{"id":49106,"date":"2025-05-21T04:18:24","date_gmt":"2025-05-21T08:18:24","guid":{"rendered":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/?p=49106"},"modified":"2026-04-28T11:29:32","modified_gmt":"2026-04-28T15:29:32","slug":"recession-resistant-stocks-etfs-canada","status":"publish","type":"post","link":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/recession-resistant-stocks-etfs-canada\/","title":{"rendered":"Top 10 Recession-Resistant Stocks and ETFs in Canada for 2026"},"content":{"rendered":"\n<p><strong>Recession-resistant stocks and ETFs are securities that historically maintain stable revenue and dividends during economic contractions.<\/strong> The defensive characteristic comes from selling essential goods or services that consumers continue to buy regardless of economic conditions. The traditional defensive sectors are consumer staples (groceries, household products), utilities (electricity, natural gas, water), telecommunications (mobile, internet), and healthcare. Canadian recession-resistant stock options include Loblaw, Fortis, Metro, Telus, BCE, and North West Company. ETF options include Harvest Healthcare Leaders Income (HHL), iShares Canadian Select Dividend (XDV), iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond (XBB), and Vanguard Consumer Staples (VDC).<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>A recession-resistant portfolio is not a guarantee against losses. Defensive stocks fall during severe market dislocations like 2008 and March 2020. They typically fall less than cyclical stocks and recover sooner. The objective is to reduce drawdown and preserve income, not to eliminate risk.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>This guide explains what makes a stock or ETF recession-resistant, the top 10 Canadian options for 2026, alternative defensive investments (bonds, GICs, REITs, cash), and how to monitor portfolio defensiveness over time. None of the holdings discussed constitute personalized financial advice.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<div id=\"rtoc-mokuji-wrapper\" class=\"rtoc-mokuji-content frame2 preset1 animation-fade rtoc_open default\" data-id=\"49106\" data-theme=\"Kicker Child\">\n\t\t\t<div id=\"rtoc-mokuji-title\" class=\" rtoc_left\">\n\t\t\t<button class=\"rtoc_open_close rtoc_open\"><\/button>\n\t\t\t<span>Contents<\/span>\n\t\t\t<\/div><ul class=\"rtoc-mokuji mokuji_ul level-2\"><li class=\"rtoc-item\"><a href=\"#rtoc-1\">What makes a stock or ETF recession-resistant?<\/a><ul class=\"rtoc-mokuji mokuji_ul level-2\"><li class=\"rtoc-item\"><a href=\"#rtoc-2\">What sectors perform best during a recession?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"rtoc-item\"><a href=\"#rtoc-3\">Top 10 recession-resistant stocks and ETFs in Canada for 2026<\/a><\/li><li class=\"rtoc-item\"><a href=\"#rtoc-4\">What other defensive investments work during a Canadian recession?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"rtoc-item\"><a href=\"#rtoc-5\">How does Wealthica help monitor recession-resistant portfolios?<\/a><\/li><li class=\"rtoc-item\"><a href=\"#rtoc-6\">FAQs<\/a><\/li><li class=\"rtoc-item\"><a href=\"#rtoc-7\">Conclusion<\/a><\/li><\/ul><\/li><\/ol><\/div><h3 id=\"rtoc-1\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">What makes a stock or ETF recession-resistant?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>A recession-resistant security has four characteristics: stable revenue from essential demand, consistent free cash flow, low debt-to-equity ratio, and a history of maintained or increased dividends through prior recessions.<\/strong> The defensive characteristics derive from the underlying business, not from any technical pattern. Companies selling things people need every week (groceries, electricity, internet, prescriptions) earn through downturns. Companies selling things people defer or skip (luxury goods, recreational vehicles, vacation packages) suffer.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The technical screen for a recession-resistant stock includes:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Beta below 1.0<\/strong>: Lower correlation with the broader market<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Consistent operating margins<\/strong>: Stable through prior recessions (2008, 2020)<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dividend payout ratio under 80%<\/strong>: Room to maintain dividends if earnings dip<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Net debt to EBITDA under 4.0x<\/strong>: Manageable leverage<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Free cash flow positive across cycles<\/strong>: Self-funded operations<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>Statistics Canada&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www150.statcan.gc.ca\/n1\/en\/subjects-start\/economic_accounts\" rel=\"noopener\">GDP and economic accounts data<\/a> provide the backdrop for evaluating which businesses have weathered prior contractions. The Bank of Canada&#8217;s <a href=\"https:\/\/www.bankofcanada.ca\/publications\/mpr\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Monetary Policy Report<\/a> tracks the current macroeconomic environment.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rtoc-2\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">What sectors perform best during a recession?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Five sectors historically outperform during Canadian recessions: consumer staples, utilities, telecommunications, healthcare, and high-quality fixed income.<\/strong> Each provides a different type of resilience: consumer staples through ongoing essential demand, utilities through regulated rate-base revenue, telecom through subscription revenue, healthcare through inelastic demand, and fixed income through capital preservation when equity markets fall.