Investors Should Consider Defensive Stocks Amid Iran Conflict
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 06 2026
0mins
Source: CNBC
- Oil Price Surge: The ongoing Iran conflict has driven oil prices above $100 per barrel, with Jefferies projecting a potential average of $120 per barrel if the conflict persists, thereby increasing the risk of stagflation and impacting overall market performance.
- Earnings Downgrade: Jefferies estimates that sustained high oil prices could lead to a 4.3 percentage point decline in S&P 500 revenue growth, a 0.8 percentage point compression in margins, and a drop in earnings-per-share growth from 18.3% to 8.5%, which could undermine investor confidence.
- Defensive Stock Recommendations: Jefferies has identified a list of defensive high-yield stocks, focusing on companies with market capitalizations over $10 billion and dividend yields above 3%, aimed at providing stable returns for investors in an uncertain market environment.
- Stock Performance Highlights: PepsiCo offers a 3.63% dividend yield and reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, with shares up 9% year-to-date; meanwhile, Verizon boasts a 5.76% dividend yield and exceeded Wall Street expectations in its latest earnings report, with shares rising nearly 21%.
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Analyst Views on PSA
Wall Street analysts forecast PSA stock price to rise
14 Analyst Rating
5 Buy
9 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 309.220
Low
276.00
Averages
311.58
High
349.00
Current: 309.220
Low
276.00
Averages
311.58
High
349.00
About PSA
Public Storage is a real estate investment trust. Its principal business activities include the ownership and operation of self-storage facilities that offer storage spaces for lease, generally on a month-to-month basis, for personal and business use, and other related operations, such as tenant reinsurance, merchandise sales, third party management, and bridge lending to third-party self-storage owners, as well as the acquisition and development of additional self-storage space. Its Self-Storage Operations segment includes the aggregated rental operations from the self-storage facilities it owns from same store facilities, acquired facilities, newly developed and expanded facilities, and other non-same store facilities. Its Ancillary Operations segment includes the combined operations of its tenant reinsurance, merchandise sales, and third-party property management operating segments. It owned interests in over 3,085 self-storage facilities located in 40 states in the United States.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
Investigation Alerts for Multiple Company Mergers
- Cyclerion Acquisition Investigation: Cyclerion Therapeutics is set to be acquired by Korsana Therapeutics in an all-stock deal, with Cyclerion shareholders expected to own approximately 1.5% of the combined entity, raising concerns about whether the Board breached its fiduciary duties by failing to ensure a fair process.
- National Storage Merger Case: National Storage Affiliates will be acquired by Public Storage for $41.68 per share, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $10.5 billion, with investigations focusing on whether the Board conducted a fair process and provided adequate value to shareholders.
- Urgent.ly Acquisition Issues: Urgent.ly is to be acquired by Agero, Inc. for $5.50 per share in cash, with investigations questioning whether the Board fulfilled its fiduciary responsibilities and ensured fair value in the transaction.
- UniFirst Merger Investigation: UniFirst will be acquired by Cintas Corporation for $155.00 in cash and 0.7720 shares of Cintas stock, totaling approximately $310.00 per share, with investigations into whether the Board ensured a fair process and adequate shareholder value in the deal.
See More
Investors Should Consider Defensive Stocks Amid Iran Conflict
- Oil Price Surge: The ongoing Iran conflict has driven oil prices above $100 per barrel, with Jefferies projecting a potential average of $120 per barrel if the conflict persists, thereby increasing the risk of stagflation and impacting overall market performance.
- Earnings Downgrade: Jefferies estimates that sustained high oil prices could lead to a 4.3 percentage point decline in S&P 500 revenue growth, a 0.8 percentage point compression in margins, and a drop in earnings-per-share growth from 18.3% to 8.5%, which could undermine investor confidence.
- Defensive Stock Recommendations: Jefferies has identified a list of defensive high-yield stocks, focusing on companies with market capitalizations over $10 billion and dividend yields above 3%, aimed at providing stable returns for investors in an uncertain market environment.
- Stock Performance Highlights: PepsiCo offers a 3.63% dividend yield and reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, with shares up 9% year-to-date; meanwhile, Verizon boasts a 5.76% dividend yield and exceeded Wall Street expectations in its latest earnings report, with shares rising nearly 21%.
See More
Public Storage Subsidiary Prices $500M Senior Notes Offering
- Bond Offering Size: Public Storage Operating Company has successfully priced a $500 million fixed-rate senior notes offering, maturing on December 15, 2035, at 99.182% of par value, indicating strong market recognition of its financing needs.
- Interest Rate and Yield: The notes carry an annual interest rate of 5.000%, which is expected to provide the company with stable cash inflows, helping to optimize its capital structure and reduce financing costs over the coming years.
