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.
Luckily for you, StockStory helps you navigate which companies are truly worth holding. Keeping that in mind, here are two low-volatility stocks that could offer consistent gains and one stuck in limbo.
One Stock to Sell:
Henry Schein (HSIC)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.35
With a vast inventory of over 300,000 products stocked in distribution centers spanning more than 5.3 million square feet worldwide, Henry Schein (NASDAQ: HSIC) is a global distributor of healthcare products and services primarily to dental practices, medical offices, and other healthcare facilities.
Why Are We Hesitant About HSIC?
- Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
- Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 3.6 percentage points
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
Henry Schein’s stock price of $66.06 implies a valuation ratio of 13.1x forward P/E. If you’re considering HSIC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Two Stocks to Buy:
Natera (NTRA)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.76
Founded in 2003 as Gene Security Network before rebranding in 2012, Natera (NASDAQ: NTRA) develops and commercializes genetic tests for prenatal screening, cancer detection, and organ transplant monitoring using its proprietary cell-free DNA technology.
Why Is NTRA a Good Business?
- Tests Processed averaged 21% growth over the past two years and imply healthy demand for its products
- Adjusted operating margin improvement of 38.7 percentage points over the last two years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently
- Free cash flow profile has moved into positive territory over the last five years, showing the company is at an important crossroads
Natera is trading at $163 per share, or 10x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Mastercard (MA)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.87
Recognizable by its iconic "Priceless" advertising campaign that has run in over 120 countries, Mastercard (NYSE: MA) operates a global payments network that connects consumers, financial institutions, merchants, and businesses, enabling electronic transactions and providing payment solutions.
Why Is MA a Top Pick?
- Solid 13.3% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates its offering’s solve complex business issues
- Share repurchases over the last two years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 18.9% to outpace its revenue gains
- ROE punches in at 159%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments
At $565.91 per share, Mastercard trades at 33x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
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 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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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