Buffett Stocks for Turbulent Markets: Coca-Cola, Amex, Chevron

Warren Buffett's Berkshire Hathaway portfolio is often seen as a safe haven in turbulent markets. If a stock market crash is imminent, investors may want to consider holding onto these three Buffett stocks: Coca-Cola, American Express, and Chevron.

Coca-Cola has been a long-standing holding for Buffett, with the beverage giant ranking as Berkshire's third-largest holding. The company's resilient business model and low volatility make it an attractive option during market downturns. With a super-low 5-year beta of 0.34, Coca-Cola's shares are significantly less volatile than the S&P 500.

Buffett also loves Coca-Cola's dividends, with the company being a member of the Dividend Kings, an elite group of companies that have increased their dividends for at least 50 consecutive years. Coca-Cola's streak of dividend hikes currently stands at 64 years and counting.

American Express is another Buffett stock that investors may want to consider holding onto during a market crash. The financial services leader has been a Berkshire Hathaway holding since 1991 and has consistently performed well over the long term. With a beta of 1.05, American Express has been slightly more volatile than the S&P 500 but has nearly doubled in value over the last five years.

Chevron is a more recent addition to Buffett's portfolio, with Berkshire adding the oil company to its holdings in late 2020. However, Chevron's stock has performed well since then, rising almost 140% and outperforming the broader market this year. If higher oil prices lead to a market crash, Chevron would likely flourish.

In his 2023 letter to Berkshire shareholders, Buffett wrote about American Express: 'When you find a truly wonderful business, stick with it.' He added that Amex was one of a select few stocks that he expected Berkshire would 'maintain indefinitely.'