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 providing safe-and-steady growth and one that may not keep up.
One Stock to Sell:
Gartner (IT)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.78
With over 2,500 research experts guiding organizations through complex technology landscapes, Gartner (NYSE: IT) provides research, advisory services, and conferences that help executives make better decisions about technology and other business priorities.
Why Does IT Worry Us?
- Estimated sales growth of 2.8% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
- Free cash flow margin dropped by 3.3 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
At $237.30 per share, Gartner trades at 19.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering IT for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Two Stocks to Watch:
Philip Morris (PM)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.09
Founded in 1847, Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) manufactures and sells a wide range of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine pouches.
Why Do We Love PM?
- Average unit sales growth of 3% over the past two years reflects steady demand for its products
- Products command premium prices and result in a best-in-class gross margin of 65.3%
- PM is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
Philip Morris is trading at $157.90 per share, or 19.8x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
Accenture (ACN)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.72
With a workforce of approximately 774,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is a professional services firm that helps organizations transform their businesses through consulting, technology, operations, and digital services.
Why Does ACN Stand Out?
- Annual revenue growth of 9.5% over the last five years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Unparalleled revenue scale of $69.67 billion gives it an edge in distribution
- Market-beating returns on capital illustrate that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures
Accenture’s stock price of $240.38 implies a valuation ratio of 17.4x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free for active Edge members .
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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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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