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Markets are so far having one of their worst years in history as investors are whipsawed by rising inflation, tighter monetary policy from the Federal Reserve and Russia’s war against Ukraine, but despite the ongoing volatility, Wall Street analysts see opportunities and recommend a basket of defensive and stable stocks.
Wall Street experts still see opportunities in the healthcare, financial and consumer sectors.
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With markets in turmoil amid a myriad of concerns, the benchmark S&P 500 index has fallen 18% this year as investors dump risky assets and search for pockets of safety, with tech stocks especially hard-hit.
Despite the uncertainty, experts like several stocks that have been boosted by solid first quarter earnings results: Analysts at MoffetNathanson upgraded video-game company Electronic Arts to a buy rating on Wednesday, arguing that it is set up to “weather continued market volatility” thanks to a dominant market position.
Piper Sandler analysts similarly upgraded fast-food chain McDonald’s on the basis that it is well-positioned—in large part thanks to the company’s “size and scale”—to navigate “choppy consumer sentiment.”
Investors should turn to companies with strong pricing power and solid performance over time, Bernstein echoed in a recent note, highlighting opportunities in the healthcare, financials and consumer sectors with stock picks including UnitedHealth, Walmart, Kroger and Fedex.
Strategists at Goldman Sachs, meanwhile, recommend stocks with stable growth and low volatility: Those include discount retailer Dollar General and credit card company Visa, both of which are beating the market, as well pizza chain Domino’s and pharmaceutical company Johnson & Johnson.
Some firms such as Bank of America point to high-dividend yield stocks that will continue to payout even if markets remain volatile, while Morgan Stanley advises investors to adopt a “defensive bias” overweight in health care, utilities and real estate stocks.