Tuesday was another tough day on Wall Street, and just like Monday, the Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^ IXIC) suffered most of the damage. The Nasdaq was down more than 2.5% as of 1:00 p.m. EST, while other stock indexes fell less than 1%.

As we saw on Monday, high-profile Nasdaq stocks like You’re here were among the big losers, giving back some of the huge gains they’ve enjoyed over the past year. However, as investors reap their profits from tech stocks and other long-term gainers, they try to assess which stocks will perform best in a changing market environment. This has left them hungry for stock in the traditionally defensive food and beverage industry, and some Nasdaq investors will be surprised to find two of the giants of the world. consumer staples sector within the Nasdaq-100 index of major listed stocks. The two PepsiCo (NASDAQ: PEP) and Mondelez International (NASDAQ: MDLZ) are in place and have attractive features that make them attractive ideas for any investor.

Snack on these stocks

PepsiCo is best known for its namesake cola, but many investors don’t realize how extensive the company’s product line is. Other drinks include Tropicana Juices, Bubly Sparkling Water and Pure Leaf Tea, as well as the SodaStream line of home carbonating machines.

PepsiCo also offers a variety of snack options. The Frito-Lay segment includes products like Lay’s potato chips, Doritos, and Smartfood, while you can also buy Sabra hummus, Quaker oats, and Life cereals.

During this time, Mondelez isn’t much of a household name, but its most popular brands are. On the snack side, you will find Oreo and Chips Ahoy! cookies, as well as Triscuit, Wheat Thins and Ritz crackers. Cadbury and Toblerone chocolates are the responsibility of the Mondelez company, as are Philadelphia cream cheese and Trident gum.

The argument for stocks like PepsiCo and Mondelez, which were both up 1% as of 1 p.m. EST, is that demand for their consumer products is relatively stable. Of course, when consumers feel the pinch, they can always turn to store-brand generics or competing products for sale. However, most people feel considerable brand loyalty to their favorite products, especially in the food and beverage arena. This helps generate consistent business that makes their businesses resistant to recessions and economic downturns.

Get paid to invest

The other thing investors in tech stocks and Tesla might be surprised to find out is that PepsiCo and Mondelez will actually pay you in cash if you hold stocks. It’s no secret – I’m just talking about dividends, which many high-growth Nasdaq stocks choose not to pay out instead of reinvesting all available capital into growing their businesses.

PepsiCo’s 3.1% dividend yield is more than 1.5 times what you would get from the widest S&P 500, and well above the average for Nasdaq stocks. Meanwhile, Mondelez weighs in with a dividend of 2.3%.

Both companies have also done a good job of rewarding their investors over time. Mondelez granted shareholders a 10.5% dividend increase last year and looks set to do so again in 2021. That would mark the ninth year of annual dividend increases.

For PepsiCo, the streak is even more impressive. Shareholders got a 7% increase in their payout last summer. This marked the 48th consecutive year that PepsiCo paid investors more dividends than the previous year.

Not just for technology anymore

A lot of people don’t realize that the Nasdaq isn’t just about high tech and new public disruptors. Well-established companies like Mondelez and PepsiCo provide the Nasdaq with some of the diversity investors seek, and their defensive characteristics and dividend income serve their shareholders well.