- Use of Proceeds: The net proceeds from the offering will be used to repay amounts under its revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes, aiming to enhance the company's financial flexibility and support daily operations.
- Underwriter Lineup: BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan Securities acted as joint book-running managers for the offering, reflecting market confidence in Public Storage's financing capabilities and laying a foundation for future capital market activities.
See More
The Importance of Market Capitalization for Investors
- Market Capitalization Comparison: Carrier Global Corp's market capitalization stands at $49.5 billion, compared to Public Storage's $46.97 billion, allowing investors to accurately assess relative value and avoid misleading judgments based on stock prices alone.
- Impact on Investor Decisions: Market capitalization not only affects a company's ranking among peers but also directly influences which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock; for instance, funds focused on large-cap stocks may only consider companies valued over $10 billion, impacting capital inflows.
- Role of MidCap Index: The S&P MidCap index focuses on 400 smaller companies by excluding the largest 100, demonstrating how market capitalization can enable mid-sized firms to outperform larger rivals in favorable market conditions, highlighting its strategic importance in investment strategies.
- Stock Price Fluctuations: At Thursday's close, Carrier Global Corp's stock fell approximately 7.6%, while Public Storage's rose about 0.2%, reflecting differing market sentiments and expectations towards the two companies.
See More
US Stocks Rise as Oil Prices Drop, Boosting Market Sentiment
- Oil Price Drop Fuels Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose 1.01%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.83%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed 1.13% as crude oil prices fell over 5% due to hopes of tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting positive market sentiment towards lower energy costs.
- Mixed Economic Data: February manufacturing production in the US rose 0.2% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.1%, and January's figure was revised up to 0.8%, indicating a recovery in manufacturing; however, the Empire State manufacturing index fell 7.3 points to -0.2, highlighting economic uncertainty.
- China's Economic Indicators Impact Global Outlook: China's February industrial production grew 6.3% year-on-year, exceeding expectations of 5.3%, while retail sales rose 2.8%, above the 2.5% forecast; however, the unemployment rate increased to 5.3%, indicating labor market pressures that could challenge global economic recovery.
- Airline and Cruise Stocks Surge: With falling oil prices, airline and cruise line stocks rallied, with Norwegian Cruise Line up over 5% and United Airlines up over 4%, suggesting optimistic market expectations for improved profitability due to lower fuel costs.
See More
National Storage Affiliates Acquired by Public Storage
- Acquisition Overview: Public Storage is acquiring National Storage Affiliates for $10.5 billion, including debt, with investors receiving 0.14 shares of Public Storage for each share of National Storage, equating to $41.68 per share, representing a 35% premium based on Friday's closing prices.
- Strong Market Reaction: Following the announcement, National Storage Affiliates' shares surged by 30.06%, reaching a current price of $40.24 and a market cap of $2.4 billion, reflecting investor optimism regarding the acquisition.
- Post-Merger Market Scale: The combined company is projected to have a market value of $57 billion, with National Storage Affiliates owning over 1,000 properties and 550,000 storage units, while Public Storage has more than 3,500 self-storage sites, enhancing competitive strength in the market.
- Strategic Synergies: The CEO of National Storage Affiliates noted that Public Storage's brand and operating platform will provide marketing advantages for the merged entity, while cost efficiencies and robust free cash flow are expected to enhance overall financial performance.
See More
Investigation Alerts for Multiple Company Mergers
- Cyclerion Acquisition Investigation: Cyclerion Therapeutics is set to be acquired by Korsana Therapeutics in an all-stock deal, with Cyclerion shareholders expected to own approximately 1.5% of the combined entity, raising concerns about whether the Board breached its fiduciary duties by failing to ensure a fair process.
- National Storage Merger Case: National Storage Affiliates will be acquired by Public Storage for $41.68 per share, representing a total enterprise value of approximately $10.5 billion, with investigations focusing on whether the Board conducted a fair process and provided adequate value to shareholders.
- Urgent.ly Acquisition Issues: Urgent.ly is to be acquired by Agero, Inc. for $5.50 per share in cash, with investigations questioning whether the Board fulfilled its fiduciary responsibilities and ensured fair value in the transaction.
- UniFirst Merger Investigation: UniFirst will be acquired by Cintas Corporation for $155.00 in cash and 0.7720 shares of Cintas stock, totaling approximately $310.00 per share, with investigations into whether the Board ensured a fair process and adequate shareholder value in the deal.
See More
Investors Should Consider Defensive Stocks Amid Iran Conflict
- Oil Price Surge: The ongoing Iran conflict has driven oil prices above $100 per barrel, with Jefferies projecting a potential average of $120 per barrel if the conflict persists, thereby increasing the risk of stagflation and impacting overall market performance.
