One of the stories of the market in early 2026 has been the threat of looming volatility. While the S&P itself is trading relatively flat year-to-date (YTD), an incredible surge in the price of gold and silver—coupled with concerns about an international selloff of U.S.-denominated assets—has many investors worried about downside risk. Add simmering geopolitical tensions both domestic and abroad and you have a recipe for potential volatility in stock prices.
At this time, investors seeking a more defensive approach might consider a number of stocks that offer high dividend yields, thereby possibly offering some protection thanks to regular distributions. The companies below all fit that bill while also earning optimistic ratings from analysts across Wall Street as an added bonus.
