The Motley Fool·2025-03-12 10:30Core Viewpoint - In times of market turmoil, owning "safe" stocks and capitalizing on stock price declines presents significant investment opportunities [1][2]. Group 1: Market Context - The Nasdaq experienced a significant rise over the past two years but has recently faced challenges due to tariffs announced by President Trump on imports from major trading partners, raising concerns about corporate earnings and potential recession [2][3]. - The Nasdaq has entered correction territory, falling more than 10% from its recent high on December 16, with a notable drop of 4% on March 10, marking its worst performance since September 2022 [3]. Group 2: Safe Stock Recommendations - Amazon (AMZN): - Amazon is categorized as a "safe" stock due to its large Prime membership base of over 200 million, which may drive consumer spending during economic uncertainty [4]. - The company has improved its cost structure and efficiency in response to rising inflation, positioning it well for future economic downturns [5]. - Amazon Web Services (AWS) has shown resilience, continuing to grow revenue even during inflationary periods, and the stock is currently trading at 30 times forward earnings estimates, down from over 45 times [6][7]. - Intuitive Surgical (ISRG): - As a leader in robotic surgery, Intuitive Surgical benefits from consistent demand for medical procedures, making it a safe investment [8]. - The familiarity of surgeons with the da Vinci platform creates a competitive advantage, as hospitals are likely to continue using the system after significant investment [9]. - Intuitive Surgical continues to innovate, recently launching a new version of the da Vinci with over 150 design improvements, and the stock is trading at 59 times earnings estimates, down from about 80 times [10][11].