For the first time in nearly two years, Wall Street is reeling. Although all three major stock indices are far from their recent highs, the growth-oriented Nasdaq-Composite (NASDAQINDEX: ^IXIC) that suffered the hardest. Over three trading sessions (August 1-5), the Nasdaq lost 1,399 points, or about 8% of its value, and is now firmly in correction territory.

Sell-offs are a normal and inevitable aspect of the investment cycle. While we can never predict exactly when these corrections will begin, how long they will last, or how deep the final decline will be, history tells us that patience pays off handsomely for long-term investors.

Still, increased volatility over short periods of time can be surprising, if not downright unsettling. The 576 points the Nasdaq lost on Monday was the eighth-largest single-session point loss in its history.

But just because Wall Street is exceptionally volatile and experiencing a sharp sell-off doesn’t mean investors need to retreat. Safe, proven companies can help investors weather tough times on Wall Street and possibly even grow their wealth.

Below are five unstoppable stocks you can confidently buy now to protect your capital and grow your wealth during a time of historic volatility.

AT&T

The first stock to buy during the Nasdaq sell-off is the telecommunications giant AT&T (NYSE: T). Although they have been struggling in recent years due to rising interest rates (telecommunications companies often carry quite high levels of debt) and allegations of The Wall Street Journal Although AT&T knows that its lead-coated cables could pose a health hazard, the company is well positioned to succeed in the current economic climate.

From an operational perspective, it’s business as usual. Upgrading the network to support 5G download speeds has resulted in higher data consumption at high margins. Likewise, AT&T has recorded at least 200,000 net AT&T fiber additions for 18 consecutive quarters, showing how strong its residential broadband segment currently is.

We have also seen a significant improvement in AT&T’s balance sheet flexibility. Since the divestiture of WarnerMedia in April 2022, AT&T’s net debt has fallen from $169 billion to $126.9 billion as of June 30. The company’s yield of 5.8% is rock-solid.

Finally, AT&T provides service for basic needs. While consumers often cut back on spending on other things during times of economic or investment uncertainty, wireless and Internet access are rarely on the list of sacrifices. AT&T’s historically low churn rate for postpaid customers of 0.7% speaks to its highly predictable operating cash flow.

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AutoZone

I apologize to those of you who do not have the opportunity to purchase fractional shares through your broker, but the auto parts service chain AutoZone (NYSE:AZO) is a phenomenal buy during the Nasdaq sell-off. AutoZone ended the August 6 trading session at nearly $3,120 per share!

The biggest benefit for AutoZone is that drivers are keeping their cars longer than ever before. S&P Global Subsidiary S&P Global Mobility released a report in May that showed the average age of vehicles on U.S. roads has hit an all-time high of 12.6 years. People are keeping their vehicles longer than ever before, which almost certainly means they’ll have to rely more heavily on auto parts suppliers like AutoZone to keep their cars and trucks running smoothly.

AutoZone is also modernizing its supply chain, building more than 200 mega hubs that house up to 110,000 stock keeping units (SKUs). Distributing these mega hubs across the country ensures that stores (and customers) always have easy access to the parts they need.

Best of all, AutoZone has one of the most robust stock repurchase programs of any publicly traded company. Since the repurchase program began in 1998, AutoZone has repurchased $36.3 billion worth of shares, reducing the number of shares outstanding by 89%!

NextEra Energy

When things get tough on Wall Street, investors turn their attention to the highly predictable utility sector. Leading energy stocks NextEra Energy (NYSE: NEE) is the company that makes the most sense for investors to buy when the Nasdaq Composite is falling.

The beauty of electricity is that it is a necessary service. If you own or rent a home, you will almost certainly need electricity to run your appliances and possibly your heating, ventilation, and air conditioning system. Because demand for electricity does not change much from one year to the next, utility companies’ operating cash flow is usually transparent and highly predictable.

What makes NextEra Energy unique is its focus on renewable forms of energy. The company is a world leader in wind and solar capacity and generates about half of its 72 gigawatts of power from renewable sources. Although investing in clean energy solutions hasn’t been cheap, the reward has been a significant reduction in the cost of generating electricity and an above-average earnings growth rate among utility stocks.

The other half of NextEra’s operations are regulated. This control ensures that the company does not face unpredictable wholesale prices, which in turn contributes to the consistency of its operating cash flow.

White Mountains Insurance Group

Unstoppable stocks don’t have to be brand-name companies. Although they fly under the radar, White Mountains Insurance Group (NYSE: WTM) is continually making its patient shareholders richer. Including the rather low dividend, White Mountains has given its shareholders a total return of over 7,900% since its IPO in 1985.

Although the insurance industry is far from exciting, it is an industry that makes money in virtually any economic climate. White Mountains’ HG Global and BAM segments offer municipal bond insurance and reinsurance, while Ark/WM Outrigger offers property and casualty insurance and reinsurance. Although property and casualty losses are sometimes unavoidable, insurers typically have incredibly strong pricing power on premiums.

The White Mountains Insurance Group is also considered a kind of mini Berkshire-HathawayWhile the firm does not have the $300 billion portfolio that Warren Buffett manages, it did have a $1.63 billion portfolio at the end of March, spread across a variety of fixed-term investments and common stocks.

Returning capital to shareholders is also very important to White Mountain’s board. Over the past 10-year period, the company has reduced its outstanding share count by 57%. In addition, the share count has declined 96% since its peak in the late 1980s. With White Mountain Insurance Group trading below its adjusted book value per share of $1,797, now is the time to strike.

Johnson & Johnson

The fifth unstoppable stock you can buy to protect your capital and grow your wealth during the Nasdaq sell-off is healthcare group Johnson & Johnson (NYSE: JNJ)better known as “J&J.” J&J has increased its dividend for 62 consecutive years and is one of only two publicly traded companies to receive the highest possible credit rating from Standard & Poor’s.

The steady growth in Johnson & Johnson’s adjusted operating income – 35 years in a row, until the COVID-19 pandemic – reflects the highly defensive nature of the healthcare industry. Just because Wall Street is having a bad day doesn’t mean people aren’t getting sick and needing medical care. Regardless of how well the economy or the stock market is doing, demand for prescription drugs and medical devices remains relatively stable.

J&J also benefits from an almost unprecedented level of continuity in management. Since it was founded in 1886, the company has had only ten CEOs, including the current boss, Joaquin Duato. When there is hardly any change at the top, it is ensured that all growth initiatives and corporate strategies are carried through from start to finish.

The final piece of the puzzle is Johnson & Johnson’s pharmaceutical division. For more than a decade, management has focused the company on this much faster-growing, higher-margin business area. J&J has demonstrated a willingness to invest aggressively in novel research and collaborations to fuel its pharmaceutical growth engine.

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Sean Williams holds positions in AT&T and NextEra Energy. The Motley Fool holds positions in and recommends Berkshire Hathaway, NextEra Energy, and S&P Global. The Motley Fool recommends Johnson & Johnson. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Nasdaq Sell-Off: 5 Unstoppable Stocks to Buy to Protect Capital and Grow Your Wealth in an Unpredictable Market was originally published by The Motley Fool.