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1 Safe-and-Steady Stock to Consider Right Now and 2 We Question

By: StockStory

September 02, 2025 at 00:40 AM EDT

FAST Cover Image

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.

Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. That said, here is one low-volatility stock providing safe-and-steady growth and two that may not deliver the returns you need.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Fastenal (FAST)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.71

Founded in 1967, Fastenal (NASDAQ: FAST) provides industrial and construction supplies, including fasteners, tools, safety products, and many other product categories to businesses globally.

Why Do We Think Twice About FAST?

Annual revenue growth of 3.6% over the last two years was below our standards for the industrials sector
Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 2.8% annually
Free cash flow margin dropped by 4.8 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

Fastenal is trading at $50 per share, or 46.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with FAST, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Arbor Realty Trust (ABR)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.73

With roots dating back to 2003 and a focus on the stability of multifamily housing, Arbor Realty Trust (NYSE: ABR) is a specialized lender that provides financing solutions for multifamily and commercial real estate while also originating and servicing government-backed mortgage loans.

Why Should You Dump ABR?

Sales tumbled by 8.7% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last two years, showing each sale was less profitable
Loan losses and capital returns have eroded its tangible book value per share this cycle as its tangible book value per share declined by 3.3% annually over the last two years

Arbor Realty Trust’s stock price of $11.84 implies a valuation ratio of 1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than ABR.

One Stock to Watch:

W. R. Berkley (WRB)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.45

Founded in 1967 and operating through more than 50 specialized insurance units across the globe, W. R. Berkley (NYSE: WRB) underwrites commercial insurance and reinsurance through specialized subsidiaries serving industries from healthcare to construction to transportation.

Why Should WRB Be on Your Watchlist?

Market penetration was impressive this cycle as its net premiums earned expanded by 12.7% annually over the last five years
Share repurchases over the last five years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 32% to outpace its revenue gains
Capital strength is on track to rise over the next 12 months as its 28.2% projected book value per share growth implies profitability will accelerate from its two-year trend

At $72.15 per share, W. R. Berkley trades at 2.8x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

Symbol	Price	Change (%)
AMZN	222.86	-7.44 (-3.23%)
AAPL	271.40	+1.70 (0.63%)
AMD	254.84	-9.49 (-3.59%)
BAC	53.03	+0.45 (0.86%)
GOOG	281.90	+6.73 (2.45%)
META	666.47	-85.20 (-11.33%)
MSFT	525.76	-15.79 (-2.92%)
NVDA	202.89	-4.15 (-2.00%)
ORCL	256.89	-18.41 (-6.69%)
TSLA	440.10	-21.41 (-4.64%)

Symbol

Price

Change (%)

AMZN

222.86

-7.44 (-3.23%)

AAPL

271.40

+1.70 (0.63%)

AMD

254.84

-9.49 (-3.59%)

BAC

53.03

+0.45 (0.86%)

GOOG

281.90

+6.73 (2.45%)

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