There is a difference of opinion about whether the economy is headed for a recession or perhaps already coming out of one, depending on what metrics are used. That can be confusing for investors, but there are stocks that can allow you to sleep more soundly if indeed we are headed for a bear market. 

To find those stocks, I used four criteria: 1) companies that are defensive in nature because they provide necessary products and services; 2) companies with strong balance sheets to weather an economic storm; 3) stocks that are competitively priced versus peers; and 4) lastly, stocks with above-average dividend yields that provide investors with steady income.

Three stocks that fit all four criteria are Pfizer (NYSE: PFE), Bristol Myers Squibb (NYSE: BMY), and NNN REIT (NYSE: NNN).

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Source Fool.com