These 4 stocks have stable dividends, consistent payouts, and low valuations along with earnings growth. That makes them ideal for conservative value investors. The stocks are:

• Edison International (EIX) This electric utility company has a 4.25% dividend yield and a forward P/E of 13.6 times with good earnings growth.
• Chubb (CB): This property and casualty insurer has a 1.67% yield, a low 12.1x forward P/E, and earnings growth forecasts.
• Allstate (ALL): This insurer yields 2.76%, trades for 9.4x forward earnings, and has a new $5 billion buyback program. 
• H&R Block (HRB): This tax preparation company has a 3.26% yield, a low 9.0x P/E, and a good earnings growth outlook.

These four stocks can help lower the stress in your portfolio in a down market. They all have reasonably stable dividends and good dividend yields. Moreover, their valuations are cheap with low forward price-to-earnings (P/E) metrics. Moreover, each of these has good earnings per share growth prospects.

As a result, investors can be confident that each stock will keep on paying dividends. That will help if a global recession forces many other companies to cut their dividends.

Edison International (EIX)

Edison International is an electrical power generator in Southern, Central, and Coastal California with over 15 million customers. The company is forecast to produce $4.52 in earnings per share (EPS) this year and $4.85 in 2023.

At $65.85 on May 20, EIX stock is on a forward P/E of 13.6 times. Moreover, given its $2.80 annual dividend, EIX stock has a dividend yield of 4.25%.

EIX has paid dividends for the past 18 years. It has raised the annual dividend every year for the past 18 years. That gives investors comfort it will keep paying dividends in the future, recession or not.

Everyone needs to buy electricity and pay their electric bills even during a recession. That makes EIX one of the best dividend stocks to own now to weather a possible recession.

Chubb (CB)

Chubb is a property and casualty, reinsurance, and workers’ comp insurance company. It makes fairly steady earnings. For example, Chubb’s earnings are forecast to rise almost 20% to $15.04 this year. Next year, analysts see the company’s EPS rising 12.3% to $16.88.

At $204.00 on May 20, CB stock trades at a forward P/E of 12.1 times forecast 2023 earnings.

Chubb has paid an 80-cent dividend for the past four quarters and could raise it soon. At 85 cents, the annual dividend will be $3.40 with a 1.67%. Even if the dividend is kept stable, the yield is 1.57%.

Allstate Corp (ALL)

Allstate is a global insurer that focuses on property and casualty insurance.  The stock has a low P/E of 13.7x this year’s EPS and 9.4x next year’s EPS expectations. This is taken from an average of 16 analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.

It also has a solid 2.66% dividend yield. This includes 12 consecutive years of dividend growth and 28 consecutive years of dividend payments. Moreover, it recently announced a new $5 billion buyback program.

The fact is that people will keep paying their car, home, and other property insurance bills even during a recession. This is because they have to and it’s ingrained in American financial psychology to do so.

This makes Allstate one of the top dividend stocks to own for the long term, even with a recession or high inflation.

H&R Block (HRB)

H&R Block provides do-it-yourself tax preparation software and tax preparation services. It has a strong brand name.

Analysts now forecast that H&R will make $3.41 per share in 2022 and $3.66 in 2023. At $33.08 on May 20, HRB stock has a forward P/E multiple of just 9.0x.

Given its $1.08 dividend, HRB has a 3.26% yield. Moreover, HRB has paid out dividends for the past 32 years.