3 Stocks to Buy and Hold Even if There's a Stock Market Sell-Off This Fall

Stock markets sell off. That's part of investing, and even great companies can get caught in the drop. But some businesses are built to take a hit and keep moving, especially when they sell things people need or offer a clear reason to keep spending with them.

The following three companies have the scale, brands, and everyday demand that can help cushion their stocks when the market gets shaky, whether it's this fall or next year or three years from now. A sell-off could still knock these shares down for a while, but I would expect the damage to be more of a dip than a long-term breakdown.

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1. Costco

Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) keeps leaning into its simple promise: Pay a membership fee; get everyday value. This year, the company is opening roughly two dozen net new warehouses, relocating some older clubs into larger formats, and investing billions in new buildings, depots, and remodels. In a shaky market, that matters because Costco's model tends to pull in both budget‑conscious families and higher‑income shoppers who still want a deal.

Also, its business is built around essentials, so demand can hold up even when consumers pull back elsewhere. Look at COVID times, when its same-store sales rose 7.7% even during fiscal 2020. Its huge scale also gives it purchasing power and a cost advantage that can help it remain competitive when shoppers become more price-conscious.

2. Walmart

Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT) is using automation and digital tools to make its "everyday low price" promise more durable. In its latest results and at a consumer conference, management highlighted strong revenue growth, a 26% jump in enterprise e‑commerce sales, and delivery speeds that now fulfill many orders in under three hours.
Behind that, roughly half of U.S. e‑commerce fulfillment volume and more than 60% of store freight already move through automated distribution centers, and membership, marketplace, and advertising now contribute around one‑third of operating income.

Perhaps Walmart's biggest strength is its sheer scale, giving it a huge customer base and a powerful position in everyday retail. Its grocery business and broad store network also provide a steady stream of repeat shoppers, even as consumers cut back. The company is also building higher-margin businesses like online advertising, which could provide another source of profit growth over time.

Walmart is too popular and too big to really be hit long-term by a market sell-off or recession. The company has too many customers.

3. Unilever

Unilever (NYSE: UL) has spent the past two years simplifying itself into a more focused home, beauty, and personal-care business. In 2026, management is combining its foods business with McCormick to create a separate flavor group, while positioning the remaining company as a roughly $44.7 billion pure play in home and personal care with 62% of revenue from faster‑growing emerging markets.

First‑half results showed volume‑led sales growth of 4.8%, with its Power Brands delivering 6% underlying sales growth and home care growing more than 7%, which is exactly the kind of broad, staple‑heavy demand investors want when the macro backdrop feels fragile. Unilever is still returning cash through dividends and share buybacks while acquiring strong brands in areas such as supplements and premium personal care.

If markets get jumpy, people will still wash clothes, brush their teeth, and buy shampoo, and Unilever's portfolio reshaping will ensure more of that spending flows through its labels.

Micah Zimmerman has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Costco Wholesale and Walmart. The Motley Fool recommends McCormick and Unilever. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.