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 offer consistent gains and two that may not deliver the returns you need.
Two Stocks to Sell:
General Mills (GIS)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.00
Best known for its portfolio of powerhouse breakfast cereal brands, General Mills (NYSE: GIS) is a packaged foods company that has also made a mark in cereals, baking products, and snacks.
Why Does GIS Fall Short?
- Falling unit sales over the past two years show it’s struggled to move its products and had to rely on price increases
- Estimated sales for the next 12 months are flat and imply a softer demand environment
- Free cash flow margin shrank by 4.6 percentage points over the last year, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
At $43.52 per share, General Mills trades at 12x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with GIS, check out our full research report (it’s free).
TopBuild (BLD)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.59
Established in 2015 following a spinoff from Masco Corporation, TopBuild (NYSE: BLD) is a distributor and installer of insulation and other building products.
Why Is BLD Not Exciting?
- Sales stagnated over the last two years and signal the need for new growth strategies
- Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
- Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last two years as its EPS grew by just 2.5% annually
TopBuild is trading at $474.33 per share, or 22.8x forward P/E. If you’re considering BLD for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
One Stock to Watch:
Brink's (BCO)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.67
Known for its iconic armored trucks that have been a fixture in American cities since 1859, Brink's (NYSE: BCO) provides secure transportation and management of cash and valuables for banks, retailers, and other businesses worldwide.
Why Are We Positive On BCO?
- Revenue base of $5.15 billion gives it economies of scale and some distribution advantages
- Share buybacks catapulted its annual earnings per share growth to 19.9%, which outperformed its revenue gains over the last five years
- Returns on capital are climbing as management makes more lucrative bets
Brink’s stock price of $123.95 implies a valuation ratio of 14.5x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.
Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check 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 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 Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
