Some of the worst economic crises in decades couldn't stop these three companies from lining shareholder pockets with cash. The economy doesn't always go up; recessions occur when the economy contracts, which can have real-world consequences for consumers, businesses, and the stock market. Despite recession talk ramping up in the media, nobody knows when the next recession will happen or how severe it will be. Investors can prepare their portfolios by looking for stocks with a proven long-term growth histor ...