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 are three volatile stocks to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

MillerKnoll (MLKN)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.44

Created through the 2021 merger of industry icons Herman Miller and Knoll, MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN) designs, manufactures, and distributes interior furnishings for offices, healthcare facilities, educational settings, and homes worldwide.

Why Do We Avoid MLKN?

1. Annual sales declines of 2.1% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
2. Projected sales growth of 1.2% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand
3. Incremental sales over the last five years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 7.2% annually while its revenue grew

At $15.75 per share, MillerKnoll trades at 8.3x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MLKN doesn’t pass our bar.

Zebra (ZBRA)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.55

Taking its name from the black and white stripes of barcodes, Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ: ZBRA) provides barcode scanners, mobile computers, RFID systems, and other data capture technologies that help businesses track assets and optimize operations.

Why Does ZBRA Fall Short?

1. Annual revenue growth of 1.7% over the last two years was below our standards for the business services sector
2. 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
3. 7 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

Zebra’s stock price of $264.64 implies a valuation ratio of 15.3x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with ZBRA, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

First Citizens BancShares (FCNCA)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.21

With roots dating back to 1898 and a significant expansion through its 2023 acquisition of Silicon Valley Bank, First Citizens BancShares (NASDAQGS:FCNC.A) is a bank holding company that provides financial services to individuals and businesses through its First-Citizens Bank & Trust Company subsidiary.

Why Does FCNCA Give Us Pause?

1. Annual revenue growth of 6.9% over the last two years was below our standards for the banking sector
2. Demand is forecasted to shrink as its estimated net interest income for the next 12 months is flat
3. Concessions to defend its market share have ramped up over the last two years as its net interest margin decreased by 60.3 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point)

First Citizens BancShares is trading at $1,974 per share, or 1.1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than FCNCA.

Stocks We Like More

If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.

Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check 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 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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