Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions. While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy.
These stocks can be a rollercoaster, and StockStory is here to guide you through the ups and downs. Keeping that in mind, here is one volatile stock with massive upside potential and two that might not be worth the risk.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Upland Software (UPLD)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.52
Operating under the mantra "land and expand," Upland Software (NASDAQ: UPLD) provides cloud-based applications that help organizations manage projects, workflows, and digital transformation across various business functions.
Why Are We Wary of UPLD?
- Sales tumbled by 3.4% annually over the last five years, showing industry trends like AI are working against its favor
- Projected sales decline of 11.1% over the next 12 months indicates demand will continue deteriorating
- Lacking free cash flow generation means it has few chances to reinvest for growth, repurchase shares, or distribute capital
Upland Software is trading at $1.79 per share, or 0.2x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including UPLD in your portfolio.
Zevia (ZVIA)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.65
With a primary focus on soda but also a presence in energy drinks and teas, Zevia (NYSE: ZVIA) is a better-for-you beverage company.
Why Does ZVIA Worry Us?
- Sales stagnated over the last three years and signal the need for new growth strategies
- Smaller revenue base of $162.8 million means it hasn’t achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy
- Historical operating margin losses point to an inefficient cost structure
At $2.72 per share, Zevia trades at 101x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than ZVIA.
One Stock to Buy:
Palantir Technologies (PLTR)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 2.35
Named after the all-seeing stones in "Lord of the Rings," Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ: PLTR) develops software platforms that help government agencies and enterprises integrate, analyze, and operationalize their data for decision-making.
Why Do We Love PLTR?
- Billings growth has averaged 52.2% over the last year, indicating a healthy pipeline of new contracts that should drive future revenue increases
- Well-designed software integrates seamlessly with other workflows, enabling swift payback periods on marketing expenses and customer growth at scale
- Robust free cash flow margin of 51.2% gives it many options for capital deployment
Palantir Technologies’s stock price of $190.79 implies a valuation ratio of 84.4x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.
The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our 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
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