Investing
Seeking Refuge in Defensive Stocks (PEP, KO, CPB, HRL, MCD, VGR, MO, RAI)
Published:
Last Updated:
Defensive stocks are supposed to hold up in down stock markets. That isn’t so today. In our list of 17 defensive stocks we routinely track, none were positive today. On average, the defensive list is still faring better than the DJIA with a 2.25% drop and better than the S&P 500 with a 2% drop. What is interesting is that shares of PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE: PEP), Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO), Campbell Soup Company (NYSE: CPB), Hormel Foods Corporation (NYSE: HRL), McDonald’s Corporation (NYSE: MCD), Altria Group, Inc. (NYSE: MO), Vector Group Ltd. (NYSE: VGR), Reynolds American Inc (NYSE: RAI) all look to be within about 5% of their 52-week highs.
Vector Group was the ONLY stock on the defensive sector list that was not lower on the trading day. We ran a table below to show how the drop is there even in defensive stocks today. When you consider that many of these names are within a few percentage points of their 52-week highs, it makes sense that these are lower. If the market is going to fall more, why not lock in profits in and wait to buy at a lower price after the drop.
| Defensive Stocks | Price | Change$ | Change% | 52-Week Range | Dividend |
|---|---|---|---|---|---|
| PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) | $65.63 | Down 0.90 | Down 1.35% | 55.69 – 67.61 | 2.9% |
| Coca-Cola Company (KO) | $56.20 | Down 0.78 | Down 1.37% | 47.42 – 59.45 | 3.1% |
| Anheuser-Busch Inbev SA (BUD) | $50.91 | Down 1.32 | Down 2.53% | 38.05 – 55.50 | 0.7% |
| Molson Coors Brewing (TAP) | $45.54 | Down 0.64 | Down 1.39% | 38.44 – 51.11 | 2.4% |
| Kraft Foods Inc. (KFT | $29.63 | Down 0.64 | Down 2.11% | 25.72 – 31.09 | 3.9% |
| ConAgra Foods, Inc. (CAG) | $21.55 | Down 0.61 | Down 2.75% | 19.00 – 26.32 | 3.5% |
| Campbell Soup Company (CPB) | $36.20 | Down 0.22 | Down 0.60% | 29.81 – 37.50 | 3% |
| Hormel Foods Corporation (HRL) | $43.08 | Down 0.50 | Down 1.15% | 34.64 – 44.26 | 2% |
| McDonald’s Corporation (MCD) | $71.65 | Down 1.19 | Down 1.63% | 53.88 – 73.34 | 3.1% |
| Altria Group, Inc. (MO) | $22.44 | Down 0.19 | Down 0.84% | 17.28 – 22.78 | 6.3% |
| Vector Group Ltd. (VGR) | $18.93 | 0 | 0% | 13.50 – 19.30 | 8.5% |
| Reynolds American Inc (RAI) | $56.58 | Down 0.81 | Down 1.41% | 39.00 – 58.60 | 6.3% |
| Procter & Gamble (PG) | $60.54 | Down 0.24 | Down 0.39% | 39.37 – 64.58 | 3.2% |
| Colgate-Palmolive Company (CL) | $76.67 | Down 1.30 | Down 1.67% | 70.45 – 87.39 | 2.7% |
| Merck & Company, Inc. (MRK) | $34.97 | Down 0.80 | Down 2.22% | 28.69 – 41.56 | 4.3% |
| Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) | $58.64 | Down 0.79 | Down 1.33% | 56.86 – 66.20 | 3.6% |
| Novo Nordisk A/S (NVO) | $86.30 | Down 4.07 | Down 4.50% | 57.75 – 90.63 | 1.1% |
JON C. OGG
The Average American Is Losing Their Savings Every Day (Sponsor)
If you’re like many Americans and keep your money ‘safe’ in a checking or savings account, think again. The average yield on a savings account is a paltry .4% today, and inflation is much higher. Checking accounts are even worse.
Every day you don’t move to a high-yield savings account that beats inflation, you lose more and more value.
But there is good news. To win qualified customers, some accounts are paying 9-10x this national average. That’s an incredible way to keep your money safe, and get paid at the same time. Our top pick for high yield savings accounts includes other one time cash bonuses, and is FDIC insured.
Click here to see how much more you could be earning on your savings today. It takes just a few minutes and your money could be working for you.
Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.
Latest from 24/7
