When the stock market sells off, it can sometimes pay to rotate into defensive names. These are companies that are less sensitive to the overall economy, either due to their competitive position or their business model. Defensive stocks are often good places to seek shelter in a sell-off, and often outperform if the economy heads into a recession.

Just to be clear, defensive stocks won't be good candidates for outsized stock price performance. They are more about capital preservation and income. They also make for good stocks to help diversify a portfolio, which is also an important part of any investment plan.

Let's take a closer look at three top defensive stocks and discuss reasons why they can be a safe harbor when the broader market seas get rough.

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Source Fool.com