Church & Dwight vs. Kimberly-Clark: Which Consumer Goods Stock Is a Better Buy in 2026?

The article compares Church & Dwight and Kimberly-Clark as investment options in the consumer goods sector. Church & Dwight operates a lean portfolio of power brands with a strong balance sheet (0.6x debt-to-equity), while Kimberly-Clark is a larger global player undergoing transformation with higher leverage (4.9x debt-to-equity). The author recommends Church & Dwight for investors seeking a balance of growth and dividend income, citing its stronger financial position and focused strategy, despite Kimberly-Clark's larger scale and higher dividend yield.

07/12/2026, 11:29 AM • The Motley Fool

If a Stock Market Crash Is Brewing, History Says Investors Who Do This 1 Thing Will Win Out

Amid market volatility from U.S.-Iran tensions and tech stock sell-offs, the article advises against panic selling. Historical data shows that staying invested through downturns is more profitable than trying to time the market, as nearly half of the S&P 500's best days occur during bear markets. A $10,000 investment in 1965 would have grown to $192,000 by 2025 if held, but missing just the 10 best days would reduce returns by 56%.

07/11/2026, 5:25 AM • The Motley Fool

Alphabet Is the Dow's Newest Member. This One Has Been Raising Its Dividend Since Before Google Existed.

Alphabet has been added to the Dow Jones Industrial Average, replacing Verizon Communications, due to its large market capitalization and diversified tech portfolio. The article contrasts Alphabet's innovative but newer business model with Procter & Gamble, a long-tenured Dow component that has consistently raised its dividend for 70 consecutive years, demonstrating the value of both growth and dividend-focused stocks for portfolio diversification.

07/10/2026, 12:05 PM • The Motley Fool

Vanguard vs. State Street: Which Consumer Staples ETF Stands Out?

Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF (XLP) offer similar defensive exposure to essential goods companies. VDC provides broader diversification with 103 holdings, while XLP focuses on 35 large-cap S&P 500 companies. Both have comparable expense ratios (~0.09%), similar low volatility profiles, and nearly identical top holdings. XLP offers slightly higher dividend yield (2.6% vs 2.2%) and greater trading liquidity, while VDC provides more diversification benefits.

06/27/2026, 9:15 AM • The Motley Fool

Winning AI Search: A Marketer’s Guide to Press Releases and Earned Media

The American Marketing Association and Notified are hosting a webinar on June 30, 2026, to discuss how press releases and earned media help brands achieve visibility in AI-powered search results. The session will cover how to optimize content for AI discoverability and cite a case study of revenue growth through AI-optimized press releases.

06/25/2026, 9:00 AM • GlobeNewswire

Consumer Staples ETFs: How PBJ and XLP Stack Up

The article compares two consumer staples ETFs: XLP (State Street Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF) and PBJ (Invesco Food & Beverage ETF). XLP offers a broader consumer staples exposure with a significantly lower expense ratio (0.08% vs 0.61%), higher dividend yield (2.6% vs 1.6%), and superior 5-year performance ($1,344 vs $1,174 on $1,000 invested). PBJ focuses narrowly on food and beverage stocks with a more concentrated portfolio. Both are defensive investments with low volatility, but XLP emerges as the stronger choice for most investors due to its cost efficiency, higher returns, and larger asset base.

06/17/2026, 9:31 AM • The Motley Fool

Worried About a Stock Market Crash? 2 Magnificant Dividend Stocks You Can Buy Today and Hold Forever

With the S&P 500 up 9% year-to-date but valuations appearing stretched, investors concerned about a market correction should consider dividend stocks for portfolio stability. Procter & Gamble and Coca-Cola are highlighted as reliable dividend-paying companies with strong track records of raising dividends through market cycles, offering both growth and passive income.

06/16/2026, 8:05 AM • The Motley Fool

First Trust (FTXG) Vs. iShares (IYK): Is a Food & Beverage Focus the Better ETF Option for Investors?

A comparison of two defensive equity ETFs reveals that iShares U.S. Consumer Staples ETF (IYK) outperforms First Trust Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG) with lower expenses (0.38% vs 0.60%), higher 5-year returns ($1,364 vs $955 on $1,000 invested), and broader sector exposure. While FTXG offers a niche food and beverage focus, IYK's superior performance and lower costs make it the more attractive option for conservative investors.

