This Unlikely Consumer Stock Is Quietly Beating Apple and ExxonMobil in 2026

Pop quiz: which of the following stocks has had the best year-to-date performance in 2026?

1. Apple ($AAPL)
2. ExxonMobil ($XOM)
3. Johnson & Johnson ($JNJ)
4. The J.M. Smucker Company ($SJM)

I know it’s hard to believe, but Smucker is the top-performing name on the above list. Full year-to-date results:

Smucker 38%

Johnson & Johnson 35%

ExxonMobil 34%

Apple 28%

Consumer-focused names are performing well in the current market environment. Names like Smucker, Coca-Cola ($KO), and J&J are considered defensive stocks. In theory, these stocks should outperform the broader market if the economy slows down.

Inflation, Interest Rates, and Growth

While there are no definitive signs that the economy is slowing, inflation continues to rise, as consumer prices climbed 0.4% in October. Higher inflation leads to higher interest rates, which tend to slow the economy down. 

Speaking in London on Tuesday, Federal Reserve Governor Christopher Waller said that he’s leaning toward a 25 basis point rate hike at the Fed’s December meeting. He remarked that he’d even consider a 50 basis point hike if inflation continues to climb. 

Hungry for Smucker

In a soft economy, consumers can do without $600 handbags or $8 coffee, but they won’t voluntarily give up eating. 

You probably have a Smucker product somewhere in your house. If you buy Smucker jams, Jif peanut butter, Folgers’ coffee, Hostess Twinkees, Meow Mix, or one of their other many products, you’re a Smucker customer. 

New Price Target for Smucker

Smucker has gained over 38% year-to-date, and has climbed 11% over the past month. Despite the recent volatile performance from the major indexes, Smucker closed at a three-year high on Tuesday. 

If the chart is any indication, Smucker will continue to climb. The stock has formed a cup-and-handle pattern (shaded yellow). That formation suggests Smucker shares could rise to $152, making that figure our new price target for the stock.

Dividends and Earnings

Smucker is scheduled to trade ex-dividend on November 13, and will pay a dividend on December 1. The stock’s current dividend yield is 3.35%. Smucker has raised its dividend for 29 consecutive years. 

Smucker is scheduled to report fiscal second quarter earnings on November 24, before the opening bell. Analysts are looking for $2.54 per share, with revenues of $2.26 billion for the quarter.

At the time of publication, Ponsi was long SJM, AAPL and JNJ.

• Category: Trade Ideas
• Tag: AAPL, Consumer, Consumer Staples, Features and Commentary, JNJ, KO, Newsletter Midday, SJM, Stock Charts, Technical Analysis, Trading Strategies, XOM