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. Keeping that in mind, here are three low-volatility stocks to avoid and some better opportunities instead.
Molson Coors (TAP)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.29
Sporting an impressive roster of iconic beer brands, Molson Coors (NYSE:TAP) is a global brewing giant with a rich history dating back more than two centuries.
Why Should You Dump TAP?
- Falling unit sales over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its product strategy
- Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue over the last year as its operating margin fell by 33.7 percentage points
- Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam
Molson Coors is trading at $50.25 per share, or 9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including TAP in your portfolio.
Tyson Foods (TSN)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.40
Started as a simple trucking business, Tyson Foods (NYSE:TSN) is one of the world’s largest producers of chicken, beef, and pork.
Why Do We Avoid TSN?
- Sales stagnated over the last three years and signal the need for new growth strategies
- Easily substituted products (and therefore stiff competition) result in an inferior gross margin of 7.2% that must be offset through higher volumes
- Sales over the last three years were less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 22.1% annually while its revenue was flat
At $60.37 per share, Tyson Foods trades at 15.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than TSN.
Simmons First National (SFNC)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.92
With roots dating back to 1903 and a presence across Arkansas, Kansas, Missouri, Oklahoma, Tennessee, and Texas, Simmons First National (NASDAQ:SFNC) is a regional bank holding company that provides banking and financial services to individuals and businesses.
Why Are We Out on SFNC?
- Annual net interest income growth of 1.1% over the last five years was below our standards for the banking sector
- Projected 16.2 percentage point efficiency ratio increase over the next year signals its day-to-day expenses will rise
- Sales over the last five years were less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 9% annually while its revenue was flat
Simmons First National’s stock price of $19.02 implies a valuation ratio of 0.8x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with SFNC, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Stocks We Like More
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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.