Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies.
Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. Keeping that in mind, here is one low-volatility stock that could offer consistent gains and two that may not keep up.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Wiley (WLY)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.40
With roots dating back to 1807 when Charles Wiley opened a small printing shop in Manhattan, John Wiley & Sons (NYSE: WLY) is a global academic publisher that provides scientific journals, books, digital courseware, and knowledge solutions for researchers, students, and professionals.
Why Do We Steer Clear of WLY?
- Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 1.9% annually over the last five years
- Earnings per share have contracted by 1.3% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
- Free cash flow margin dropped by 7.3 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
Wiley’s stock price of $36.36 implies a valuation ratio of 5.5x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including WLY in your portfolio.
Northrop Grumman (NOC)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.23
Responsible for the development of the first stealth bomber, Northrop Grumman (NYSE: NOC) specializes in providing aerospace, defense, and security solutions for various industry applications.
Why Should You Sell NOC?
- Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
- Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 5.7 percentage points
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
At $572.53 per share, Northrop Grumman trades at 20.7x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why NOC doesn’t pass our bar.
One Stock to Watch:
Fidelis Insurance (FIHL)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.62
Founded in Bermuda in 2014 and designed to adapt nimbly to evolving market conditions, Fidelis Insurance (NYSE: FIHL) is a global specialty insurer and reinsurer that provides customized coverage across property, specialty, and bespoke risk solutions.
Why Are We Fans of FIHL?
- Net premiums earned surged by 17.1% annually over the past two years, reflecting strong market share gains this cycle
- Estimated revenue growth of 10.1% for the next 12 months implies its momentum over the last two years will continue
- Projected book value per share growth of 18.5% for the next 12 months is above its two-year trend, pointing to accelerating profitability
Fidelis Insurance is trading at $19.04 per share, or 0.8x forward P/B. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Your portfolio can’t afford to be based on yesterday’s story. The risk in a handful of heavily crowded stocks is rising daily.
The names generating the next wave of massive growth are right here in our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 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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