90 The Sector Strategist annual return. As with health care, the sector offers very strong defensive characteristics. I believe there are three key character- istics that make owning many consumer staples stocks beneficial: & & & A consistent, predictable record of profit growth Emerging market opportunities Excellent financial capabilities and reliable products The combination of these features should enable this sector to generate the earnings that makes these holdings attractive for long-term investors. Consistent Profit Growth One of the true attractions of the consumer staples sector is the consistency of earnings growth. The rate of earnings growth has