Stocks tend to decline much faster than they rise, often erasing months of steady gains in a matter of days. As the old Wall Street saying goes, "The market takes the stairs up, but the elevator down."

Investors who have long time horizons and diversified portfolios don't need to fear these slumps. They are temporary, after all. Yet it can be helpful to your returns (and your peace of mind) to own a few businesses that do well even when economies are contracting.

With that goal in mind, let's look at two stocks that seem attractive as investments today. Read on for good reasons to like Costco Wholesale (NASDAQ: COST) and Procter Gamble (NYSE: PG) if you're aiming to add some stability to your portfolio.

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Source Fool.com