Despite the prevailing uncertainty, Wall Street analysts this week named a wide range of stocks that they believe represent historic buying opportunities. Analysts say business for these companies is peaking at the right time. CNBC Pro scoured Wall Street’s top research to find defensive stocks in uncertain times. These include Mattel, CBOE, Marsh & McLennan, Warner Music Group, and O’Reilly Automotive. CBOE “Strong Defensive Play in Times of Uncertainty” Piper Sandler analyst Patrick Morley headlined a report dedicated to CBOE earlier this week. The company, which operates global markets and exchanges, has a variety of derivative products that are well-positioned during times of heightened market and geopolitical uncertainty, Morley wrote. Citing the number of option contracts bought and sold, Piper said the CBOE has recently seen S&P options trading volume reach record levels. Morey recently named CBOE his top choice for the fourth quarter. “CBOE’s 2023・We believe there is a potential upside to the quarterly results.” CBOE stock is up 29% since the beginning of the year. Deutsche Bank says investors should buy on the edge even though Warner Music Group’s Warner Music shares have fallen 7.5% this year. Analyst Ben Black said the company’s stock has “sustained revenue growth” due to a “very favorable industry backdrop” as subscription music grows beyond popular platforms. . In addition, deals with the likes of TikTok and price increases from digital service providers will also act as positive catalysts, he said. Black also added that he believes Warner Music has a strong lineup of music to be released in the coming months and that a new, experienced CFO is on the way. Overall, Black sees plenty of long-term upside for investors. “Additionally, we argue that WMG and music in general are relatively recession-proof due to significant pricing power and a small portion of advertising-related revenues. “It will get more attention,” he wrote. Marsh & McLennan Deutsche Bank recently described it as a “defensive stock with growth characteristics” when launching coverage of the world’s largest insurance broker. Analyst Cave Montazeri began his coverage of Marsh & McLennan with a buy opinion, noting that Marsh & McLennan has a track record of growth in recessionary and rising interest rate environments. Additionally, Marsh is poised to see the fruits of his recruiting efforts over the past several years. “Companies should start reaping the full benefits of new hires by 2024, as there is typically a two- to three-year lag before new hires become productive,” he said. Ta. Montazeri is also bullish on the company’s new management team, noting that Marsh maintains solid profit and loss momentum with increased cross-selling between its businesses going forward. To be sure, Deutsche acknowledged that some of the tailwinds could turn into headwinds, especially if the Fed starts cutting interest rates, but Montazeri said there are other positive catalysts to offset that. He says there are many. “We view MMC as a company with an industry-defining brand, non-discretionary products tailored to customer needs, a broad moat and the ability to generate strong cash flow,” he said. writing. Marsh stock is up 15% this year. Warner Music Group – Deutsche Bank, Rated Buy: “We have a positive rating on WMG as we believe it will continue on a path of consistent and sustainable earnings growth, supported by a very favorable industry backdrop. Keeping things in perspective…we argue that WMG, and music in general, are relatively recession-proof due to their pricing power and only a small portion of advertising-related revenue, and this defensible characteristic is 24 CBOE – Piper Sandler, Overweight Rating “A strong defensive strategy in uncertain times… Last week, we looked ahead to the fourth quarter of 2023.” Please note that we selected CBOE as a target stock. …We believe there is upside potential. CBOE’s Q4 2023 results are expected to be driven by (1) seasonal volume tailwinds; (2) Given the potential for geopolitical uncertainty to cause increased demand for macro hedging/speculation through index derivative products.” O’Reilly Auto — Citi, Buy rating “The recent decline in stock prices has been “We believe this presents an attractive buying opportunity for defensive retail stocks. Business fundamentals remain in line with DIY and we believe the market is moving steadily higher in Pro DIFM.” [do it for me] The side is set to continue. Our model calls for modest upside compared to expectations for the second half of 2023, making 2024 another algorithmic year. ” Marsh & McLennan — Deutsche Bank, rated “Defensive Stock with Growth Potential” Buy rating. ….Since there is usually a lag of 2-3 years before a new employee can be productive, the company believes he should start reaping the full benefits of a new employee as early as 2024. . … We believe MMC is an industry-defining company. A brand, non-discretionary products tailored to customer needs, a wide moat, and the ability to generate strong cash flow. ” Mattel Morgan Stanley Overweight Rating “Importantly, in the face of uncertainty, MAT is one of the most defensive.” In our coverage-wide product portfolio, toys have historically It has been a major traffic driver for retailers during the season. …After several years of rebuilding, MAT has established itself as a leader in the toy industry and the partner of choice for major entertainment companies, with the Disney Princess and Frozen franchises set to open in 2023. It culminated in the revival of . Click here to learn more about this call.