New York, Feb 3, 2026, 13:59 (EST) — Regular session
- Procter & Gamble shares rose about 1.6% in afternoon trading, outperforming a weaker U.S. stock market.
- Consumer staples held up as investors rotated away from software and cloud names.
- Traders are watching the shutdown-driven data blackout and P&G’s Feb. 17 dividend date.
Procter & Gamble shares rose about 1.6% to $155.63 on Tuesday, extending gains as investors moved toward defensive corners of the market.
The bid mattered because it came in a session when the broader tape turned risk-off and money went looking for steadier demand. The consumer-staples ETF XLP climbed about 1.6% while the S&P 500-tracking SPY fell roughly 1.4%.
A slide in software and cloud stocks set the tone, keeping traders jumpy about valuations and how quickly newer AI tools could disrupt incumbents. “Many areas, especially around AI, are priced for perfection,” John Campbell of Allspring Global Investments said. (Reuters)
Other staples names leaned the same way. Colgate-Palmolive rose about 1.2%, while Kimberly-Clark added about 0.7% and Unilever gained roughly 0.6%.
The company also had fresh headlines of its own. On Monday it rolled out an Olympics-linked marketing push tied to Milano Cortina 2026, opening a “Champions Clubhouse” and pitching it as a way to keep brands visible during the Winter Games. “Our brands continue to be inspired by the dedication and excellence of the best athletes,” Marc Pritchard said in the release. (Procter & Gamble)
Investors still have January’s earnings frame in mind. The company said it kept fiscal 2026 guidance after reporting net sales of $22.2 billion and core EPS of $1.88 in its latest quarter, with organic sales — which strip out currency swings and deals — flat. “Our results… keep us on track,” Chief Executive Shailesh Jejurikar said. (Q4Cdn)
The risk is that Tuesday’s defensive rotation proves brief. In late January, Brian Mulberry at Zacks Investment Management warned “the consumer is making choices driven by cost,” a dynamic that can weigh on volumes even when staples stocks catch a safety bid. (Reuters)
It can also cut the other way fast: if tech steadies and traders chase growth again, staples leadership can fade just as quickly. Tuesday’s slide in the big indexes was driven largely by tech weakness. (Investopedia)
Macro is muddying the picture. A partial U.S. government shutdown has halted or delayed key labor-market releases, including the monthly jobs report, adding to uncertainty around rates and risk appetite. (Investopedia)
In Washington, the U.S. House of Representatives narrowly advanced a Trump-backed deal to end the shutdown, a step investors are watching for any return of the data calendar. (Reuters)
For Procter & Gamble holders, the next near-term date is cash, not a product launch: a regulatory filing shows the company’s quarterly dividend is payable on or after Feb. 17. Big-tech earnings due this week, including reports from Alphabet and Amazon, will likely decide whether Tuesday’s rotation sticks. (SEC)
