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.

Choosing the wrong investments can cause you to fall behind, which is why we started StockStory - to separate the winners from the losers. That said, here are two low-volatility stocks that could offer consistent gains and one that may not keep up.

One Stock to Sell:

WaFd Bank (WAFD)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.77

Founded in 1917 and rebranded from Washington Federal in 2023, WaFd (NASDAQ: WAFD) is a bank holding company that provides lending, deposit services, and insurance through its Washington Federal Bank subsidiary across eight western states.

Why Are We Hesitant About WAFD?

1. Annual net interest income growth of 7% over the last five years was below our standards for the banking sector
2. Net interest margin dropped by 102.2 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, implying the firm’s loan book profitability fell as competitors entered the market
3. Sales were less profitable over the last two years as its earnings per share fell by 18.8% annually, worse than its revenue declines

WaFd Bank is trading at $31.10 per share, or 0.9x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why WAFD doesn’t pass our bar.

Two Stocks to Watch:

Chipotle (CMG)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.71

Born from a desire to offer quick meals with fresh, flavorful ingredients, Chipotle (NYSE: CMG) is a fast-food chain known for its healthy, Mexican-inspired cuisine and customizable dishes.

Why Is CMG a Good Business?

1. Aggressive strategy of rolling out new restaurants to gobble up whitespace is prudent given its same-store sales growth
2. Same-store sales growth averaged 4.8% over the past two years, showing it’s bringing new and repeat diners into its restaurants
3. Massive revenue base of $11.58 billion makes it a household name that influences purchasing decisions

Chipotle’s stock price of $40.02 implies a valuation ratio of 30.2x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Altria (MO)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.00

Best known for its Marlboro brand of cigarettes, Altria (NYSE: MO) offers tobacco and nicotine products.

Why Could MO Be a Winner?

1. Products command premium prices and lead to a best-in-class gross margin of 70.7%
2. Healthy operating margin of 54.6% shows it’s a well-run company with efficient processes
3. Strong free cash flow margin of 43.3% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently

At $65.65 per share, Altria trades at 11.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

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 Kadant (+351% 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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