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>Sector<\/th><th>Why defensive<\/th><th>Canadian examples<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>Consumer staples (grocery, pharmacy)<\/strong><\/td><td>Essential weekly purchases<\/td><td>Loblaw, Metro, North West Company<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Utilities<\/strong><\/td><td>Regulated revenue, predictable cash flow<\/td><td>Fortis, Emera, Canadian Utilities<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Telecommunications<\/strong><\/td><td>Subscription model, essential service<\/td><td>Telus, BCE, Rogers<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>Healthcare<\/strong><\/td><td>Inelastic demand, demographic tailwinds<\/td><td>Healthcare-focused ETFs (HHL)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>High-quality fixed income<\/strong><\/td><td>Capital preservation, may rise when stocks fall<\/td><td>Government and investment-grade corporate bonds<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>Cyclical sectors (industrials, materials, discretionary retail, energy) typically underperform during recessions because demand for their products falls with consumer and business spending.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rtoc-3\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">Top 10 recession-resistant stocks and ETFs in Canada for 2026<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>The following 10 Canadian-accessible stocks and ETFs cover the four primary defensive sectors plus a fixed income anchor.<\/strong> Six are individual TSX-listed Canadian companies; three are TSX-listed ETFs; one is a US-listed ETF for additional consumer staples diversification. None of these constitute personalized financial advice. Investors should evaluate each holding against their own portfolio, risk tolerance, and tax situation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<figure class=\"wp-block-table\"><table class=\"has-fixed-layout\"><thead><tr><th>#<\/th><th>Ticker<\/th><th>Name<\/th><th>Type<\/th><th>Sector<\/th><\/tr><\/thead><tbody><tr><td><strong>1<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: L<\/td><td>Loblaw Companies Limited<\/td><td>Stock<\/td><td>Consumer staples (grocery, pharmacy)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>2<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: FTS<\/td><td>Fortis Inc.<\/td><td>Stock<\/td><td>Utilities<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>3<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: NWC<\/td><td>North West Company<\/td><td>Stock<\/td><td>Consumer staples (remote retail)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>4<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: MRU<\/td><td>Metro Inc.<\/td><td>Stock<\/td><td>Consumer staples (grocery, pharmacy)<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>5<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: T<\/td><td>Telus Corporation<\/td><td>Stock<\/td><td>Telecommunications + healthcare<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>6<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: BCE<\/td><td>BCE Inc.<\/td><td>Stock<\/td><td>Telecommunications<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>7<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: HHL<\/td><td>Harvest Healthcare Leaders Income ETF<\/td><td>ETF<\/td><td>Healthcare<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>8<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: XDV<\/td><td>iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF<\/td><td>ETF<\/td><td>Diversified dividend<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>9<\/strong><\/td><td>TSX: XBB<\/td><td>iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF<\/td><td>ETF<\/td><td>Fixed income<\/td><\/tr><tr><td><strong>10<\/strong><\/td><td>NYSE: VDC<\/td><td>Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF<\/td><td>ETF<\/td><td>US consumer staples<\/td><\/tr><\/tbody><\/table><\/figure>\n\n\n\n<p>These securities trade on the <a href=\"https:\/\/www.tsx.com\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Toronto Stock Exchange<\/a> (TSX) or, in the case of VDC, on the New York Stock Exchange. Canadian investors can hold all of them through their Canadian brokerage accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">1. Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Loblaw is one of Canada&#8217;s largest grocery and pharmacy retailers, operating banners including Loblaws, No Frills, Real Canadian Superstore, and Shoppers Drug Mart. The company sells essential goods that households continue to buy through economic cycles. Loblaw&#8217;s discount banners and private-label brands (No Name, President&#8217;s Choice) capture trade-down demand when household budgets tighten.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The combination of essential grocery sales and pharmacy revenue (with prescription demand particularly defensive) gives Loblaw a balanced revenue mix during downturns. Loblaw pays a dividend with a long history of increases.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">2. Fortis Inc. (TSX: FTS)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortis delivers electricity and natural gas to customers in Canada, the United States, and the Caribbean. Utility services are non-discretionary; households and businesses continue paying for energy even during recessions. The company&#8217;s regulated rate-base operations produce predictable cash flow, supported by long-term capital plans approved by provincial and state regulators.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Fortis is one of the longest-standing dividend aristocrats in Canada, with over 50 consecutive years of dividend increases. The combination of regulated revenue stability and long-term dividend growth makes Fortis a foundational holding for defensive Canadian portfolios. Approaches like <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/dividend-investor\/\">dividend investing<\/a> often anchor on names like Fortis.