A highly volatile stock can deliver big gains - or just as easily wipe out a portfolio if things go south. While some investors embrace risk, mistakes can be costly for those who aren’t prepared.
These stocks can be a rollercoaster, and StockStory is here to guide you through the ups and downs. That said, here are two volatile stocks with massive upside potential and one that could just as easily collapse.
One Stock to Sell:
Lincoln Financial Group (LNC)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.23
Founded in 1905 by a group of Fort Wayne, Indiana businessmen who named the company after Abraham Lincoln, Lincoln National Corporation (NYSE: LNC) provides insurance, retirement plans, and wealth management products through its subsidiaries, operating under four main segments: Annuities, Life Insurance, Group Protection, and Retirement Plan Services.
Why Do We Avoid LNC?
- Flat sales over the last five years suggest it must find different ways to grow during this cycle
- Insurance offerings faced market headwinds this cycle, reflected in stagnant net premiums earned over the last two years
- Book value per share tumbled by 15.9% annually over the last five years, showing insurance sector trends are working against its favor during this cycle
Lincoln Financial Group is trading at $41.26 per share, or 0.9x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than LNC.
Two Stocks to Watch:
United Rentals (URI)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.51
Owning the largest rental fleet in the world, United Rentals (NYSE: URI) provides equipment rental and related services to construction, industrial, and infrastructure industries.
Why Are We Positive On URI?
- Annual revenue growth of 11.8% over the last five years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Highly efficient business model is illustrated by its impressive 25.8% operating margin, and it turbocharged its profits by achieving some fixed cost leverage
- Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 18.1% exceeded its revenue gains over the last five years
United Rentals’s stock price of $941.52 implies a valuation ratio of 21.2x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Ameris Bancorp (ABCB)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.26
Tracing its roots back to 1971 and expanding significantly through both organic growth and strategic acquisitions, Ameris Bancorp (NYSE: ABCB) is a financial holding company that provides a full range of banking services to retail and commercial customers across select markets in the southeastern United States.
Why Do We Like ABCB?
- Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 15% over the last two years outstripped its revenue performance
- Impressive 14.6% annual tangible book value per share growth over the last five years indicates it’s building equity value this cycle
- ROE punches in at 11.3%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments
At $75.91 per share, Ameris Bancorp trades at 1.3x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.
Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 6 Stocks for this week. 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.
