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 is one low-volatility stock that could succeed under all market conditions and two stuck in limbo.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Walmart (WMT)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.70
Known for its large-format Supercenters, Walmart (NYSE: WMT) is a retail pioneer that serves a budget-conscious consumer who is looking for a wide range of products under one roof.
Why Does WMT Fall Short?
- Sizable revenue base leads to growth challenges as its 5.4% annual revenue increases over the last three years fell short of other consumer retail companies
- Widely-available products (and therefore stiff competition) result in an inferior gross margin of 24.8% that must be offset through higher volumes
- Subpar operating margin of 4.2% constrains its ability to invest in process improvements or effectively respond to new competitive threats
Walmart’s stock price of $118.81 implies a valuation ratio of 41.8x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including WMT in your portfolio.
BOK Financial (BOKF)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.87
Tracing its roots back to 1910 when Oklahoma was still a young state, BOK Financial (NASDAQ: BOKF) is a regional bank holding company that provides commercial banking, consumer banking, and wealth management services across eight states in the central and southwestern US.
Why Is BOKF Risky?
- 2.2% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its banking peers
- Annual net interest income growth of 3.7% over the last five years was below our standards for the banking sector
- Net interest margin of 2.8% is well below other banks, signaling its loans aren’t very profitable
At $129.80 per share, BOK Financial trades at 1.2x forward P/B. If you’re considering BOKF for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
One Stock to Buy:
Insulet (PODD)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.56
Revolutionizing diabetes care with its tubeless "Pod" technology, Insulet (NASDAQ: PODD) develops and manufactures innovative insulin delivery systems for people with diabetes, primarily through its Omnipod product line.
Why Are We Bullish on PODD?
- Constant currency growth averaged 26.8% over the past two years, showing it can expand globally regardless of the macroeconomic environment
- Free cash flow margin jumped by 32.6 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends
- Rising returns on capital show management is finding more attractive investment opportunities
Insulet is trading at $284.37 per share, or 49.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
Your portfolio can’t afford to be based on yesterday’s story. The risk in a handful of heavily crowded stocks is rising daily.
The names generating the next wave of massive growth are right here in 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 Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
