Top Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now

As warm weather thaws in the Northern states, something inside investors' minds snaps. Perhaps with more�barbecues going on, investors don't want to spend time following stocks, so they sell out of the market. Either way, the phrase "sell in May and go away" gets passed around once every year. What should you do with your stocks in May?

First, don't sell. As Fool Alex Dumortier demonstrated by analyzing the returns of the�S&P 500� (SNPINDEX: ^GSPC  ) from 1926 to 2012, buying and holding returned 1.6% more compared to selling in May and buying back in October. And depending on transaction fees and taxes, the outperformance of "buy and hold" compared to selling in May could be even higher.

Second, if you're still worried, take a look at these defensive stocks that have held up well from Mother's Day to Memorial Day and beyond, and those looking relatively cheap headed into May.

Top Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: PVF Capital Corp.(PVFC)

PVF Capital Corp. operates as the holding company for Park View Federal Savings Bank that provides various banking products and services in Ohio. Its deposit products include checking, money market, and regular savings accounts, as well as certificates of deposit. The company?s loan portfolio comprises commercial real estate and business loans, commercial non-real estate business loans, residential and commercial construction loans, consumer loans, land loans, and equity line of credit loans; fixed and adjustable-rate mortgage loans for the acquisition or refinancing of single-family residential homes; and permanent mortgage loans on condominiums, multi-family, and nonresidential properties. It also engages in land acquisition and real estate leasing activities. PVF Capital Corp. operates through 17 offices located in Cuyahoga, Summit, Medina, Lorain, Lake, Portage, and Geauga Counties in Ohio. The company was founded in 1920 and is headquartered in Solon, Ohio.

Top Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Ishares Xinhua China 25 (FXI)

iShares FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index Fund (the Fund) seeks investment results that correspond generally to the price and yield performance of the FTSE/Xinhua China 25 Index (the Index). The Index is designed to represent the performance of the largest companies in the China equity market that are available to international investors. The Index consists of Class H and Red Chip shares of 25 of the largest and most liquid Chinese companies. Securities in the Index are weighted based on the total market value of their shares. Each security in the Index is a constituent of the FTSE All-World Index. All of the securities in the Index trade on the Hong Kong Stock Exchange.

The Fund invests in a representative sample of securities included in the Index that collectively has an investment profile similar to the Index. The Fund�� investment advisor is Barclays Global Fund Advisors.

Top Beverage Companies To Invest In 2014: Castings(CGS.L)

Castings P.L.C. produces and sells various iron castings. It offers ductile iron castings, spheroidal graphite (SG) iron castings, austempered ductile iron castings, simo castings, Ni-resist castings, and grey iron castings. The company also undertakes the design, including virtual analysis, of ductile and SG iron castings; and produces prototypes and pre-series castings, as well as fully machined ductile iron castings and sub-assemblies. It serves the commercial vehicle and automotive markets. The company has operations primarily in the United Kingdom, Sweden, rest of Europe, and North and South America. Castings P.L.C. is headquartered in Brownhills, the United Kingdom.

Top Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Renaissance Minerals Limited(RNS.AX)

Renaissance Minerals Limited operates as a gold exploration company in Australia. It primarily explores for gold, nickel sulphide, and copper-zinc deposits. The company principally holds interests in Cambodian Gold Project located in the eastern region of Cambodia; Eastern Goldfields Project located in Western Australia; and Quicksilver Project located in Alaska. Renaissance Minerals Limited was incorporated in 2009 and is based in Subiaco, Australia.

Top Defensive Companies To Watch In Right Now: Starbucks Corporation(SBUX)

Starbucks Corporation purchases and roasts whole bean coffees. It operates approximately 16,858 stores, including 8,833 company-operated stores and 8,025 licensed stores. The company offers approximately 30 blends and single-origin premium arabica coffees. It also provides handcrafted beverages, such as fresh-brewed coffee, hot and iced espresso beverages, coffee and non-coffee blended beverages, Vivanno smoothies, and Tazo teas; and merchandise products, including home espresso machines, coffee brewers and grinders, coffee mugs and accessories, packaged goods, music, books, and gift items. In addition, it offers fresh food items, which comprise baked pastries, sandwiches, salads, oatmeal, yogurt parfaits, and fruit cups. Further, it also provides VIA ready brew coffee, bottled frappuccino beverages, discoveries chilled cup coffee, doubleshot espresso drinks, iced coffee, whole bean coffee, and ice creams. The company?s brand portfolio includes Tazo tea, Ethos water, Seatt le?s Best Coffee, and Torrefazione Italia Coffee. Starbucks Corporation sells its products in approximately 50 countries worldwide. Starbucks Corporation was founded in 1971 and is based in Seattle, Washington.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By George Putn]

  The king of the coffee shop movement is Starbucks. After overly aggressive expansion and a lack of focus that hurt shares, the company has rebounded nicely in the past 18 months. For the year, shares are up 21%, including a slight pull-back during this recent correction. The company is one of the best performers in the market, and that trend is likely to continue.

  Analysts expect Starbucks to make a profit of $1.52 per share this year, growing 20% to $1.82 in the following year. Investors need to pay a premium of 25 times this year’s expected earnings, but the price is well worth it.

• [By Andrew]

  The CEO of Starbucks is a genius.  This guy gets it and he’s really on top of his game internationally.  Expensive coffee is really all about branding and Starbucks is just taking over the world.  Their brand management is unreal and somehow they’ve been able to make their logo almost like a luxury item.  It’s even cooler in Asia than anywhere else in the world.  They are moving westward in China and are planning on ripping it up in India.  I’ve personally had the experience to watch Starbucks go from almost nothing to a huge success story in a country that didn’t drink coffee.  I know the analysts like the stock but I think the company will do better than anyone can even imagine over the next couple of years.

• [By Michael Fowlkes]

  Starbucks, the gourmet coffee chain, is once again growing. The company closed a great number of locations during the recession, but recently announced that it was going to be opening at least 1,500 new locations over the next five years. The company is quickly growing in Asia, and by the end of next year it plans to have 1,000 locations in China, and close to that number in Japan as well. Fourth quarter earnings came in above expectations, and revenues were $3.36 billion, up from $3.03 billion during the same period last year.

  The recession was tough on Starbucks, as consumers cut back on the expensive coffee, but we are seeing clear signs that they are once again buying. Starbucks has done a good job revamping its menu to keep up with current trends, and recently acquired Teavana, which will allow it to broaden its tea selection and attract a whole new group of customers. All signs are pointing to a strong 2013 for Starbucks.