Resilient Retailers: How Costco, Walmart, and Unilever Can Weather a Stock Market Sell-Off
As stock markets may face a sell-off this fall, certain companies are built to withstand the impact. According to an expert, Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT), and Unilever (NYSE: UL) possess the scale, brands, and everyday demand that can help cushion their stocks.
Costco's business model, which focuses on providing everyday value to its members, is particularly resilient. The company plans to open 24 new warehouses this year, relocate some older clubs into larger formats, and invest billions in new buildings, depots, and remodels. Its huge scale also gives it purchasing power and a cost advantage that can help it remain competitive when shoppers become more price-conscious.
Walmart is using automation and digital tools to make its 'everyday low price' promise more durable. The company has highlighted strong revenue growth, a 26% jump in enterprise e-commerce sales, and delivery speeds that now fulfill many orders in under three hours. Its sheer scale gives it a huge customer base and a powerful position in everyday retail.
Unilever 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.