While many consumer-staple stocks have enjoyed a boost from pandemic lockdowns forcing people to remain at home, Barron’s suggests that some such companies may very well have life after COVID-19.

The financial publication said buying companies with strong organic growth may be a savvy move by investors.

Barron’s screened for North American consumer-staples companies worth $5 billion or more that analysts expect will be able to notch increases in organic growth of at least 1% in the next year, among other factors and considerations.

Once the numbers were crunched and the dust settled, these nine remained:

• Colgate-Palmolive (CL) had the highest estimated organic growth or the remaining group, at 5.3%. The company said it hopes to retain some new customers even post-Covid, and in a stagflation environment, steady sellers like toothpaste are a win.
• Kellogg (K), Kimberly-Clark (KMB), and Kraft Heinz (KHC) are all forecast to see organic growth above 4% and trade at less than 20 times forward earnings. Both Kellogg and Kraft have gotten boosts from consumers cooking more.
• Analysts expect Mondelez International (MDLZ) to log organic growth of 3.6%. The Oreo maker raised its dividend last month and reported better-than-expected profits in July.
• PepsiCo (PEP) and Constellation Brands (STZ) are projected to see organic growth climb 3% and 2.9%, respectively. Pepsi has been able to increase its payout during the pandemic and delivered strong earnings, thanks to the at-home snacking trend.
• Marijuana firm Canopy Growth (CGC) jumped on a smaller-than-anticipated loss last month; Constellation owns more than 38% of Canopy.
• Altria Group (MO) is expected to see organic growth of 2.3%. Changing hands at just under 10 times forward earnings, it’s the only stock of the bunch with a single-digit price/earnings ratio. 

However, there are possible storm clouds on the economic landscape.

The World Bank's chief economist Carmen Reinhart said that the global economic recovery from the crisis originated by the coronavirus pandemic may take as much as five years, Reuters reported.

"There will probably be a quick rebound as all the restriction measures linked to lockdowns are lifted, but a full recovery will take as much as five years," Reinhart said in a remote intervention during a conference held in Madrid.

Reinhart said the pandemic-caused recession will last longer in some countries than in others and will exacerbate inequalities as the poorest will be harder hit by the crisis in rich countries and the poorest countries will be harder hit than richer countries.

For the first time in twenty years, global poverty rates will rise following the crisis, she added. 

• Goldman, Deutsche: US Stock Selloff May Be Near End
• 25% of ETF Portfolios May Be Actively Managed by 2023