A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance. Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.

Finding the right balance between safety and returns isn’t easy, which is why StockStory is here to help. That said, here are three low-volatility stocks to avoid and some better opportunities instead.

Varonis (VRNS)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.96

Founded by a duo of former Israeli Defense Forces cyber warfare engineers, Varonis (NASDAQ: VRNS) offers software-as-service that helps customers protect data from cyber threats and gain visibility into how enterprise data is being used.

Why Is VRNS Not Exciting?

1. Annual revenue growth of 11% over the last three years was below our standards for the software sector
2. Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses
3. Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin is anticipated to drop by 2.9 percentage points over the next year

At $54.73 per share, Varonis trades at 9x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than VRNS.

Worthington (WOR)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.89

Founded by a steel salesman, Worthington (NYSE: WOR) specializes in steel processing, pressure cylinders, and engineered cabs for commercial markets.

Why Should You Sell WOR?

1. Annual sales declines of 17.7% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
2. Earnings per share have dipped by 27.4% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
3. Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value

Worthington’s stock price of $61.51 implies a valuation ratio of 18.5x forward P/E. If you’re considering WOR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Corcept (CORT)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.25

Focusing on the powerful stress hormone that affects everything from metabolism to immune function, Corcept Therapeutics (NASDAQ: CORT) develops and markets medications that modulate cortisol to treat endocrine disorders, cancer, and neurological diseases.

Why Does CORT Worry Us?

1. Efficiency has decreased over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 16.9 percentage points
2. Earnings per share fell by 2.8% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Corcept is trading at $69 per share, or 39.7x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including CORT in your portfolio.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.

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