Market uncertainty lingers, but Wall Street analysts say there are several ways to play defense and not entirely abandon equities. Analysts named a wide range of stocks this week that they claim every investor must own in times of uncertainty. CNBC Pro combed through Wall Street research to find buy-rated companies that Wall Street argues have defensive characteristics.
They include: Aecom , Microsoft, General Dynamics, Netflix and AutoZone. Microsoft HSBC doesn't think customers can stop relying on Microsoft and that's positive for the owner of Xbox, LinkedIn and Windows software, the firm says. "Due to its products and services' critical positioning within enterprises, we think it is difficult for customers to materially reduce spending with Microsoft," analyst Stephen Bersey wrote.
HSBC says Microsoft is well positioned by the long-term contracts it maintains with many vendors. But it's the AI outlook that has HSBC most excited, according to Bersey. "And we see AI as a non-negotiable investment within most large enterprises," he wrote.
Meanwhile, the stock is up about 11% this year with plenty of more room to run. "The company has a strong and sustainable competitive advantage and is very hard to displace in most of its end markets," Bersey went on. Aecom Bank of America analyst Michael Feniger says the construction management company is "steady in a stormy sea.
" Aecom recently reported a mixed fiscal third quarter earnings report, but Feniger believes the stock is a must-.