Defensive Dividend Stocks

Stocks that protect portfolios during downturns while generating consistent income. Low market correlation, stable cash flows, and essential products.

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50 stocks match. Click any column to sort.

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Watchlist
COLBColumbia Banking System, Inc.
Financial Services
85
$30.45-1.94%4.69%12.3$9.06B$469.20
GLPIGaming and Leisure Properties, Inc.
Real Estate
82
$42.36+0.66%6.66%15.0$13.44B$665.68
ACGLOArch Capital Group Ltd. 5.45% Non-Cumulative Preferred Shares, Series F
Financial Services
78
$7.57-0.21%7.04%4.1$6.94B$704.32
KSPIJSC Kaspi.kz American Depositary Receipt
Technology
78
$107.84+1.16%4.41%7.3$15.31B$441.13
FIBKFirst Interstate Bancsystem Inc.
Financial Services
74
$37.49-0.54%5.07%12.1$3.60B$506.74
TAT&T Inc.
Communication Services
70
$26.18+2.30%4.41%8.2$170.62B$440.57
BPYPPBrookfield Property Partners L.P. 6.50% Class A Cumulative Redeemable Perpetual Preferred Units, Series 1
Real Estate
69
$16.25-0.06%10.50%7.0$10.66B$1,050.28
ARCCAres Capital Corporation
Financial Services
67
$20.01+0.33%9.97%11.8$13.83B$996.90
PFEPfizer Inc.
Healthcare
67
$28.81-0.23%6.97%18.4$138.21B$696.92
ARLPAlliance Resource Partners, L.P.
Energy
65
$26.24-0.46%9.59%13.2$3.22B$959.23
CALMCal-Maine Foods Inc.
Consumer Defensive
65
$76.02+0.76%6.16%5.4$3.70B$616.29
GBDCGolub Capital BDC, Inc.
Financial Services
57
$12.98-0.46%10.82%17.3$3.46B$1,082.30
FROFrontline plc
Energy
53
$45.41+0.67%7.50%9.6$8.70B$750.32
UTFCohen & Steers Infrastructure Fund Inc Common Stock
Financial Services
53
$26.87-0.10%7.05%6.9$3.03B$704.62
EIXEdison International
Utilities
53
$56.30-4.67%4.71%7.9$28.07B$471.40
AEGAegon N.V.
Financial Services
53
$9.20+0.38%4.65%12.6$13.10B$464.60
HSBCHSBC Holdings plc Sponsored ADR
Financial Services
53
$106.45+0.65%4.03%15.3$317.82B$402.62
VALEVale S.A.
Basic Materials
52
$15.33-1.76%9.26%23.8$66.97B$925.53
DSXDiana Shipping Inc
Industrials
52
$27.05-0.15%8.26%29.1$3.14B$826.36
NEANuveen AMT-Free Quality Municipal Income Fund Common Shares of Beneficial Interest Par Value $.01
Financial Services
52
$11.00+0.02%7.21%14.5$3.39B$721.49
KNTKKinetik Holdings Inc.
Energy
52
$54.32-0.75%6.93%18.9$7.93B$692.96
USACUsa Compression Partners L.P.
Energy
51
$27.55+0.34%8.06%26.7$3.88B$805.83
SUNSunoco L.P.
Energy
51
$74.02-0.78%5.78%16.7$12.31B$578.19
ELPCCompanhia Paranaense de Energia – Copel American Depositary Receipt
Utilities
51
$12.39+0.09%4.06%16.6$8.62B$405.85
AKOEmbotelladora Andina S.A. ADR
Consumer Defensive
50
$23.77-3.18%8.54%11.8$3.62B$853.53
TELFYTelefónica S.A. Sponsored ADR
Communication Services
50
$4.21-0.72%7.39%14.1$25.03B$738.74
AKOEmbotelladora Andina S.A. ADR
Consumer Defensive
50
$29.71-0.64%7.13%16.2$4.74B$713.01
CIGCompanhia Energética de Minas Gerais S.A. Sponsored ADR
Utilities
50
$2.15-4.50%5.06%9.4$8.88B$506.42
MAAMid-America Apartment Communities, Inc.
Real Estate
50
$128.52+0.70%4.42%42.0$16.58B$442.23
EBRCentrais Elétricas Brasileiras S.A. Preferred ADR
Utilities
50
$10.74-1.74%4.40%21.6$23.98B$439.89
TAKTakeda Pharmaceutical Company Limited American Depositary Receipt
Healthcare
50
$18.70+0.06%4.22%42.7$50.27B$421.82
TAPMolson Coors Beverage Company
Consumer Defensive
50
$44.50+0.00%4.20%8.9$8.48B$420.17
ADCAgree Realty Corporation
Real Estate
50
$72.74+0.11%4.19%40.8$9.13B$419.29
NGGNational Grid plc Sponsored ADR
Utilities
50
$78.17-0.14%3.97%18.7$81.44B$396.57
HTGCHercules Capital Inc.
Financial Services
49
$17.74-0.17%12.10%8.7$2.90B$1,209.78
HIGHartford Financial Services Group Inc-The
Financial Services
49
$24.69-0.04%6.14%3.4$6.76B$614.25
METMetLife Inc
Financial Services
49
$21.11-0.57%6.00%2.8$14.35B$600.48
HRLHormel Foods Corporation
Consumer Defensive
49
$21.69+0.45%4.75%28.9$13.62B$475.05
ASBAssociated Banc-Corp
Financial Services
48
$20.04-0.69%7.29%9.8$3.34B$728.91
NHINational Health Investors, Inc.
Real Estate
48
$71.85-0.73%5.21%23.3$3.49B$520.77
HRBH&R Block Inc.
Consumer Cyclical
48
$51.13-0.22%4.67%6.5$4.63B$466.80
TAPMolson Coors Beverage Company
Consumer Defensive
48
$40.57-0.43%4.65%8.9$7.80B$464.89
CAGConagra Brands Inc.
Consumer Defensive
47
$15.63+0.69%10.17%10.1$6.57B$1,017.44
METMetLife Inc
Financial Services
47
$21.68+0.18%6.30%2.8$14.65B$630.27
ALLAllstate Corp-The
Financial Services
47
$18.78+0.05%6.28%3.4$30.46B$628.39
MAINMain Street Capital Corporation
Financial Services
47
$58.10-0.05%6.25%11.0$4.84B$625.12
SCHWCharles Schwab Corp-The
Financial Services
47
$23.53-0.41%6.10%8.8$42.96B$609.59
OMABGrupo Aeroportuario del Centro Norte, S.A.B. de C.V. American Depositary Receipt
Industrials
47
$99.11-2.16%5.00%16.6$4.91B$499.67
GGALGrupo Financiero Galicia S.A. ADR
Financial Services
46
$44.66-1.37%4.30%149.1$9.35B$430.23
DOWDow Inc.
Basic Materials
43
$30.38+0.40%4.14%75.9$24.40B$413.77