06/10/2026, 6:29 PM • The Motley Fool

Registered Dietitian Amy Shapiro Breaks Down the Fibermaxxing Trend and Why Fiber Is the Original Wellness Hack on YourUpdateTV

Registered Dietitian Amy Shapiro conducted a satellite media tour with Metamucil to discuss the 'fibermaxxing' wellness trend, highlighting that nearly 90% of Americans fall short of their daily fiber intake. Metamucil is launching a new digital content series called 'Metamucil Mic Grab' featuring 90s icons Lance Bass and Danielle Fishel to make wellness conversations more accessible and engaging.

06/09/2026, 7:05 PM • GlobeNewswire

VDC and FSTA Are Almost the Same Fund. Here's How to Choose Between Them.

The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) and Fidelity MSCI Consumer Staples Index ETF (FSTA) are nearly identical funds offering exposure to defensive consumer staples stocks. VDC has larger assets under management ($9.5B vs $1.4B) and a longer track record, while FSTA offers a marginally lower expense ratio (0.08% vs 0.09%). Both funds hold similar portfolios with nearly identical performance and risk profiles, making the choice primarily dependent on which brokerage platform an investor already uses to avoid trading fees.

06/08/2026, 6:27 AM • The Motley Fool

The Four Horsemen Of The S&P 500 Are Arriving All At Once

The article warns that the S&P 500 faces four simultaneous risks—inflation, liquidity concerns, technology speculation excess, and credit stress—similar to past market crises but occurring together. With mega-cap tech stocks driving 40% of the index, the market resembles the 1999 dot-com bubble. The author suggests quality, cash-generative businesses like Berkshire Hathaway, Procter & Gamble, and PepsiCo may become safe havens if these risks materialize.

06/05/2026, 2:02 PM • Benzinga

This Vanguard ETF Has a History of Outperforming the S&P 500 During Bear Markets. Is It a Buy Right Now?

The Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (VDC) is a defensive investment that outperformed the S&P 500 during bear markets like the 2007-2009 recession and 2022, but significantly underperformed over the long term with only 20% gains in 10 years versus VOO's 80%. While VDC offers protection during market downturns, it's not recommended as a core long-term holding due to its higher expense ratio and tendency to lag during bull markets.

06/03/2026, 2:05 PM • The Motley Fool

2 Stocks to Buy Now for a Lifetime of Passive Income -- Starting Immediately

The article recommends two dividend stocks for passive income: Realty Income (O), a REIT with a 5.89% dividend yield and 114 consecutive quarterly dividend increases, and Procter & Gamble (PG), a Dividend King with 70 years of consecutive dividend increases and a 3.04% yield. Both companies offer reliable, long-term income streams through their shareholder-friendly dividend policies.

06/02/2026, 4:25 PM • The Motley Fool

3 Dividend Stocks to Hold for the Next 10 Years

The article recommends three mature dividend-paying stocks for long-term investors: Coca-Cola (KO) with a 2.64% yield and 64 consecutive years of dividend increases, Lowe's (LOW) with a 2.2% yield despite recent sluggish same-store sales growth, and Procter & Gamble (PG) with a 2.98% yield and an impressive 70-year streak of consecutive dividend increases. While these stocks are unlikely to deliver market-beating returns, they offer steady income streams and proven resilience through economic cycles.

06/01/2026, 7:22 AM • The Motley Fool

VYM: This U.S. Dividend ETF Could Outperform Tech for 10 Years

Vanguard research suggests value-oriented stocks may outperform tech stocks over the next 5-10 years. The Vanguard High Dividend Yield ETF (VYM), holding 608 large-cap dividend-paying stocks, has delivered 29.5% returns over the past year with a low 0.04% expense ratio and 2.24% dividend yield. The fund offers exposure to quality blue-chip companies like JPMorgan Chase and Johnson & Johnson, though investors should note its concentration risk with Broadcom representing 8% of assets.

05/31/2026, 7:17 AM • The Motley Fool