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">3. North West Company (TSX: NWC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>North West Company operates retail stores in remote regions across Canada, Alaska, and the Caribbean. The company&#8217;s stores serve communities where competition is limited, providing groceries, general merchandise, and financial services. Limited competition translates to pricing power and customer retention.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>North West&#8217;s niche positioning means the business is less exposed to the urban retail competition that pressures larger Canadian grocers. The company pays a dividend supported by stable revenue from essential goods sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">4. Metro Inc. (TSX: MRU)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Metro is a major Canadian grocery and pharmacy operator with a strong presence in Quebec and Ontario. Banners include Metro, Super C, Food Basics, and the Jean Coutu pharmacy chain. The company benefits from the same essential-demand profile as Loblaw, with additional regional concentration.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Metro has invested in efficient operations, online grocery, and loyalty programs. The company pays consistent dividends supported by stable cash flow from essential goods sales.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">5. Telus Corporation (TSX: T)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Telus provides mobile, internet, and television services across Canada. Telecommunications is largely subscription-based; subscribers continue paying for connectivity through downturns. The company has expanded into healthcare technology through Telus Health, adding recurring revenue from digital health records, virtual care, and pharmacy services.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The combination of telecom subscription revenue and healthcare technology gives Telus diversified defensive exposure. The company pays dividends supported by recurring service revenue.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">6. BCE Inc. (TSX: BCE)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>BCE is one of Canada&#8217;s largest communications companies, offering mobile, internet, television, and media services under the Bell brand. The telecom subscription base produces recurring revenue that continues through economic cycles. The media segment is more cyclical, dependent on advertising spending that contracts during recessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>BCE has historically paid significant dividends supported by telecom cash flow. Recent years have seen pressure on the company&#8217;s payout ratio and capital expenditure. Investors should review the company&#8217;s most recent quarterly results before making allocation decisions. For investors building a <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/how-to-invest-100k-passive-income\/\">diversified passive income portfolio<\/a>, BCE represents one of several Canadian dividend options.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">7. Harvest Healthcare Leaders Income ETF (TSX: HHL)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>HHL, issued by Harvest Portfolios Group, provides exposure to large North American healthcare companies, including pharmaceuticals, medical devices, and managed care. Healthcare demand is largely inelastic; people continue using medical services during recessions. The ETF distributes income monthly and uses a covered-call overlay to enhance distribution yield.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>HHL&#8217;s structure makes it a one-position way to add defensive healthcare exposure to a Canadian portfolio. The covered-call overlay caps upside in strong bull markets but supports income in flat or declining markets.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">8. iShares Canadian Select Dividend Index ETF (TSX: XDV)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>XDV holds a concentrated portfolio of Canadian companies that pay above-average dividends, drawn from financials, utilities, telecom, and energy sectors. The ETF distributes income monthly and provides instant diversification across approximately 30 Canadian dividend payers.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The structure suits investors who want dividend exposure without selecting individual stocks. The dividend tax credit (per <a href=\"https:\/\/www.canada.ca\/en\/revenue-agency\/services\/tax\/individuals\/topics\/about-your-tax-return\/tax-return\/completing-a-tax-return\/deductions-credits-expenses\/line-40425-federal-dividend-tax-credit.html\" rel=\"noopener\">CRA Line 40425, Federal Dividend Tax Credit<\/a>) makes Canadian eligible dividends particularly tax-efficient when held in non-registered accounts.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">9. iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond Index ETF (TSX: XBB)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>XBB tracks a broad Canadian bond market index, including federal and provincial government bonds and investment-grade corporate bonds. Bonds typically rise (or fall less) when equity markets fall, providing portfolio stability during recessions. XBB pays monthly distributions of bond interest income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>The ETF replaces the need to construct a bond ladder manually. Distributions are taxed as interest income, which makes XBB more tax-efficient inside an RRSP or TFSA than in a non-registered account.