Monthly Income from Defensive Sector ETFs in Bear Markets

When markets crash, income often vanishes. This guide reveals how to use defensive sector ETFs—like healthcare, utilities, and consumer staples—to build a resilient, monthly dividend portfolio that protects you while still paying.

1. The Problem: Market Crashes Destroy Income Portfolios

Covered call ETFs, high-yield REITs, and even dividend aristocrats can slash payouts or lose 30–40% value during crashes.

📉 In 2020 and 2022, many income portfolios:

Suspended or reduced dividends
Dropped in value faster than the S&P 500
Offered no safe way to rebalance

✅ Solution: Use defensive sector ETFs with consistent dividend records, minimal volatility, and sector-specific resilience.

2. What Are Defensive Sector ETFs?

These are ETFs focused on sectors less sensitive to the economy, such as:

Healthcare (XLV, VHT)
Utilities (XLU, VPU)
Consumer Staples (XLP, FSTA)

They have a proven track record of:

Holding value during recessions
Continuing to pay dividends
Offering long-term low drawdown

3. Why Use Them for Monthly Income?

While many defensive ETFs are quarterly payers, when properly staggered and layered, they:

✅ Provide reliable income
✅ Reduce volatility
✅ Act as buffers during bear markets
✅ Help you rebalance into risk assets later

4. Top Defensive Sector ETFs for Income

Ticker	Sector	Yield	Frequency
XLV	Healthcare	~1.5%	Quarterly
VHT	Healthcare	~1.4%	Quarterly
XLU	Utilities	~3.5%	Quarterly
VPU	Utilities	~3.3%	Quarterly
XLP	Staples	~2.8%	Quarterly
FSTA	Staples	~2.5%	Quarterly
DIVO	Multi-sector	~5.0%	Monthly
JEPI	Equity/Options	~7.5%	Monthly

✅ Combine sector-based ETFs with DIVO/JEPI for monthly cash flow coverage

5. Sample Defensive Income Portfolio

ETF	Allocation	Role
XLU	20%	Utility dividend core
XLP	15%	Staples protection
XLV	15%	Healthcare growth + income
DIVO	25%	Monthly income + options
JEPI	15%	Income-focused defense
BIL	10%	Short-term cash/hedge

📌 Yield Estimate: ~4.4%
📌 Monthly Cash Flow ($100,000): ~$365
📌 Volatility: Low to medium

6. Monthly Income Simulation

Capital	Yield	Monthly Income
$50,000	4.4%	~$182
$100,000	4.4%	~$365
$150,000	4.4%	~$548
$200,000	4.4%	~$730

7. Why This Strategy Works in Crises

Market Scenario	Portfolio Impact
Recession	XLU/XLP/XLV maintain value
Fed tightening	JEPI options mitigate volatility
Bear market	BIL buffers, DIVO remains consistent
Volatility spike	All sectors offer drawdown defense

✅ This structure slows down losses, preserves income, and lets you buy risk assets later

8. Rebalancing & Stress Protection

Trigger	Action
JEPI underperforms	Shift into BIL temporarily
XLU spikes	Trim and rotate into XLV or DIVO
Utilities overvalued	Reweight to healthcare
Market recovery starts	Increase DIVO, reduce BIL

9. Additional ETFs for Further Diversification

Ticker	Sector	Add-on Benefit
RYH	Equal-weight healthcare	More small/mid exposure
FUTY	Utilities	Low expense ratio
FSTA	Consumer staples	Fidelity’s alternative to XLP
NEOS	Tax-efficient monthly ETF	Extra cash layer

10. Final Takeaways

Defensive sector ETFs offer protection + predictable income
With careful allocation, they can provide monthly cash flow without high volatility
During market crashes, this strategy lets you wait, collect, and survive
Use DIVO + JEPI to bridge monthly income between quarterly payers

💡 Smart income isn't about chasing yield — it's about outlasting downturns while staying paid.

⚠️ Investment Disclaimer

This article is for educational purposes only.
All investments carry risk. Please consult a licensed financial advisor before investing.
Past performance is not indicative of future results.

📊 Portfolio Recap Table

ETF	Sector	Yield	Frequency
XLU	Utilities	3.5%	Quarterly
XLP	Staples	2.8%	Quarterly
XLV	Healthcare	1.5%	Quarterly
DIVO	Multi-sector	5.0%	Monthly
JEPI	Options/Equity	7.5%	Monthly
BIL	Cash	4.5%	Monthly

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Monthly Income from Defensive Sector ETFs in Bear Markets