- Earnings Downgrade: Jefferies estimates that sustained high oil prices could lead to a 4.3 percentage point decline in S&P 500 revenue growth, a 0.8 percentage point compression in margins, and a drop in earnings-per-share growth from 18.3% to 8.5%, which could undermine investor confidence.
- Defensive Stock Recommendations: Jefferies has identified a list of defensive high-yield stocks, focusing on companies with market capitalizations over $10 billion and dividend yields above 3%, aimed at providing stable returns for investors in an uncertain market environment.
- Stock Performance Highlights: PepsiCo offers a 3.63% dividend yield and reported better-than-expected fourth-quarter results, with shares up 9% year-to-date; meanwhile, Verizon boasts a 5.76% dividend yield and exceeded Wall Street expectations in its latest earnings report, with shares rising nearly 21%.
See More
Public Storage Subsidiary Prices $500M Senior Notes Offering
- Bond Offering Size: Public Storage Operating Company has successfully priced a $500 million fixed-rate senior notes offering, maturing on December 15, 2035, at 99.182% of par value, indicating strong market recognition of its financing needs.
- Interest Rate and Yield: The notes carry an annual interest rate of 5.000%, which is expected to provide the company with stable cash inflows, helping to optimize its capital structure and reduce financing costs over the coming years.
- Use of Proceeds: The net proceeds from the offering will be used to repay amounts under its revolving credit facility and for general corporate purposes, aiming to enhance the company's financial flexibility and support daily operations.
- Underwriter Lineup: BofA Securities and J.P. Morgan Securities acted as joint book-running managers for the offering, reflecting market confidence in Public Storage's financing capabilities and laying a foundation for future capital market activities.
See More
The Importance of Market Capitalization for Investors
- Market Capitalization Comparison: Carrier Global Corp's market capitalization stands at $49.5 billion, compared to Public Storage's $46.97 billion, allowing investors to accurately assess relative value and avoid misleading judgments based on stock prices alone.
- Impact on Investor Decisions: Market capitalization not only affects a company's ranking among peers but also directly influences which mutual funds and ETFs are willing to hold the stock; for instance, funds focused on large-cap stocks may only consider companies valued over $10 billion, impacting capital inflows.
- Role of MidCap Index: The S&P MidCap index focuses on 400 smaller companies by excluding the largest 100, demonstrating how market capitalization can enable mid-sized firms to outperform larger rivals in favorable market conditions, highlighting its strategic importance in investment strategies.
- Stock Price Fluctuations: At Thursday's close, Carrier Global Corp's stock fell approximately 7.6%, while Public Storage's rose about 0.2%, reflecting differing market sentiments and expectations towards the two companies.
See More
US Stocks Rise as Oil Prices Drop, Boosting Market Sentiment
- Oil Price Drop Fuels Market Rally: The S&P 500 rose 1.01%, the Dow Jones increased by 0.83%, and the Nasdaq 100 climbed 1.13% as crude oil prices fell over 5% due to hopes of tanker passage through the Strait of Hormuz, reflecting positive market sentiment towards lower energy costs.
- Mixed Economic Data: February manufacturing production in the US rose 0.2% month-over-month, surpassing expectations of 0.1%, and January's figure was revised up to 0.8%, indicating a recovery in manufacturing; however, the Empire State manufacturing index fell 7.3 points to -0.2, highlighting economic uncertainty.
- China's Economic Indicators Impact Global Outlook: China's February industrial production grew 6.3% year-on-year, exceeding expectations of 5.3%, while retail sales rose 2.8%, above the 2.5% forecast; however, the unemployment rate increased to 5.3%, indicating labor market pressures that could challenge global economic recovery.
- Airline and Cruise Stocks Surge: With falling oil prices, airline and cruise line stocks rallied, with Norwegian Cruise Line up over 5% and United Airlines up over 4%, suggesting optimistic market expectations for improved profitability due to lower fuel costs.
See More
National Storage Affiliates Acquired by Public Storage
- Acquisition Overview: Public Storage is acquiring National Storage Affiliates for $10.5 billion, including debt, with investors receiving 0.14 shares of Public Storage for each share of National Storage, equating to $41.68 per share, representing a 35% premium based on Friday's closing prices.
- Strong Market Reaction: Following the announcement, National Storage Affiliates' shares surged by 30.06%, reaching a current price of $40.24 and a market cap of $2.4 billion, reflecting investor optimism regarding the acquisition.
- Post-Merger Market Scale: The combined company is projected to have a market value of $57 billion, with National Storage Affiliates owning over 1,000 properties and 550,000 storage units, while Public Storage has more than 3,500 self-storage sites, enhancing competitive strength in the market.
- Strategic Synergies: The CEO of National Storage Affiliates noted that Public Storage's brand and operating platform will provide marketing advantages for the merged entity, while cost efficiencies and robust free cash flow are expected to enhance overall financial performance.
See More