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">10. Vanguard Consumer Staples ETF (NYSE: VDC)<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>VDC holds large US consumer staples companies including Procter &amp; Gamble, Coca-Cola, Walmart, and Costco. The ETF provides US-dollar diversification for Canadian investors and exposure to multinational consumer staples brands. Distributions are paid quarterly.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>US-listed ETFs face withholding tax on distributions in TFSA accounts (15% permanent, non-recoverable) but receive treaty exemption in RRSP accounts. Asset location matters; a <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/couch-potato\/\">passive index investing approach<\/a> often holds US ETFs preferentially in the RRSP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rtoc-4\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">What other defensive investments work during a Canadian recession?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Beyond the top 10 stocks and ETFs, four additional defensive options support a Canadian recession-resistant portfolio: government and provincial bonds, GICs, REITs in defensive subsectors (residential, healthcare, industrial), and cash equivalents (high-interest savings, money market).<\/strong> Each provides a different type of stability.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Government bonds and GICs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Federal and provincial Canadian bonds offer stability backed by government issuance. Returns are lower than stocks, but volatility is lower too. GICs (Guaranteed Investment Certificates) lock in a fixed rate for a fixed term. CDIC insures them up to $100,000 per depositor, per institution, per category.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Defensive REITs<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>REITs in residential, healthcare, and industrial subsectors typically maintain occupancy and rental income through downturns. Retail and office REITs are more cyclical and were severely affected during the 2020 pandemic. They continue to face structural pressure.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Cash and cash equivalents<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>High-interest savings accounts and money market funds preserve capital and provide liquidity for buying quality assets at depressed prices during a downturn.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Before adjusting allocations, conducting a complete <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/financial-inventory\/\">financial inventory<\/a> and reviewing current <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/margin-loan-and-mortgage\/\">margin loan or mortgage exposure<\/a> prevents costly rebalancing mistakes during volatile periods. The OSC&#8217;s investor education arm <a href=\"https:\/\/www.getsmarteraboutmoney.ca\/\" rel=\"noopener\">Get Smarter About Money<\/a> provides additional Canadian-specific guidance on defensive investing.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rtoc-5\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">How does Wealthica help monitor recession-resistant portfolios?<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p><strong>Wealthica aggregates investment positions across 150+ Canadian institutions, calculates sector allocation in real time, and surfaces concentration in defensive vs cyclical sectors.<\/strong> For investors implementing a recession-resistant strategy, the platform provides the consolidated view needed to monitor whether the portfolio is actually defensive or only nominally so.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<p>Wealthica supports three concrete tasks for recession-focused investors:<\/p>\n\n\n\n<ul class=\"wp-block-list\">\n<li><strong>Sector allocation tracking<\/strong>: Real-time exposure to consumer staples, utilities, telecom, healthcare, and fixed income across all accounts<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Dividend tracking<\/strong>: Aggregating dividend income across stocks and ETFs for income visibility<\/li>\n\n\n\n<li><strong>Drawdown monitoring<\/strong>: Position-level tracking that surfaces which holdings are dragging during a market correction<\/li>\n<\/ul>\n\n\n\n<p>The platform&#8217;s daily refresh enables monitoring of sector drift over time, especially important during periods when defensive positioning matters most. Active investors can layer broader <a href=\"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/investment-strategies\/\">investment strategies<\/a> over the defensive core to balance growth and capital preservation.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rtoc-6\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">FAQs<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What makes a stock or ETF recession-resistant?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>A recession-resistant stock or ETF maintains stable revenue and (typically) dividends during economic contractions because the underlying business sells essential goods or services. Common characteristics include beta below 1.0, consistent operating margins through prior recessions, dividend payout ratio under 80%, manageable leverage, and positive free cash flow across economic cycles. Defensive sectors include consumer staples, utilities, telecommunications, healthcare, and high-quality fixed income.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Are dividend stocks recession-proof?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>No. Dividend stocks are not recession-proof; they are recession-resistant relative to broader equities. Even high-quality dividend payers can cut dividends during severe recessions (BCE, banks, and energy companies have all done so historically). Diversified dividend ETFs (like XDV) reduce single-stock risk but still fall during equity bear markets. Dividends represent priority claim over share price appreciation, so dividend cuts often follow operational stress.