Let's break down some blue- chip stocks for stability when times get tough. This topic feels especially important now, with fears of recession rising. We can see this through the recent spikes in the CBOE Volatility Index. Also known as the "fear index," it is up nearly 130% since July 29. Over the same period, the S&P 500 is down 5%. These changes can cause investors to worry, but that doesn't mean there aren't places to hide in the stock market when things get dicey. Some important metrics I'll highlight ...