Recession Proof Stocks

Low-beta stocks in defensive sectors that historically hold value and dividends through recessions. Essential businesses with inelastic demand.

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50 stocks match. Click any column to sort.

Prices as of . Quotes may be delayed.

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KRNYKearny Financial Corp.
Financial Services
85
$9.85-1.60%5.01%15.4$553.2M$500.85
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
DMLPDorchester Minerals, L.P.
Energy
78
$28.69-0.07%9.51%19.2$1.29B$951.27
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
AFYAAfya Ltd.
Consumer Defensive
74
$14.53+1.54%4.65%8.8$1.29B$464.94
FORTYFormula Systems (1985) Ltd. American Depositary Receipt
Technology
73
$125.72+3.59%11.53%30.9$1.80B$1,152.94
IGICInternational General Insurance Holdings Ltd.
Financial Services
72
$26.43-1.14%5.28%9.0$1.07B$527.68
ACICAmerican Coastal Insurance Corp.
Financial Services
71
$9.48+0.48%11.97%4.9$506.4M$1,196.74
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
CGBDCarlyle Secured Lending, Inc.
Financial Services
63
$11.79+1.07%14.12%15.6$763.1M$1,412.30
CNXCConcentrix Corporation
Technology
63
$29.30+4.16%5.39%8.3$1.60B$539.01
GBDCGolub Capital BDC, Inc.
Financial Services
57
$12.98-0.46%10.82%17.3$3.46B$1,082.30
VMOInvesco Municipal Opportunity Trust Common Stock
Financial Services
56
$9.47+0.00%7.80%34.5$652.8M$780.19
CTOCTO Realty Growth, Inc.
Real Estate
54
$21.54+0.47%7.34%104.7$707.1M$733.94
KRPKimbell Royalty Partners Common Units Representing Limited Partner Interests
Energy
53
$14.90-0.30%10.40%18.0$1.98B$1,040.31
VKQInvesco Municipal Trust Common Stock
Financial Services
53
$9.57+0.10%7.74%32.6$539.5M$773.80
FROFrontline plc
Energy
53
$45.41+0.67%7.50%9.6$8.70B$750.32
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
CAPLCrossAmerica Partners L.P.
Energy
52
$23.20-0.28%9.53%15.2$858.5M$953.03
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
BMEBlackrock Health Sciences Trust
Financial Services
52
$46.05+0.55%6.81%7.7$596.2M$681.40
USACUsa Compression Partners L.P.
Energy
51
$27.55+0.34%8.06%26.7$3.88B$805.83
VGMInvesco Trust for Investment Grade Municipals Common Stock (DE)
Financial Services
51
$10.08+0.00%7.55%33.3$560.2M$755.08
PEOAdams Natural Resources Fund Inc. Common Stock
Financial Services
51
$29.23-0.15%7.22%4.8$791.8M$722.12
SUNSunoco L.P.
Energy
51
$74.02-0.78%5.78%16.7$12.31B$578.19
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
UVVUniversal Corporation
Consumer Defensive
49
$45.82-0.32%6.16%41.5$1.34B$615.62
HIGHartford Financial Services Group Inc-The
Financial Services
49
$24.69-0.04%6.14%3.4$6.76B$614.25
HRLHormel Foods Corporation
Consumer Defensive
49
$21.69+0.45%4.75%28.9$13.62B$475.05
MFICMidCap Financial Investment Corporation
Financial Services
48
$9.66-0.41%13.68%169.5$837.7M$1,367.69
EVVEaton Vance Limited Duration Income Fund Common Shares of Beneficial Interest
Financial Services
48
$9.05-0.28%9.53%14.7$1.06B$953.27
WIWWestern Asset Inflation-Linked Opportunities & Income Fund
Financial Services
48
$8.28+0.01%9.05%13.3$510.9M$904.85
PDTJohn Hancock Premium Dividend Fund
Financial Services
48
$12.58+0.32%7.89%5.0$627.1M$789.02
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
FAXabrdn Asia-Pacific Income Fund Inc. Common Stock
Financial Services
47
$14.56-0.61%13.44%14.6$609.7M$1,344.20
CAGConagra Brands Inc.
Consumer Defensive
47
$15.63+0.69%10.17%10.1$6.57B$1,017.44
ALLAllstate Corp-The
Financial Services
47
$18.78+0.05%6.28%3.4$30.46B$628.39
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

Frequently Asked Questions

What stocks are recession proof?

Recession-resistant stocks are in sectors with inelastic demand — consumption that barely changes during economic downturns. Key recession-proof sectors: utilities (electricity, water, gas that people always pay for), consumer staples (food, beverages, household products), and healthcare (medicines and hospital visits don't wait for economic recovery). These sectors have betas below 0.7 because investors rotate into them during downturns.

Did defensive stocks hold up in past recessions?

Yes. 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%. Defensive dividend stocks also maintained or grew their dividends during the crisis, providing income while growth portfolios were destroyed.

What is a defensive stock?

A defensive stock maintains relatively stable earnings and dividends through economic cycles. Key characteristics: low beta (< 0.8), products with inelastic demand, and predictable recurring cash flows. The classic defensive triumvirate is consumer staples, utilities, and healthcare.

Should I move entirely to defensive stocks before a recession?

Timing recessions is notoriously difficult — even professional economists fail consistently. Most advisors recommend a permanent 25-35% defensive allocation rather than trying to time market cycles. Defensive dividend stocks year-round reduce portfolio volatility without sacrificing all bull market gains.

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