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One thing is clear: Investors need a backup plan in 2019. With the markets frothy and investors concerned about the Brexit, U.S. and Chinese trade relations, and a potential crisis in Venezuela and Iran, volatility in the markets is the new norm.
In times of growing uncertainty, investors may choose to buy "defensive stocks."
Choosing the best defensive stocks can be difficult. But at Money Morning, we've developed a single tool to identify not just the best defensive companies, but also ones that are poised to push higher in 2019. Not only do these stocks have double-digit upside – they also offer investors strong dividend payments.
To find these stocks, we use the Money Morning Stock VQScore™.
The system tracks the 1,500 most profitable companies on the market and assigns each one a VQScore. To get the score, we use only the key factors that find stocks ready to far outperform "average" returns.
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A stock's VQScore is derived from a blended analysis of a company's underlying earnings power, its profit growth, and its EPS acceleration or deceleration. Then we balance the result against recent demand for the company's shares.
And when you add it all up, you have a tool that can help you find the best breakout stocks for the future.
Today, we dive into the three defensive stocks to buy in 2019…
The Best Defensive Stocks to Buy in 2019, No. 3
The first stock on today's list is Dollar Tree Inc. (NASDAQ: DLTR).
In times of economic downturn, Americans aren't going to stop going to grocery stores and convenience shops. Even though you can "click and buy" on many e-commerce sites, people will visit brick-and-mortar shops if they believe they can save money.
This beaten-down stock has nothing wrong with it aside from the challenges it has endured since taking over rival Family Dollar three years ago. It is currently working on renovating those stores and should continue to grow its bottom line through the balance of 2019.
The stock currently has our highest VQScore, signaling it's ready to break out and beyond its 52-week high of $108.83.
However, UBS analyst Michael Lasser projects that the stock will hit $143 per share. That figure represents an upside of 44.1%.
The Best Defensive Stocks to Buy in 2019, No. 2
The second stock we have today is Senior Housing Properties Trust (NYSE: SNH).
If you are looking for an industry with no shortage of demand, look no further than senior living facilities. And if you're looking for a breakout stock with a robust dividend, then your pick should be Senior Housing Properties Trust.
The company has a rock-solid history of paying dividends in a cash-rich business. This healthcare REIT owns 443 properties across the United States. It generates rental income from medical offices, senior housing, and managed senior housing properties.
Americans may cut down on shopping, travel, and luxury goods during a recession, but they will always pay for healthcare. That's especially true in a country where Baby Boomers continue to retire at a breakneck pace.
In the next 20 years, senior housing demand could surge thanks to a big increase in the number of Americans living past the age of 85.
Now, this investment does have some risks due to its credit rating (the lowest possible for investment grade), leverage, and interest-rate hikes.
But the company pays a whopping dividend of 10.97% and is relatively cheap compared to its sector rivals. The stock trades at a price to tangible book value of 1.46, which is roughly half of the sector average, according to Reuters. The stock also has a Beta of just 0.47, which makes it less risky in times of market volatility.
The stock also has our highest VQScore…
The Best Defensive Stocks to Buy in 2019, No. 1
About the Author
Garrett Baldwin is a globally recognized research economist, financial writer, and consultant with degrees from Northwestern, Johns Hopkins, Purdue, and Indiana University. He is a seasoned financial and political risk analyst, with a focus on stocks, hedge funds, private equity, blockchain, and housing policy. He has conducted risk assessment projects for clients in 27 countries, and consulted on policy and financial operations for some of the nation's largest financial institutions, including a $1.5 trillion credit fund, a $43 billion credit and auto loan giant, as well as two of the largest Wall Street banks by assets under management.
Garrett joined Money Map Press as an economist and researcher in 2011, specializing in alternative strategies with an emphasis on fundamental and technical analysis.
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