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Should I hold defensive stocks in a TFSA or RRSP?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Account location depends on the security&#8217;s tax treatment and the investor&#8217;s marginal rate. Canadian eligible dividends benefit from the dividend tax credit and are most tax-efficient in non-registered accounts. US-listed ETFs face 15% non-recoverable withholding tax in TFSAs but receive treaty exemption in RRSPs, making the RRSP preferable for US-listed defensive ETFs (VDC). Bond ETFs (XBB) generate interest income, which is tax-inefficient in non-registered accounts and best held in TFSA or RRSP.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">What sectors perform best during a Canadian recession?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Five sectors historically outperform during Canadian recessions: consumer staples (groceries, household products, pharmacy), utilities (regulated electricity, natural gas, water), telecommunications (subscription-based mobile and internet), healthcare (inelastic demand for medical services), and high-quality fixed income (government and investment-grade corporate bonds). Cyclical sectors (industrials, materials, discretionary retail, energy, financials) typically underperform during recessions.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Who benefits from a recession?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>Several groups can benefit: companies in defensive sectors (consumer staples, utilities, healthcare) maintain or increase market share; investors with cash reserves can buy quality assets at depressed prices; employees in stable industries (government, utilities, healthcare) face less job risk; debt-free households face less financial stress; and counter-cyclical businesses (discount retailers, debt collection, bankruptcy law) often see rising demand. Recessions create opportunity for the prepared and pain for the unprepared.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h4 class=\"wp-block-heading\">Will the Canadian economy enter recession in 2026?<\/h4>\n\n\n\n<p>The Canadian economy in 2026 continues to navigate post-pandemic adjustments, ongoing trade dynamics with major partners, and Bank of Canada monetary policy decisions. Whether a technical recession occurs depends on quarterly GDP outcomes that are not yet known. The Bank of Canada&#8217;s most recent Monetary Policy Report provides the current baseline forecast. Investors should review current economic data at the time of decision-making rather than rely on forecasts published in earlier periods.<\/p>\n\n\n\n<h3 id=\"rtoc-7\"  class=\"wp-block-heading\">Conclusion<\/h3>\n\n\n\n<p>Recession-resistant Canadian stocks and ETFs span four defensive sectors: consumer staples (Loblaw, Metro, North West Company), utilities (Fortis), telecommunications (Telus, BCE), and healthcare (Harvest Healthcare Leaders Income ETF). Diversified ETFs (iShares Canadian Select Dividend XDV, iShares Core Canadian Universe Bond XBB, Vanguard Consumer Staples VDC) provide one-position defensive exposure. None of these holdings eliminate market risk; they typically reduce drawdown and preserve income during contractions. A complete recession-resistant strategy combines the equity holdings with high-quality fixed income, GICs, defensive REITs, and adequate cash reserves. Wealthica&#8217;s daily aggregation across 150+ Canadian institutions supports the monitoring discipline that defensive investing requires, surfacing sector drift and dividend stability in real time.<\/p>\n","protected":false},"excerpt":{"rendered":"<p>Recession-resistant stocks and ETFs are securities that historically maintain stable revenue and dividends during economic contractions. The defensive characteristic comes from selling essential goods or services that consumers continue to buy regardless of economic conditions. The traditional defensive sectors are consumer staples (groceries, household products), utilities (electricity, natural gas, water), telecommunications (mobile, internet), and healthcare.&hellip;<\/p>\n","protected":false},"author":19,"featured_media":49113,"comment_status":"open","ping_status":"open","sticky":false,"template":"","format":"standard","meta":{"_acf_changed":false,"footnotes":""},"categories":[14,13],"tags":[],"class_list":["post-49106","post","type-post","status-publish","format-standard","has-post-thumbnail","hentry","category-investing","category-help-and-how-to"],"acf":[],"_links":{"self":[{"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49106","targetHints":{"allow":["GET"]}}],"collection":[{"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts"}],"about":[{"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/types\/post"}],"author":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/users\/19"}],"replies":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/comments?post=49106"}],"version-history":[{"count":4,"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49106\/revisions"}],"predecessor-version":[{"id":202121,"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/posts\/49106\/revisions\/202121"}],"wp:featuredmedia":[{"embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media\/49113"}],"wp:attachment":[{"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/media?parent=49106"}],"wp:term":[{"taxonomy":"category","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/categories?post=49106"},{"taxonomy":"post_tag","embeddable":true,"href":"https:\/\/wealthica.com\/blog\/wp-json\/wp\/v2\/tags?post=49106"}],"curies":[{"name":"wp","href":"https:\/\/api.w.org\/{rel}","templated":true}]}}