Core Viewpoint - The article discusses the best bear market stocks to buy, emphasizing the importance of defensive stocks that outperform the market during economic downturns [1][2]. Defensive Stocks - Defensive stocks are characterized by their ability to provide protection against economic unpredictability, often coming from sectors like utilities, healthcare, and consumer staples [1]. - Michael Wilson from Morgan Stanley advocates for a shift towards conservative stocks amid economic downturns and tariff concerns, suggesting that quality and defensive equities will continue to outperform [2]. Methodology - The selection process involved using a stock analysis screener to identify consumer defensive stocks with a price target upside of less than 15%, resulting in a ranked list of 13 stocks based on hedge fund holdings as of Q2 2025 [5][6]. Company Highlights - **Beyond Meat, Inc. (NASDAQ:BYND)**: Reported a 19.6% year-over-year decline in Q2 revenue to $75 million and a net loss of $29.2 million. The company plans to cut 6% of its workforce and focus on margin expansion and streamlined distribution [8]. It introduced a new plant-based product, Beyond Ground, and aims to innovate with lentil sausages and chickpea hot dogs [9]. - **BRF S.A. (NYSE:BRFS)**: Merged with Marfrig Global Foods, creating MBRF Global Foods Company S.A. The merger aims to generate BRL 805 million ($141 million) in annual synergies. Despite challenges, BRF reported 3% revenue growth in Q2 2025 to BRL 15.4 billion, with significant growth in its pet food and plant-based segments [11][12]. The company is positioned for stronger global growth post-merger [13]. - **The Beauty Health Company (NASDAQ:SKIN)**: Reported Q2 2025 revenue of $78.2 million and EPS of $0.03, exceeding expectations. The company focuses on provider engagement and innovation, launching initiatives to enhance product development and brand loyalty [15][16]. It plans to expand its consumable product lines and has clarified asset rights to reduce risk for creditors [17].

Core Viewpoint - Coca-Cola demonstrates resilience in turbulent markets, showcasing its defensive attributes and strong brand power, making it a compelling investment option for stability-focused investors [2][18][19] Market Performance - Coca-Cola's stock surged approximately 19.7% in the three months leading to late April 2025, with a year-to-date gain of about 18.8%, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of around 10% [3][4] - The company's low beta of 0.45 indicates lower volatility compared to the market average, enhancing its appeal during market downturns [4] Dividend Information - Coca-Cola has a dividend yield of 2.83% and has increased its annual dividend for 63 consecutive years, solidifying its status as a Dividend King [6][7] - The latest quarterly dividend was raised by approximately 5.2%, resulting in an annual dividend of $2.04 per share, up from $1.94 in 2024 [7][9] - The dividend payout ratio is reported at 82.6%, but a more sustainable ratio based on comparable EPS is 70.8% [8] Financial Performance - In FY2024, Coca-Cola's organic revenues increased by 12%, driven by an 11% improvement in price/mix, indicating strong pricing power [10] - The Comparable Operating Margin expanded to 30.0% in FY2024 from 29.1% the previous year, despite increased input costs [11] - Comparable EPS increased by 7% to $2.88 in FY2024, even after a significant currency headwind [13] Cash Flow and Operational Efficiency - Reported cash flow from operations decreased by 41% to $6.8 billion in FY2024, impacted by a $6.0 billion deposit related to tax litigation [14] - Excluding this item, Free Cash Flow reached $10.8 billion, an 11% increase year over year, highlighting strong cash-generating capabilities [14] Strategic Initiatives - Coca-Cola is expanding its product portfolio in response to evolving consumer preferences, including categories like water, sports drinks, and low/no-sugar options [15] Analyst Sentiment - Analysts maintain a strong consensus Buy rating for Coca-Cola, with a 12-month price target of $75.06, suggesting a potential upside of 4.31% [16] - The company's management projects solid growth in organic revenue and comparable EPS for the fiscal year, despite anticipated currency headwinds [17]

Core Viewpoint - The article emphasizes the importance of maintaining flexibility in "BAD BEAT Investing" strategies amidst recent market volatility, suggesting a shift towards defensive stocks like Verizon, which has shown strong performance despite potential tariff risks [1][6]. Financial Performance - Verizon's first-quarter revenue exceeded expectations, reaching $33.5 billion, a 1.5% year-over-year increase, with a $220 million surplus over projections [2][3]. - Wireless service revenue grew by 2.6% year-over-year to $17.2 billion, marking the 19th consecutive quarter of growth in this segment [2][3]. - The company reported an adjusted EBITDA of $12.6 billion, slightly above expectations, and an adjusted earnings per share of $1.19, exceeding the forecast by $0.04 [3][6]. Customer Metrics - The net addition of Fios users was over 40,000, while broadband net additions were approximately 339,000, aligning closely with expectations [2][3]. - The postpaid phone net loss was 289,000, higher than anticipated, with a consumer wireless customer churn rate of 1.13% [2][3]. Cash Flow and Dividends - Free cash flow for the first quarter is projected to be between $3 billion and $3.5 billion, with a cash flow payment ratio of approximately 79% [4][5]. - Operating cash flow increased by over 10% year-over-year to $7.8 billion, supporting the sustainability of dividend payments [5][6]. Debt Management - Verizon's total debt stands at $143.6 billion, slightly down from $144 billion the previous year, with a net debt increase from $113.6 billion to $115 billion quarter-over-quarter [6]. - The company aims to manage its debt effectively to reduce interest expenses and enhance earnings per share while continuing to increase dividends [6][7]. Investment Outlook - Analysts recommend Verizon as a buy, highlighting its defensive stock characteristics and the essential nature of telecom services in today's world [7].

Group 1 - In Q1 2025, the US stock market experienced its worst quarterly performance since 2022, with the Nasdaq Composite down 10.4%, S&P 500 down 4.6%, and Dow Jones down 1.28% [1] - The decline in tech stocks was significant, with Tesla down approximately 36%, Nvidia down over 19%, and Apple down over 11%. The "Magnificent Seven" tech stocks index fell 14.83% [1] - Despite the overall downturn, defensive stocks provided stable returns, with seven out of eleven S&P 500 sectors achieving positive returns, including energy up nearly 8% and healthcare up 5% [2][3] Group 2 - The European market showed strong performance in Q1 2025, with the Stoxx Europe 600 index rising about 5%, contrasting with the US market [2] - Increased defense spending in Germany and other European countries led to significant gains in defense-related stocks, with Rheinmetall up 134.73% and Thales up 91.48% [2] - Analysts suggest that many US stocks, particularly in tech, are overvalued, while energy, healthcare, and utility sectors are undervalued, indicating a potential shift in investment focus towards international stocks [3]