High volatility doesn’t always mean high risk - some companies experience wild price swings but still trend reliably upward over time. In fact, many of the market’s biggest winners have been highly volatile stocks.

At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. Keeping that in mind, here are three volatile stocks that could deliver huge gains.

Upwork (UPWK)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.32

Formed through the 2013 merger of Elance and oDesk, Upwork (NASDAQ: UPWK) is an online platform where businesses and independent professionals connect to get work done.

Why Does UPWK Stand Out?

1. Customer spending is rising as the company has focused on monetization over the last two years, leading to 8.3% annual growth in its average revenue per customer
2. Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 395% over the last three years outstripped its revenue performance
3. Free cash flow margin grew by 27 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more chips to play with

Upwork’s stock price of $13.40 implies a valuation ratio of 10.1x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

CECO Environmental (CECO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.62

With roots dating back to 1869 and a focus on creating cleaner industrial operations, CECO Environmental (NASDAQ: CECO) provides technology and expertise that helps industrial companies reduce emissions, treat water, and improve energy efficiency across various sectors.

Why Do We Like CECO?

1. Impressive 17.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
2. Projected revenue growth of 22.6% for the next 12 months is above its two-year trend, pointing to accelerating demand
3. Adjusted operating margin expanded by 10.8 percentage points over the last five years as it scaled and became more efficient

At $29.36 per share, CECO Environmental trades at 22.8x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

Howmet (HWM)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.46

Inventing the first forged aluminum truck wheel, Howmet (NYSE: HWM) specializes in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing multi-material components used in vehicles.

Why Is HWM a Top Pick?

1. Annual revenue growth of 12.7% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
2. Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 40.5% exceeded its revenue gains over the last two years
3. Free cash flow margin grew by 12.6 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more chips to play with

Howmet is trading at $170.25 per share, or 50.3x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.

While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we’re homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver’s seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out 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 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 Exlservice (+354% 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