Investors looking for hiding places

In struggling market, you can count on these nine stocks

It’s getting harder to avoid the market sell- off’s claws. But investors can still find places to hide.

There are nine stocks in the Standard & Poor’s 500 that aren’t just holding up as the market struggles, but pay investors well for their troubles. Each of these stocks are up this year, down less than 5% from their 52- week highs — and also pay dividend yields of 2.3% or higher, according to a USA TODAY analysis of data from S& P Capital IQ. That dividend yield beats the 2% yield of the market.

Finding a place to avoid the market’s rampage this year is getting increasingly tricky. The Standard & Poor’s 500 index is down 8.5% this year after the index Tuesday stabilized following a 2.6% drop Monday. The S& P 500 is down 12% from its high — putting it in a painful correction that doesn’t show any signs of abating.

The fact these stocks have held up so well is somewhat of a reallife stress test — as investors can see buying support as the rest of the market fades. Additionally, these stocks offer above dividend yields, which make holding them less stressful.

Altria continues to live up to its name as being the ultimate hiding place for investors. Shares of the tobacco maker are up 10.5% this year as investors appreciate earnings stability — and the stock is down just 4% from its 52- week high. The best part — the company pays a lucrative 4.1% dividend yield that’s double the yield on the market.

McDonald’s has taken its lumps as the company attempts to refresh its image and management. The restaurant’s shares, though, continue to be a winner for investors as the rest of the market struggles. Shares of the chain are up 3.9% and down just 4.4% from their 52- week high. Add a 3.5% dividend yield to the recipe, and investors are loving it.

TECO energy shares are up 28% this year as the Floridabased utility is being bought by Canadian utility Emera. But investors get a welcome 3.4% dividend yield as they wait for the deal to close in mid- 2016.