Markets have just enjoyed their best week year to date and investors may be gearing up to bet on growth stocks. Starting with retail sales data for January, several economic reports have also been encouraging. Yet, the Fed remains wary about raising rates and global concerns continue to linger on the horizon.

January wasn’t the kindest month for stocks in some time. In such a situation, it may be difficult to find stocks that have found the going mostly smooth sailing. But we can still select beaten down stocks with strong dividend yields. Picking such stocks could help to fortify your portfolio in case stocks hit rough waters again.

Market Stabilizes?

The Dow and the S&P 500 advanced 2.6% and 2.9%, respectively, the highest gains since Nov 20. Additionally, the Nasdaq jumped 3.9%, its highest increase since mid-July. Markets ended a holiday-shortened week in the green following rallies over each of the first-three sessions. Stocks ended Friday mostly flat.

Despite declining more than 20% over the last five days, the market’s fear gauge, the VIX, remains above 20. This indicates that downside fears still lurk among investors. Additionally, the VIX is 12.7% higher year to date. One of the major reasons for the week’s gains was heightened possibilities that major oil exports would hold production at current levels.

Familiar Concerns Linger

This means that fears that have dogged markets in recent times continue to dominate proceedings. A demand supply gap has depressed oil prices for some time now. This in turn has acted as a drag on the broader markets. Despite recent meetings, major oil producing countries have yet to announce a comprehensive agreement on output cuts.

Concern about China’s economy is the other major factor which has hindered the resurgence of the markets. Despite a recent economic report indicating that liquidity in the economic system has increased, this is mostly transitory in nature and related to specific steps the government has taken to increase liquidity ahead of the New Year holidays. On the whole, the country’s economic outlook continues to be worrying.