Key Points
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The S&P 500 is off to a rough start in November, sinking 3.1% in the first trading week of the month.
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The markets are worried about what’s next for artificial intelligence stocks, as well as what will happen next with interest rates.
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Berkshire, Costco, Walmart, Coca-Cola, and Monster Beverage are all stocks built to handle short-term uncertainty.
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It’s only a week into November, and the markets were off to a rough start, with the S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) falling 3.1% from Nov. 2 to Nov. 6. The reasons are plentiful, as investors weigh what might be next for the artificial intelligence (AI) trade after the elections, and whether December will feature a rate hike after a strong jobs report, showing the United States added 165,000 jobs in October compared to expectations of 65,000.
The stock market showed a bit of a rebound on Nov. 9, but those gains could still be short-lived, as plenty of uncertainty remains. And while no stock is immune to uncertainty, some can hold up better than others during sell-offs thanks to their durable business models. And unlike speculative stocks, these investments help investors achieve greater peace of mind, making it less likely they’ll sell out of them during a downturn and miss out on a longer-term price run higher.
Missed AI’s “Act 1”? Act 2 Could Be 15x Bigger. Most investors think they missed the AI boat because they didn’t buy Nvidia in 2005. But according to our analysts, we’re only at the end of “Act 1″—the R&D phase. “Act 2” is the global rollout. Continue »
With the markets looking rocky to start November, these are the five stocks I would consider adding to a portfolio: Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRKA) (NYSE: BRKB), Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST), Walmart (NASDAQ: WMT), Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO), and Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST).
1. Berkshire Hathaway
New CEO Greg Abel has quickly made his mark on Berkshire. With less than a year in the role, Berkshire has acquired the homebuilder Taylor Morrison, loaded up on Alphabet stock, and built an 8.9% stake in Bending Spoons, an Italian technology conglomerate that acquires other companies.
That said, even if some of the investments may look different or the pace of investing seems more aggressive, Berkshire is still an anchor for any portfolio. For its recent 2026 third-quarter earnings results, operating profits fell 5.8% to $12.7 billion from the prior-year period. Still, the key there is operating profits of $12.7 billion, as this company is an expert at having cash constantly flowing in. Also, its cash holdings increased to $377.4 billion for the quarter, giving it plenty of runway to stand steady during market turbulence.
2. and 3. Costco and Walmart
Costco offers the kind of bulk deals people look for as shoppers increasingly try to stretch their budgets as far as possible. But it’s the membership required to access those deals that gives Costco its strong foundation. Its members are also extremely loyal, with a 92.3% renewal rate in North America.
I also like its ability to reward long-term shareholders through three different mechanisms that work together to increase total returns. It’s served as a growth stock over the last five years, with the stock price climbing 103.7%. In comparison, over the same period, the S&P 500 is up 57.5%.
The second mechanism is special dividends, which the company typically pays every few years; it last paid a special dividend of $15 per share in 2024. Finally, it pays a quarterly dividend that yields 0.5%.
Walmart has a similar appeal to Costco. It doesn’t offer the same type of bulk deals, but it stands out in the crowded retail sector by attracting shoppers through its lower prices. And like Costco, it’s even more handily outperformed the S&P 500 over the last five years, climbing 154.8%.
One thing that separates the two, however, is its greater leaning toward technology. While shopping at Costco largely involves visiting a warehouse, Walmart leans more into online sales, launching an AI shopping assistant, Sparky, that is showing positive results. It’s also using drone deliveries and is even building out an advertising business, making its revenue sources even more robust.
4. and 5. Coca-Cola and Monster Beverage
Coca-Cola and Monster don’t offer must-have products. But given the habits people form and the price points both companies offer for their products, most people aren’t going to stop reaching for a soda or energy drink if that is part of their usual routine.
Both can fit into a single portfolio, though depending on risk tolerances and concentration risk, an investor may want to choose one over the other.
With Coca-Cola, you’re getting a Dividend King, as it’s increased its payouts for 50 or more consecutive years. To be exact, it has increased its payout for 64 consecutive years, and its dividend currently yields 2.2%.
Monster isn’t fully a growth stock, as it is a more mature business. But it still has sales growth opportunities, including expanding its international presence and building out an alcoholic beverage segment. For the third quarter of 2026, international net sales totaled $1.2 billion, an increase of 28.1%.
Should you buy stock in Berkshire Hathaway right now?
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Jack Delaney has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Alphabet, Berkshire Hathaway, Costco Wholesale, Monster Beverage, and Walmart. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
