Relative to the rest of the stock market, consumer staples stocks are now at historically low valuations. Usually, these high-quality stocks trade at a big premium to the rest of the market. Today, they don't... That is music to my ears because these are the boring, cash-gushing businesses that I love to own. Consumer staples are great businesses. They provide stability for a portfolio because they generate steady growth over long periods of time. These are the companies that consumers rely on for everyday necessities. They sell us the essentials. As consumers, we buy these products regardless of the state of the economy or our own personal financial position. That's why these businesses don't skip a beat, even during recessionary periods. Companies in the consumer staples sector include retailers like Walmart (NYSE: WMT); grocery stores like Safeway, owned by Albertsons Companies (NYSE: ACI); household products companies like Procter & Gamble (NYSE: PG); and packaged food businesses like General Mills (NYSE: GIS). These companies are far from exciting, but the revenues, earnings and cash flow they generate are extremely predictable - as is their long-term growth. These companies' predictable growth and immunity to business cycle fluctuations are why they generally trade at a premium to the overall market. While I love to own these reliable companies, those premium valuations often make them too expensive to put into my portfolio. Today, though, the consumer staples premium is the smallest it has been in recent memory. That makes the consumer staples sector a great place to turn for investors who are looking to add to their portfolios today. | 
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