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As the stock market's September decline accelerated Monday, many financial advisors and their clients were likely looking for safer stocks to shift into or buy on a dip. One common
theme among stocks that become popular during downturns is sound fundamentals — that is, the ability for companies to weather a downturn without having to raise more cash and dilute
investors. Goldman Sachs has several baskets of stocks that fit into this theme, and those groups of names are updated periodically to serve as reference points for when the market turns
south. The firm published a note in March detailing its different baskets. The charts below show some of the current constituents for more defensive themes. One of these groups is the
high-quality stock basket. Investors should consider these stocks when they are concerned about the broader economy or market stability, according to Goldman. "In weak or uncertain
macroeconomic environments, investors should place a premium on the stability and safety of these companies," the note said. The high-quality basket is sector neutral, meaning it
includes the highest-rated names in each area. Goldman's current list includes stocks as varied as tech giant Alphabet and discount retailer Dollar Tree . For investors looking to
stabilize or even increase their income from investments during a rocky period, Goldman also has a dividend growth stock basket. To grow dividends during a downturn, a company likely needs
strong fundamentals and cash flow growth. The current group includes Verizon , which was one of the few major stocks that bucked the sell-off and rose Monday. For investors looking to avoid
the worst-case scenarios, Goldman's strong balance sheet group is based on the stocks with the best Altman Z scores, which is a calculation used to estimate the risk of bankruptcy. The
full list of stocks for each baskets shows significant overlap, as many companies have several appealing qualities during a market downturn. Industrial supply company Fastenal , listed in
the strong balance sheet table, actually appears in all three baskets. —CNBC's Michael Bloom contributed to this report.