Judging by its stock price performance this year, you might think Procter & Gamble's (NYSE: PG) business was done growing. The consumer staples powerhouse sat out of the wider market's rally, falling slightly through late June compared to a 14% year-to-date surge in the S&P 500. That's an even worse performance than peer Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB), which was up by about 1% over that time.

It's true that P&G stock is going through a demand slump right now as it rolls out price increases while consumer spending has been under pressure. But the long-term picture remains bright for this dividend payer. Three big factors point to excellent returns ahead for P&G shareholders.

Pricing power is a key sign of an unusually strong business, and P&G has it in spades. Its gross profit margin rose by 2 full percentage points in the most recent quarter at a time when many consumer staples companies are struggling to pass along their rising costs to consumers.

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Source Fool.com