3 Recession-Proof Stocks to Buy Before the Next Market Crash

Why it matters: These defensive stocks offer potential stability and income for investors bracing for a market downturn.
- Costco is presented as a top warehouse club, known for its bulk essentials and membership-driven profits, demonstrating consistent revenue growth with only one dip in 33 years, even during the 2009 recession.
- Costco's stock is noted for its premium valuation, trading at over 50 times trailing earnings, which the author justifies by its reliability despite a modest 0.5% dividend yield and infrequent double-digit top-line growth.
- AT&T is identified as a major wireless carrier, appealing due to the essential nature of mobile connectivity, offering a 4% dividend yield, and trading at a cheap 9 times trailing earnings, with analysts projecting continued revenue growth.
- AT&T's revenue has declined in four of the past six years, partly due to spin-offs, but the company recently experienced its strongest top-line growth in six years.
- Coca-Cola is introduced as a 'Dividend King,' signifying its long history of dividend increases, making it another defensive play for investors.
Amidst challenging times for growth investors, this article highlights three 'recession-proof' stocks—Costco, AT&T, and Coca-Cola—each offering unique defensive qualities to withstand a market downturn. While Costco provides reliability through essential bulk goods, AT&T offers indispensable mobile connectivity, and Coca-Cola stands as a Dividend King, all presenting potential havens before the next market crash.


