Which stock sectors do best in a recession?
A good investment strategy during a recession is to look for companies that are maintaining strong balance sheets or steady business models despite the economic headwinds. Some examples of these types of companies include utilities, basic consumer goods conglomerates, and defense stocks.
Historically, the industries considered to be the most defensive and better placed to fare reasonably during recessions are utilities, health care, and consumer staples.
Stock | Implied upside from Feb. 21 close |
---|---|
Accenture PLC (ACN) | 3.6% |
T-Mobile US Inc. (TMUS) | 12.8% |
Walt Disney Co. (DIS) | 11.5% |
Netflix Inc. (NFLX) | 6.4% |
- Financial advisors and accountants. ...
- Child services. ...
- Health care. ...
- Auto repair. ...
- Property management. ...
- Home repair/contractor. ...
- Cleaning services. ...
- Grocery store.
An economic recession can have a significant impact on businesses and industries. Some sectors, such as manufacturing and travel, are particularly vulnerable to economic downturns.
- Technology. Communication. services. Consumer. discretionary. Industrials.
- Health care. Real estate. Materials. Energy.
- Financials. Utilities. Consumer. staples.
Due to its reputation for being a safe-haven asset, gold tends to perform well during a recession. For example, when the stock market collapsed in 2007, investment demand for gold spiked and continued to rise, and gold doubled in value between 2007 and 2011.
Company | Symbol | Average % stock ch. last five recessions |
---|---|---|
Boeing | (BA) | -33.4 |
Baker Hughes | (BKR) | -31.2 |
Schlumberger | (SLB) | -30.8 |
American Electric Power | (AEP) | -13.5 |
- Cyclical stocks. Cyclical stocks are virtually the definition of stocks that get hit hard going into a recession, as investors anticipate a peaking economy and begin to sell them. ...
- Small-cap stocks. ...
- Growth stocks. ...
- Real estate. ...
- Consumer staples. ...
- Utilities. ...
- Bonds.
During an economic downturn, it's crucial to control your spending. Try to avoid taking on new debt you don't need, like a house or car. Look critically at smaller expenses, too — there's no reason to keep paying for things you don't use.
Who benefits from a recession?
Higher interest rates that often coincide with the early stages of a recession provide an advantage to savers, while lower interest rates moving out of a recession can benefit homebuyers. Investors may be able to find bargains on assets that have decreased in price during a recession.
Warren Buffett, business magnate and investor
He also bought convertible preferred shares in Swiss Re and Dow Chemical. By 2011, Buffett had made $10 million from the 2008 financial crisis. “Be fearful when others are greedy. Be greedy when others are fearful.”
![Which stock sectors do best in a recession? (2024)](https://i.ytimg.com/vi/QcjHLCqTFFU/hq720.jpg?sqp=-oaymwEcCNAFEJQDSFXyq4qpAw4IARUAAIhCGAFwAcABBg==&rs=AOn4CLB7194F4mTj80ge1bCczNIo1QTl0Q)
Defensive sectors like health care, staples, and utilities could be less vulnerable to recession risk. Lower correlation to economic cycles, lower rate-sensitivity, higher cash buffers, and lower capital expenditures are all key factors that support their resilience.
Luckily, there are some stocks that are more resilient to the negative effects of a downturn. Three stocks that outperformed the S&P 500 during the 2007-09 Great Recession were Gilead Sciences (GILD 0.29%), McDonald's (MCD -0.53%), and Walmart (WMT 0.26%).
- Real Estate. The impact of inflation on real estate has been beneficial for the overall development of the real estate business. ...
- Financial companies. ...
- Healthcare.
S.No. | Top Sectors in Indian Stock Market |
---|---|
2. | Renewable energy Sector |
3. | IT Sector |
4. | Real Estate Sector |
5. | FMCG Sector |
- High-yield savings accounts.
- Certificates of deposit (CDs) and share certificates.
- Money market accounts.
- Treasury securities.
- Series I bonds.
- Municipal bonds.
- Corporate bonds.
- Money market funds.
The S&P 500 consumer staples, utilities and healthcare sectors have lagged the consumer discretionary and the communication services sectors by the largest margin on record.
Silver prices were relatively stable during this same period. In contrast, during the 2001 recession, silver fluctuated around $3/oz., while gold gained about 7.3%. This suggests that both metals are good investments during recessions because they perform well compared to global stocks.
Precious metals, like gold or silver, tend to perform well during market slowdowns. But since the demand for these kinds of commodities often increases during recessions, their prices usually go up too.
How much will gold be worth in 2025?
Key takeaways
Gold prices are expected to dip in the near term before climbing to new highs later in the year, with a forecasted peak of $2,300/oz in 2025.
- Dollar Tree (discount stores)
- Walmart (discount stores)
- Hasbro (leisure and kids products)
- Amgen (health)
- Edwards Lifesciences (health)
- H&R Block (personal services)
When things are looking bleak, consider holding on to your investments. Selling during market lows can be one of the worst things you can do for your portfolio — it locks in losses.
- Revisit your budget. Keeping close tabs on your budget is a cornerstone of good financial health, especially when inflation is high. ...
- Pad your emergency savings. ...
- Tackle debt. ...
- Consider staying invested. ...
- Maintain focus on your goals.
Bottom line. If you're able to increase investments in the stock market during a downturn, it can be a great way to boost your long-term returns and achieve your investment goals.