A recession is “a significant decline in economic activity spread across the economy, lasting more than a few months.” Industries affected most include retail, restaurants, travel/tourism, leisure/hospitality, service purveyors, real estate, & manufacturing/warehouse.
investors should avoid housing-related stocks, small caps, and “growth at any cost” names. These areas will face massive, ongoing pressures as we head into a recession.
As a result, companies operating within these industries like The Procter & Gamble Company (NYSE:PG), Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL), and Walmart Inc. (NYSE:WMT) are often considered to be money-makers in times of recession.
Blue-chip stocks are attractive to investors during recessions because they typically pay dividends, providing them with a tangible return in the form of income. Blue-chip stocks in recession-resistant industries tend to be especially stable, which can help lessen the blow of a market sell-off or recession.
Avoid Growth Stocks During a Recession
“Growth stocks, especially profitless companies that are tied to high growth prospects, do worse during recessions,” Nakadi says. Instead, consider more income-producing investments and dividend-paying stocks.
Investors typically flock to fixed-income investments (such as bonds) or dividend-yielding investments (such as dividend stocks) during recessions because they offer routine cash payments.
Economists often see a massive increase in demand for their services as the general public, businesses, and policy makers grapple with the recession. Consultants, government policy advisors, and even media personalities may also find opportunities to market their expertise during uncertain economic times.
While gold prices may rise through a coming recession, there are a few different reasons why gold makes a good choice for investors during periods of economic downturn. For one, it's a great way to diversify.
In general, a recession lasts anywhere from six to 18 months. For example, the Great Recession that started in December 2007 lasted 18 months. But the recession prompted by the pandemic in 2020 only lasted two months.
Stock prices nosedive during recessions . Millionaires and billionaires purchase them for pennies on the dollar. Then, once stock prices recover, the value of their holdings skyrocket, causing them to get significantly richer.
A recession is a slowdown in the economy and includes higher unemployment rates. Companies lay off workers to survive an economic downturn until sales will reliably grow again, and tech companies are always among the first to lose value and respond with layoffs.
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. When the market evens out down the road, rebalancing may be in order.
Do no withdraw cash. Despite the recent uncertainty, experts don't recommend withdrawing cash from your account. Keeping your money in financial institutions rather than in your home is safer, especially when the amount is insured. "It's not a time to pull your money out of the bank," Silver said.
Michael Burry from “The Big Short” took a big bet when he shorted the American housing market. After the housing bubble crashed in 2008, he made $100 million for himself, with investors in his fund making a further $700 million.
Liquidity. Your biggest risk in a recession is the loss of your job, if you're still employed or semi-employed. If you need to tap your savings for living expenses, a cash account is your best bet. Stocks tend to suffer in a recession, and you don't want to have to sell stocks in a falling market.
How Do Recessions Affect Investors? Typically during the early part of a recession, the stock market has negative returns. This is often because of the negative sentiment around poor or lackluster corporate earnings. But the stock market will often recover before the recession is over.
Contrary to investor expectations, several growth stocks including Apple Inc. (NASDAQ:AAPL), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ:AMZN), and Netflix Inc. (NASDAQ:NFLX) grew during the 2008 recession, so investors don't have to ignore growth stocks to be conservative.
Many experts say that just before a recession is the best time to invest in gold. There are several reasons for this. For one, its value tends to hold steady or, often, even increase during these down periods. That's because investors flock to the safety of gold, which drives up its price — and your returns.