Frequently Asked Questions

What are defensive dividend stocks?

Defensive dividend stocks are in sectors where demand barely changes regardless of economic conditions: utilities (electricity, gas, water), consumer staples (food, beverages, household products), and healthcare (pharmaceuticals, medical devices). They have betas below 0.8 because investors rotate into them during market downturns, providing both capital stability and dividend income.

How did defensive dividend stocks perform in 2008-2009?

During the 2008-2009 financial crisis, the S&P 500 fell 57%. The Consumer Staples ETF (XLP) fell only 28%. Utilities (XLU) fell 36%. Healthcare (XLV) fell 32%. More importantly, defensive dividend stocks maintained their dividends through the crisis, providing income while growth portfolios were severely impacted.

Should I hold defensive stocks in a bull market?

Defensive stocks typically underperform in bull markets because investors chase higher-risk growth. The trade-off is substantially less downside in bear markets. Research shows a 25-35% defensive allocation reduces portfolio drawdowns by 30-40% while sacrificing only 10-15% of bull market gains — a favorable long-term risk-adjusted result.

What is the best defensive dividend sector?

Utilities are the most defensive sector historically — beta averages 0.35-0.45, and demand for electricity, gas, and water is nearly perfectly inelastic. Consumer staples (KO, PG, CL) offer slightly higher growth. Healthcare (JNJ, ABT) provides a mix of defense and growth. For maximum downside protection with income, utilities lead.

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Live data refreshed daily. Not financial advice — always do your own research before investing.