Motley Fool Picks 3 Defensive Stocks for a Market Crash
Updated
Updated · The Motley Fool · May 26
Motley Fool Picks 3 Defensive Stocks for a Market Crash
3 articles · Updated · The Motley Fool · May 26
Summary
Three stocks — Walmart, Realty Income and Philip Morris International — were singled out as buy-on-a-crash candidates because each combines durable cash flow with dividends.
Walmart brings 10,800 stores, 53 straight years of dividend hikes and analyst forecasts for 5% revenue and 9% EPS CAGR through fiscal 2029, though its shares trade at a rich 37 times forward earnings.
Realty Income adds a 5.2% forward yield, 15,500 properties and a 98.9% occupancy rate in 2025; management expects 2026 AFFO of $4.41-$4.44 per share against a $3.25 dividend.
Philip Morris offers a 3.1% forward yield and a shift toward smoke-free products, which made up nearly 43% of 2025 revenue after 14% organic growth.
The broader case is Buffett-style crash buying: a selloff could compress valuations and let investors accumulate resilient dividend names at cheaper prices.