Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies.
Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. That said, here are two low-volatility stocks providing safe-and-steady growth and one that may not deliver the returns you need.
One Stock to Sell:
Old Republic International (ORI)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.49
Founded during the Roaring Twenties in 1923 and weathering nearly a century of economic cycles, Old Republic International (NYSE: ORI) is a diversified insurance holding company that provides property, liability, title, and mortgage guaranty insurance through its various subsidiaries.
Why Does ORI Worry Us?
- Sluggish 3.3% annualized growth in net premiums earned over the last five years indicates the firm trailed its insurance peers
- Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last two years as its EPS grew by just 9.9% annually
- Forecasted book value per share decline of 1% for the upcoming 12 months implies profitability will deteriorate significantly
Old Republic International’s stock price of $43.30 implies a valuation ratio of 1.6x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ORI doesn’t pass our bar.
Two Stocks to Watch:
Colgate-Palmolive (CL)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.11
Formed after the 1928 combination between toothpaste maker Colgate and soap maker Palmolive-Peet, Colgate-Palmolive (NYSE: CL) is a consumer products company that focuses on personal, household, and pet products.
Why Do We Like CL?
- Enormous revenue base of $20.1 billion provides significant negotiating leverage in retail partnerships
- Unique products and pricing power result in a best-in-class gross margin of 60.3%
- CL is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
At $76.34 per share, Colgate-Palmolive trades at 20.7x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free for active Edge members .
HNI (HNI)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.86
With roots dating back to 1944 and a significant acquisition of Kimball International in 2023, HNI (NYSE: HNI) manufactures and sells office furniture systems, seating, and storage solutions, as well as residential fireplaces and heating products.
Why Does HNI Stand Out?
- Operating margin improvement of 3.9 percentage points over the last five years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently
- Share repurchases over the last two years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 25.4% to outpace its revenue gains
- Rising returns on capital show management is finding more attractive investment opportunities
HNI is trading at $40.74 per share, or 10.6x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
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 6 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-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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