2 Crash-Resistant Stocks Worth Buying and Holding No Matter What the Market Does
The current bull market, which started on Oct. 12, 2022, is nearly four years old. The S&P 500 (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC) has generated a total return of 128% with reinvested dividends during that period, but it’s starting to look expensive at 30 times its trailing 12-month earnings.
Since the end of World War II, the average bull market has lasted for five and a half years. Therefore, it’s only a matter of time before the next market crash drives stocks into a bear market. It might be tempting to liquidate your stocks before that happens, but it’s smarter to simply park your cash in a few crash-resistant stocks and ride out the volatility.
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Let’s take a look at two resilient stocks that fit that description: GE Vernova (NYSE: GEV) and Quanta Services (NYSE: PWR). Both of these electrification stocks are benefiting from the AI boom, but they’ll also withstand a market crash better than their industry peers.
GE Vernova
GE Vernova, the former energy division of General Electric (NYSE: GE), was spun off as a stand-alone company in 2024. Its stock has risen more than sixfold since its market debut.
That rally was fueled by the explosive growth of its Power and Electrification segments, which accounted for 55% and 33% of its orders, respectively, in 2025. Its Power segment mainly produces gas and steam turbines, while its Electrification segment provides components and services for electrical grids. The rapid growth of the power-hungry cloud, AI, and industrial automation markets generated strong tailwinds for both segments over the past two years. The growth of its Power and Electrification segments offset the softness of its Wind segment, which produces onshore and offshore turbines and accounted for 13% of its orders in 2025.
On an organic basis, GE Vernova’s total orders grew 7% in 2024, 34% in 2025, and 80% year over year in the first half of 2026 as the data center boom continued. Its backlog expanded 37% year over year to $176.3 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026. That’s nearly four times its projected revenue of $46.2 billion for the full year.
From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect GE Vernova’s revenue and adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) to grow at CAGRs of 17% and 60%, respectively. With an enterprise value of $238.5 billion, its stock still looks reasonably valued at 25 times next year’s adjusted EBITDA. So while GE Vernova’s stock might dip in the next market crash, it will easily bounce back as the global demand for electricity rises again.
Quanta Services
Quanta Services, which was founded in 1997, is a major builder of energy infrastructure in North America and Australia. It expanded by acquiring more than 200 other infrastructure companies over the past three decades, and it generates most of its revenue in the United States.
In 2025, Quanta generated 81% of its revenue from its Electric Power and Renewable Energy Infrastructure Solutions segment, which provides grid modernization, renewable interconnection, transmission expansion, and data center electrification services. The remaining 19% came from its Underground Utility and Infrastructure Solutions, which handles natural gas pipelines, oil infrastructure, and other industrial energy projects.
Both segments are growing in the double digits as more energy companies and utilities upgrade and expand their infrastructure to support the booming cloud and AI markets. Its revenue rose by 13% in 2024 and 20% in 2025, and analysts anticipate 39% growth in 2026.
Quanta’s backlog grew 49% year over year to $53.4 billion at the end of the second quarter of 2026, compared to its projected full-year revenue of $39.6 billion. That expansion was driven by the AI market’s ongoing expansion and several acquisitions (including Phalcon, Enerfab, Percheron, and PSD) that bolstered its engineering, fabrication, and service capabilities.
From 2025 to 2028, analysts expect Quanta’s revenue and adjusted EBITDA to grow at CAGRs of 22% and 24%, respectively. With an enterprise value of $98 billion, Quanta still trades at 20 times next year’s adjusted EBITDA — even though it’s soared more than 440% over the past five years. I believe its stock will continue to rise and easily recover from the next market downturn.
Should you buy stock in GE Vernova right now?
Before you buy stock in GE Vernova, consider this:
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Leo Sun has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends GE Aerospace, GE Vernova, and Quanta Services. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
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