Q: If you were expecting a bit of a market swoon and don't want to sit on cash what would you consider to be "defensive stocks" or "stocks that benefit" in downturns? I've tried options in the past with mixed (mostly not so good) results so that's not something I would like to do.

Thanks in advance-Dave

Q: Do you consider the dividend streams from the above companies to be safe? Do you forsee issues with even moderate growth for the companies as they say they are diversifying ( cough ). thanks al

Q: CSCO reported miserable earnings on February 15 and guidance was also poor. I understand the company will also raise more debt. I am not clear on the company’s reasoning for yet more debt. CSCO was added to AAII’s “stock super stars” list in February 2016 under its “good values” strategy. I was thinking of selling CSCO last year but held off when I saw the business was added to Morgan Stanley’s global dividend portfolio in June 2023. I continued to on to CSCO, especially as hardly any of my other holdings pay dividends. Given CSCO’s latest report and guidance, is it worth holding on to CSCO for investors whose folio is all US, and who are getting concerned that their folio generates little dividend.

If its worth holding on to CSCO, please comment on the company’s business model, the strength or not of its suite of security products. Please also comment on CSCO’s PEG ratio, its debt to equity in addition to its competitive position and moat referenced above. Many thanks.