Finding Shelter in Global Companies

Investors should look at companies with a global presence to seek shelter from the stock market storms, as they benefit from a strong customer base and diversification, Professor David Costa from Robert Kennedy College told "Power Lunch Europe."

Companies like Pepsi, Nestle, Wal-Mart or Swiss Re are among Costa's favorites, although he admitted the latter was not for the faint-hearted.

Pepsi's recent acquisition of Lebedyansky, Russia's leading juice producer, for $1.4 billion, and its future plans for international development make it one of Costa's top picks for playing the volatile markets.

"I see Pepsi as a very international operation where a lot of people are going to hide," Costa said. "And since the market is probably now pulling off a lot of money from the commodities, the big capitalized companies like Pepsi are probably a good bet."

Pepsi's diversification into food products makes it a better pick for investors' portfolios over its rival, Coca-Cola   , who holds stake primarily in beverages, Costa noted.

Nestle on the other hand, is not as much of a bargain as Pepsi, according to Costa, but he still expects the Swiss company to deliver positive results in the future due to its global presence.

Despite volatility in the U.S. equities market, Wal-Mart came out of the storm unscathed, he said. The company reported positive results last quarter and is looking towards future growth as it expands further into the global markets.

Costa said the demand for Wal-Mart's products is still there, and should be a good place for beleaguered investors to find some consistency.  "One of the things we can't live without in the U.S. is Wal-Mart," he said.

And although European reinsurer Swiss Re – recently acquired by Warren Buffett – has low valuation and a close tie to the troubled financial sector, Costa said the company's valuation should be on the rise in the coming quarters.

"If you feel aggressive, Swiss Re will give you some satisfaction in the future," Costa told CNBC.

© 2008 CNBC.com