3 Recession-Proof Stocks to Buy Before the Next Market Crash

By Rick Munarriz – Mar 20, 2026 at 8:12AM ESTKey PointsCostco, AT&T, and Coca-Cola are recession-resistant stocks.Costco is a low-margin business, but it's a steady producer of revenue growth in all operating climates.AT&T isn't the only wireless carrier, but it's fair to say that folks will cut a lot of expenses before giving up their portable connectivity. These are trying times for growth investors, so maybe it's a good time to be trying something different. You know those all-weather defensive stocks that many have been rotating into these days? Shouldn't you consider at least some exposure to businesses that can hold up better than most when the next market crash comes around? Costco (COST 0.53%), AT&T (T +1.28%), and Coca-Cola (KO 0.55%) are recession-proof for very different reasons. All three are still stocks that you might want to dig into before the market buckles. Let's take a closer look. Image source: Getty Images. Costco Kicking off a list of safe stocks with Costco might seem obvious and ludicrous at the same time. On the one hand, Costco is the country's undisputed top dog in warehouse clubs. If the stock market starts to buckle, there's a good chance it's happening because the economy is wobbly. Costco eats that opportunity up. Even if you're not a Costco member, you know the chain that sells bulk-sized essentials at razor-thin margins. The annual fees it collects account for most of its profit. Good luck beating that $1.50 hot dog and soft drink combo. What you might not know is that it has failed to deliver positive annual revenue growth just once in the last 33 years. And even during the recessionary 2009, when the chain proved mortal, the top line only saw a 1.5% dip. ExpandNASDAQ: COSTCostco WholesaleToday's Change(-0.53%) $-5.14Current Price$974.78Key Data PointsMarket Cap$432BDay's Range$970.41 - $988.7952wk Range$844.06 - $1067.08Volume2.3KAvg Vol2.2MGross Margin12.93%Dividend Yield0.53% Costco is obvious, but I also mentioned that it was ludicrous. A safe stock is also typically attractively priced. Costco stock is not cheap. The warehouse club giant is trading for more than 50 times its trailing earnings. It's not a fast-growing retailer. It has posted double-digit annual top-line growth just twice in the last 13 fiscal years. Its 0.5% dividend yield isn't going to turn heads. However, Costco's reliability is worth a premium. I can't recall the last time Costco was textbook cheap. The price of admission is a premium, and -- like the items it sells -- you just hope it hasn't been marked up by much. ExpandNYSE: TAT&TToday's Change(1.28%) $0.35Current Price$27.76Key Data PointsMarket Cap$194BDay's Range$27.23 - $27.9552wk Range$22.95 - $29.79Volume45Avg Vol42MGross Margin42.93%Dividend Yield4.00% AT&T Turning from retail to that computer in your pocket, AT&T is one of the two largest wireless carriers in the country. The all-weather appeal here is that you need your phone. You can cancel streaming subscriptions, skip a few coffeehouse lattes, and entertain yourself at home to save some dough. You're not giving up your mobile connection to the world. AT&T's 4% dividend is also the highest of the three on this list. This doesn't mean that it's a lock to coast through the next market crash. Folks can turn to cheaper plans from discount providers. AT&T has also seen its revenue decline in four of the past six years, even if a pair of spin-offs weighed on that front. The stock is cheap. It's trading for 9 times trailing earnings. After its strongest top-line growth in six years, analysts see the positive revenue gains continuing through at least the next couple of years. ExpandNYSE: KOCoca-ColaToday's Change(-0.55%) $-0.42Current Price$75.55Key Data PointsMarket Cap$325BDay's Range$75.53 - $76.4552wk Range$65.35 - $82.00Volume18KAvg Vol17MGross Margin61.75%Dividend Yield2.73% Coca-Cola Coca-Cola isn't just pop royalty. It's also a Dividend King, one of the dozens of U.S. stocks that have delivered annual payout hikes for at least 50 years. Coca-Cola's streak is up to 64 with last month's boost. Its signature soft drinks are cheap indulgences, a fitting treat even when the going gets rough. It's a high-margin business, essentially selling its syrups and other essentials to bottlers and distributors that tackle the grunt work. Folks get thirsty. The world needs hydration. As the old jingle goes, Coke is it.Read NextMar 18, 2026 •By Daniel Sparks3 Reasons Costco Stock Deserves to Trade at a Sky-High ValuationMar 18, 2026 •By Lawrence NgaIs Costco Wholesale a Recession-Proof Business?Mar 17, 2026 •By Lawrence NgaHow Kirkland Quietly Became Costco's Most Powerful MoatMar 17, 2026 •By Thomas Niel3 Consumer Staples Stocks Built to Create Long-Term WealthMar 16, 2026 •By David Jagielski, CPAWill Costco Wholesale Stock Join the Trillion-Dollar Club by 2030?Mar 16, 2026 •By Neil PatelIs It Too Late to Buy Costco?About the AuthorRick Munarriz is a contributing Motley Fool stock analyst and long-time contributor to the company’s free offerings and premium investing services, including Rule Breakers and Supernova. He has analyzed stocks across media and entertainment, retail and restaurants, and emerging technologies for The Motley Fool for 30 years. Rick holds an MBA from the University of Miami, once traveled the country with his band Paris By Air, and on weekends he can be seen on stage at Just The Funny theater in Miami as an improv comedy performer and co-owner. He is a regular guest on CNBC, Fox Business, BBC, and NPR for his expert stock analysis. He lives with his family in Miami and Celebration, Florida.TMFBreakerRickX@marketStocks MentionedCostco WholesaleNASDAQ: COST$974.98(-0.50%)-$4.94AT&TNYSE: T$27.76(+1.28%)+$0.35Coca-ColaNYSE: KO$75.61(-0.48%)-$0.37*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.