It's impossible to predict when a recession will strike the economy. These downturns are a regular part of the economic cycle, though, and they occur every four or five years (on average).

Tech stocks tend to be among the hardest hit when fears rise about a potential recession ahead. Good reasons for this slump include worries about growth slowdowns and cash crunches. Tech giants tend to be in industries that are highly sensitive to shifting economic growth rates. And many of these businesses choose not to pay dividends, which are prized when markets are volatile and declining.

But recessions don't last forever, which means these downturns can provide excellent buying opportunities for investors seeking value. With that goal in mind, let's look at two tech stocks that can thrive during recessions while maintaining attractive long-term growth outlooks. Read on for some good reasons to add Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) stocks to your recession watchlist.

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Source Fool.com