the session this highpriced lowvolume stock is trending 54 cents below its 10day price average though it’s up over 50 this year currently cocacola consolidated – not to be confused with cocacola co – trades at 129x forward earnings cocacola consolidated makes sells and distributes cocacola products and other beverages in the southeast midwest and midatlantic united states the company operates 13 manufacturing facilities and 80 distribution centers to serve a market of around 65 million people in 14 states cocacola consolidated’s stock saw a robust if bumpy 2020 – but it was its affiliate’s q1 2021 earnings report that shot the stock up nearly 120 in a month when cocacola co reported that quarterly sales had finally leapt back above prepandemic levels – with a higher profit margin and reduced expenses to boot – cocacola consolidated’s own stock leapt right along with it in the last three fiscal years cocacola consolidated’s revenue jumped 148 from 462 billion to just over 5 billion operating income surged a whopping 651 from 554 million to 313 million in the same period meanwhile pershare earnings positively skyrocketed from 213 to 1830 while return on equity grew more than ten times over from 33 to 378 at this time our ai grades cocacola consolidated inc a in low volatility momentum and quality value and f in technicals and growth pepsico inc slipped 035 friday to 15835 with nearly 35 million shares changing hands the stock is up 68 for the year and currently trades at 248x forward earnings pepsico is an american multinational food snack and beverage corporation headquartered in new york the company oversees the manufacturing distribution and marketing of 23 brands including fritolay tropicana products quaker oats and gatorade based on net revenue profit and market cap pepsico is the secondlargest food and beverage business in the world right behind nestlé pepsico’s stock has been on the rise since its q2 2021 earnings call in midjuly management reported net sales of 192 billion – a rise of 205 yoy – thanks to returning demand for drinks in various foodservice industries additionally the company raised its fullyear adjusted outlook noting that its pandemicera investments were now beginning to pay off for the company’s longterm financial gains throughout the last three fiscal years pepsico’s revenue leapt more than 153 to 704 billion from 647 billion at the same time operating income saw growth around 127 from 104 billion to 108 billion however pershare earnings fell from 878 to 512 in the period while return on equity plunged from 98 to 505 all told pepsico inc is expected to see around 14 revenue growth in the next year at this time our artificial intelligence grades this us consumer stock a in technicals growth and quality value and f in low volatility momentum liked what you read sign up for our free forbes ai investor newsletter here to get ai driven investing ideas weekly for a limited time subscribers can join an exclusive slack group to get these ideas before markets open