This thesis investigates and compares the performance and characteristics of defensive and cyclical sectors on the Swedish stock market during 2003-2020 and the financial crisis in2007-2008, taking monthly price developments from nine sectors. The purpose is to examine the differences in sector performances based on the estimations of systematic risk. Using the relationship between risk and return, we aim to find the most beneficial investment strategy for investors with a long-term investment horizon and provide knowledge to investors who may want to change investment schemes during stock market crises to protect their portfolios from risk. To determine the sectors' classifications, the beta coefficient from CAPM is used. Moreover, alpha and Sharpe ratios are used as performance measures with the aim to find evidence of differences in performance between the classifications. The results show that beta is inconstant over time, and sectors behave differently depending on their dependence to business conditions, demonstrated by different patterns in beta for the two different classifications when comparing the crisis to the full period. The empirical evidence indicates that a defensive investment strategy is beneficial when considering the relationship between risk and return.