Tariffs, Oil Shocks, Recessions -- These 2 Warren Buffett Stocks Don't Care

By Jennifer Saibil – Apr 15, 2026 at 4:15AM ESTKey PointsCoca-Cola is Berkshire Hathaway's longest-held stock, and it has raised its dividend for the past 64 years.Kroger operates premium supermarkets, which are always in demand.Warren Buffett has become arguably the greatest investor of our time by holding onto great companies that can withstand volatile markets. Now that he's stepped down from leading Berkshire Hathaway, he'll become even more of a legend. But the great company he built up persists in the capable hands of Greg Abel, and in Abel's first shareholders' letter, he made it clear that he's not looking to change up the business. That means the Buffett favorites aren't likely to disappear from the equity portfolio, at least not overnight. There's wisdom in Buffett's picks, and you can often see that most clearly when there's market volatility. Consider Coca-Cola (KO 0.67%) and Kroger (KR 1.24%), which both do well under challenging circumstances. Image source: The Motley Fool. 1. Coca-Cola Coca-Cola is that classic example of a stock that can endure. Buffett has mentioned it many times over the past several decades as a stock that will always play a role in the U.S. economy and won't be outdated with new technology. It has survived for more than a century and a half by providing beverages customers love and keeping up with changing tastes and trends. ExpandNYSE: KOCoca-ColaToday's Change(-0.67%) $-0.51Current Price$75.90Key Data PointsMarket Cap$327BDay's Range$75.80 - $76.6252wk Range$65.35 - $82.00Volume13KAvg Vol18MGross Margin61.75%Dividend Yield2.71% It's also an excellent example of a stock that protects your portfolio when times are rough. Investors often pile into safe stocks when the market is down, and Coca-Cola has delivered some of its best recent performance when the S&P 500 has fallen. Consider that throughout the recent geopolitical unrest and resulting oil price changes, the S&P 500 is roughly flat year to date, while Coca-Cola stock is up 12%. Part of the confidence in Coca-Cola stock comes from its status as a Dividend King. Coca-Cola has raised its dividend for the past 64 years annually, rain or shine, and investors can count on that to continue for the foreseeable future, making Coca-Cola a top forever stock. 2. Kroger Kroger is the largest premium grocer in the U.S., with nearly 2,700 stores under several banners. Since the company operates in grocery, which is the largest expense for Americans after housing and healthcare, it has a massive and growing market opportunity. And since Kroger operates premium supermarkets, it attracts a more affluent clientele that's more resilient under difficult circumstances. ExpandNYSE: KRKrogerToday's Change(-1.24%) $-0.84Current Price$67.19Key Data PointsMarket Cap$41BDay's Range$65.80 - $67.5652wk Range$58.60 - $76.58Volume58Avg Vol6.8MGross Margin21.04%Dividend Yield2.04% Unlike Coca-Cola, which is the longest-held position in the Berkshire Hathaway equity portfolio, Kroger stock is a fairly recent Berkshire addition. Buffett scooped it up in 2019 after the stock had dropped and was trading at a dirt cheap price. While Kroger is not as cheap these days, it still offers value in its resilience and food platform. Kroger also pays a dividend, and while it's not as high-yielding or with as long a track record as Coca-Cola, it's growing at a fast pace, rising nearly 1,000% over the past 20 years. Kroger stock is up 9% this year, and it offers stability and a reliable passive income stream.Read NextApr 14, 2026 •By Leo SunThese 2 Dividend Kings Are My Top Buys for April 2026Apr 13, 2026 •By Keith NoonanBest Blue Chip Stocks to Buy in 2026: Should You Invest?Apr 12, 2026 •By James Brumley3 Dividend Stocks Warren Buffett Would Buy in a Market CrashApr 11, 2026 •By Neil PatelWhat Is One of the Best Dividend Stocks to Buy With $5,000 Right Now?Apr 10, 2026 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAIs Coca-Cola Stock an Undervalued Dividend Stock to Buy?Apr 10, 2026 •By Matt DiLalloBest Sugar Stocks for 2026 and How to InvestAbout the AuthorJennifer Saibil has been a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering the consumer goods and financial sectors since 2019. She previously worked in the financial sector and has written for other finance publications. She holds a bachelor’s degree in finance from Yeshiva University and a master’s degree in public administration from New York University’s Wagner School of Public Service.TMFanibirdStocks MentionedCoca-ColaNYSE: KO$75.90(-0.67%)-$0.51KrogerNYSE: KR$67.19(-1.24%)-$0.84S&P 500 IndexSNPINDEX: ^GSPC$6,967.38(+1.18%)+$81.14*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.