The Anheuser-Busch Dividend Cut Shows That Safe Stocks Might Not be Safe After All

https://www.barrons.com/articles/anheuser-busch-dividend-cut-consumer-stocks [login to see]
Beverages, and other consumer-staples, are supposed to be countercyclical, safe stocks. And nothing should be as safe as beer, which has the added beneficial effect of taking the edge off stock market-induced stress if enjoyed responsibly. Last week, however, Anheuser-Busch InBev (BUD) cut its dividend, causing its shares to tumble 11% last week. Even worse, investors who had been betting that lower volatility of segments of the economy could help offset market turbulence found the opposite to be true.