A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance. Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.
Finding the right balance between safety and returns isn’t easy, which is why StockStory is here to help. That said, here is one low-volatility stock that could succeed under all market conditions and two that may not deliver the returns you need.
Two Stocks to Sell:
VeriSign (VRSN)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.66
As the silent guardian of the internet's roadmap, VeriSign (NASDAQ: VRSN) operates the authoritative registry for .com and .net domain names, enabling websites to be found reliably when users type web addresses.
Why Does VRSN Worry Us?
- Annual revenue growth of 4.5% over the last two years was well below our standards for the software sector
- Projected sales growth of 5.2% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand
- Operating margin was unchanged over the last year, suggesting it failed to gain leverage on its fixed costs
At $264.47 per share, VeriSign trades at 14.6x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than VRSN.
Acadia Healthcare (ACHC)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.75
With a network of over 250 facilities serving patients in 38 states and Puerto Rico, Acadia Healthcare (NASDAQ: ACHC) operates facilities providing mental health and substance use disorder treatment services across the United States.
Why Do We Think Twice About ACHC?
- Disappointing admissions over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its strategy
- 24.8 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position
- Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value
Acadia Healthcare’s stock price of $24.27 implies a valuation ratio of 9.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ACHC doesn’t pass our bar.
One Stock to Buy:
S&P Global (SPGI)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.95
Tracing its roots back to 1860 when it published the first railroad industry manual, S&P Global (NYSE: SPGI) provides credit ratings, market intelligence, commodity data, automotive analytics, and financial indices that help investors and businesses make decisions.
Why Will SPGI Outperform?
- Market share has increased this cycle as its 15.5% annual revenue growth over the last five years was exceptional
- Share repurchases have increased shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 18.4% exceeded its revenue gains over the last two years
- Market-beating return on equity illustrates that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures
S&P Global is trading at $489.50 per share, or 26.6x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.
Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today
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