3 crash-resistant FTSE shares to buy today?

At FTSE 100 was on the slide as the latest US banking crisis unfolded. And some talk about the possibility of an accident.

Investors have had a tough time in recent years. And I think it’s a good idea to keep some defensive stocks stashed away. So today, I’m looking at three that I think long-term investors might like.

No stock can truly crash, but I think some are safer than others. Tesco (LSE: TSCO) is my top pick, so I’ll start with that.

sector leader

I ask three key questions when I try to identify safe stocks to buy.

Does the company provide an important good or service that you can’t afford? Inspection. You can’t get anything more important than food.

What is the leader in the sector? Inspection. Tesco is the biggest in the UK, with 27% of the grocery market.

And share a good price? Inspection. The forecast puts the price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) at 15, and it is expected to fall. The dividend yield is more than 4%. All good by me.

There is no guarantee of success, as the market is very competitive. In addition, costs are increasing and margins are increasing. So there is a risk. But then there is some risk with everything.

The supermarket business should be a relatively safe one. And I would label Tesco ‘best in class’.

Better value

GSK (LSE: GSK) is an example of the above. Shares have been volatile over five years, and they are down this year.

I think GSK nail in the front is important. It must be difficult to get a prescription drug a year without finding a GSK product.

The best in the sector? Well, I put it in 50/50 together with AstraZeneca. But AstraZeneca has been boosted by the Covid vaccine factor. And that makes the shares in the P / E forecast over 25. GSK is valued at less than half that, down at 11.

Because of the price difference, GSK’s dividend is also better, at 4%.

This is an industry that requires large capital investment, which carries risks. And we can see the volatility of the price chart. I would say that GSK needs a long term investment horizon.

Diversification

My third choice is City of London Investment Trust (LSE: CTY)

It does not offer anything important, and it is only one of many good alternatives. But invest in companies that meet my criteria. So hold on shell, Diageo, Unileverand other top FTSE 100 blue chips.

It also holds bank shares, which is probably why the stock price just went down. So I would say there is a major risk. If we get more market crashes, I expect a shakeout. But hopefully not as big as the riskiest stocks.

In terms of value, the dividend is key for me here. The City of London has risen for 56 years in a row, and offers 5% yield.

Diversification is an important part of investment safety. And investment trusts like these provide one-stop diversification.