11 stocks to harden your portfolio against Iran risk

Mark Hulbert 11 stocks to harden your portfolio against Iran risk Focus on stocks that are stable when investors flee to safety and stock-market liquidity dries up Certain stocks tend to perform well during geopolitical crises. The table at the end of this column lists 11 of these stocks. They were chosen because they turned a profit, on average, during three recent periods of upheaval: the current Iran conflict; the bombing of Iran last June; and the first days of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine in February 2022. There are solid theoretical reasons why such stocks are intelligent bets during geopolitical crises. Chiefly, they are relatively immune when the stock market loses liquidity and investors rush to safety. By liquidity, I’m referring to market depth and breadth; when a stock’s liquidity dries up, it becomes difficult to buy or sell it without significantly impacting its price. Market makers react by considerably widening their bid and offer prices — and in that event, certain stocks do better than others. About the Author