Rattled by the Stock Market Sell-Off? These 3 Stocks Outperformed the S&P 500 During the Great Recession

Economic Overview - The U.S. economy is facing potential recession risks due to President Trump's tariffs and trade wars, leading to reduced consumer discretionary spending as affordability issues rise [1] - Historical context shows that during the Great Recession (December 2007 - June 2009), the S&P 500 fell by 36%, while certain stocks thrived [2] Netflix - Netflix experienced a significant growth of 77% during the Great Recession, driven by its early-stage streaming service and strong business potential [3] - In the event of a recession in 2025, Netflix's streaming service remains an attractive option for consumers, with pricing tiers at $7.99 with ads and$17.99 without [4] - Despite a high price-to-earnings ratio of 48, Netflix could still be considered a safer stock during economic downturns [5] Ross Stores - Ross Stores saw a 51% increase in stock value during the Great Recession, benefiting from its off-price retail strategy that attracts cost-conscious consumers [6] - The company projects conservative same-store sales growth for fiscal 2025, estimating a range of down 1% to up 2% due to macroeconomic pressures [7] - With a valuation of less than 20 times trailing earnings, Ross Stores is positioned favorably compared to the average S&P 500 stock, which trades at 23 times earnings [8] Vertex Pharmaceuticals - Vertex Pharmaceuticals achieved an 18% growth during the Great Recession, transitioning from a less profitable company to generating over $11 billion in sales in 2024 [9] - The company reported an operating profit of$4.4 billion last year, with a margin of 40%, indicating strong profitability [10] - Vertex is trading at nearly 30 times next year's estimated earnings, with a promising R&D pipeline that includes treatments for various diseases, making it a strong long-term investment [11]