Investopedia

Defensive Company

Filed Under »
Dictionary Says

Definition of 'Defensive Company'

A corporation whose sales and earnings remain relatively stable during both economic upturns and downturns. Defensive companies may lag behind other companies during periods of economic expansion due to the relative stability of the demand for its products and services. While the demand for some goods and services tends to decrease dramatically during periods of economic instability or turmoil, the demand for the goods and services provided by defensive companies tends to remain stable.


Investopedia Says

Investopedia explains 'Defensive Company'

Companies within the utilities industry, such as water and electricity corporations, are examples of defensive companies because the demand for these goods and services does not soften along with a declining economy. Other companies include those involved in the manufacturing or distribution of food, tobacco and oil.

Articles Of Interest

  1. 5 Popular Portfolio Types

    Learning how to build these portfolios will increase your investing confidence and give you financial control.
  2. Guard Your Portfolio With Defensive Stocks

    Find out how these securities can protect you from a market bust.
  3. 4 Characteristics Of Recession-Proof Companies

    Investors can find profitable companies - even in a recession. It's all about knowing where to look.
  4. Cyclical Versus Non-Cyclical Stocks

    Investing during an economic downturn simply means changing your focus. Discover the benefits of defensive stocks.
  5. The Ups And Downs Of Investing In Cyclical Stocks

    This strategy can be profitable but only if you know when to dump these stocks.
  6. What is a monopoly?

    Monopoly is a fun family game, but in real life, a monopoly can be dangerous to a country's economy. A monopoly occurs when an industry or sector has only one producer of goods or retailer for ...
  7. Weighted Average Cost Of Capital (WACC)

    Weighted average cost of capital may be hard to calculate, but it's a solid way to measure investment quality
  8. Capital Expenditures (CAPEX)

    Learn more about what it costs to produce goods.
  9. Working Capital

    Working capital is one of the basic metrics used to evaluate a company's financial health. Find out what it can tell you about a stock and learn how to calculate it.
  10. What is the difference between "hard money" and "soft money"?

    Hard money and soft money are terms that are often used to describe coin money and paper money, respectively. However, these terms are also used to refer to political contributions in the United ...
comments powered by Disqus
Marketplace
Hot Definitions
  1. Winner's Curse

    Because of incomplete information, emotions or any other number of factors regarding the item being auctioned, bidders can have a difficult time determining the item's intrinsic value. As a result, the largest overestimation of an item's value ends up winning the auction.
  2. Glocalization

    A combination of the words "globalization" and "localization" used to describe a product or service that is developed and distributed globally, but is also fashioned to accommodate the user or consumer in a local market.
  3. Disaster Loss

    A special type of tax-deductible loss, similar to a casualty loss, where a loss has been incurred by taxpayers who reside in an area that has been designated as a federal disaster area by the President.
  4. Fool In The Shower

    The notion that changes or policies designed to alter the course of the economy should be done slowly, rather than all at once.
  5. Pattern Day Trader

    An SEC designation for traders who trade the same security four or more times per day (buys and sells) over a five-day period, and for whom same-day trades make up at least 6% of their activity for that period.
  6. Cost-Push Inflation

    A phenomenon in which the general price levels rise (inflation) due to increases in the cost of wages and raw materials.
Trading Center