2 Top Defensive ETFs That Prioritize Stability Over Excitement

2026-03-04 14:31:00 ET

To say that the stock market has been turbulent lately would be a major understatement. The S&P 500 has already experienced significant swings in 2026 due to the Iran conflict, tariff uncertainty, fears of AI disruption, and other factors. In fact, the CBOE Volatility Index (often referred to as the "VIX") has risen by more than 50% since the beginning of the year.

If you're an investor looking to add an element of stability to your portfolio in an uncertain market, there are some excellent exchange-traded funds, or ETFs, that can help you do it. Here are two top choices that could be worth a look in the uncertain stock market environment.

Obviously, dividend-paying stocks are not immune to market turbulence. However, high-yield dividend stocks tend to be less volatile during tough times, as they are more mature businesses with stable revenue streams than their non-dividend counterparts.

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