Dividend-paying stocks are a traditional defensive play, while healthcare faces fewer trade and economic headwinds than most sectors.

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Dividend stocks are gaining popularity again due to the recent wave of bearishness in the stock market. Both retail and institutional investors chased AI and growth stocks in the past two years, and dividend stocks were rarely on their bucket list as the returns paled compared to the hottest names on the market.

Some investors are sheltering from market swings in shares of companies with high payouts.