Stability is great, but low-volatility stocks may struggle to deliver market-beating returns over time as they sometimes underperform during bull markets.
Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. That said, here is one low-volatility stock that could succeed under all market conditions and two that may not keep up.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Schneider (SNDR)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.63
Employing thousands of drivers across the country to make deliveries, Schneider (NYSE: SNDR) makes full truckload and intermodal deliveries regionally and across borders.
Why Do We Think SNDR Will Underperform?
- Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 8.5% annually over the last two years
- Earnings per share fell by 10% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
- Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam
Schneider’s stock price of $24.10 implies a valuation ratio of 24.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than SNDR.
Universal Health Services (UHS)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.46
With a network spanning 39 states and three countries, Universal Health Services (NYSE: UHS) operates acute care hospitals and behavioral health facilities across the United States, United Kingdom, and Puerto Rico.
Why Are We Wary of UHS?
- Poor comparable store sales performance over the past two years indicates it’s having trouble bringing new patients into its facilities
- Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 1.2 percentage points
- 3.1 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position
Universal Health Services is trading at $189.39 per share, or 9.6x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why UHS doesn’t pass our bar.
One Stock to Buy:
O'Reilly (ORLY)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.21
Serving both the DIY customer and professional mechanic, O’Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ: ORLY) is an auto parts and accessories retailer that sells everything from fuel pumps to car air fresheners to mufflers.
Why Do We Love ORLY?
- Comparable store sales rose by 4.5% on average over the past two years, demonstrating its ability to drive increased spending at existing locations
- Collection of products is difficult to replicate at scale and results in a best-in-class gross margin of 51.3%
- Strong free cash flow margin of 12% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently
At $1,382 per share, O'Reilly trades at 30.2x forward P/E. 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
Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth.
While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we’re leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market 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.
