1 Safe-and-Steady Stock to Target This Week and 2 We Turn Down
Low-volatility stocks may offer stability, but that often comes at the cost of slower growth and the upside potential of more dynamic companies.
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 stuck in limbo.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Monro (MNRO)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.64
Started as a single location in Rochester, New York, Monro (NASDAQ:MNRO) provides common auto services such as brake repairs, tire replacements, and oil changes.
Why Is MNRO Risky?
- Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new locations
- Earnings per share have contracted by 54.2% annually over the last three years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
- High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 6× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens
Monro’s stock price of $13.75 implies a valuation ratio of 58.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than MNRO.
US Foods (USFD)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.33
With a fleet of over 6,500 trucks delivering everything from fresh produce to frozen entrées, US Foods (NYSE:USFD) is a major foodservice distributor that supplies food products and services to approximately 250,000 restaurants, healthcare facilities, hotels, and educational institutions across the United States.
Why Should You Sell USFD?
- Products are reaching more customers as its unit sales averaged 1.9% growth over the past two years
- Subpar operating margin of 3.1% constrains its ability to invest in process improvements or effectively respond to new competitive threats
- Free cash flow margin is projected to show no improvement next year
At $93.74 per share, US Foods trades at 18x forward P/E. If you’re considering USFD for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
One Stock to Watch:
MSA Safety (MSA)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.48
Founded in 1914 as Mine Safety Appliances to protect coal miners from dangerous gases, MSA Safety (NYSE:MSA) designs and manufactures advanced safety products that protect workers and facilities across industries including fire service, energy, construction, and manufacturing.
Why Does MSA Stand Out?
- Adjusted operating margin improvement of 4.3 percentage points over the last five years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently
- Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 15.6% exceeded its revenue gains over the last five years
- Free cash flow margin increased by 10.5 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders
MSA Safety is trading at $180.58 per share, or 19.3x 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
ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren’t just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meet near-term momentum — both boxes checked at the same time.
Find out which stocks our AI platform is flagging this week. See this week’s Strong Momentum stocks — FREE. Get Our Strong Momentum Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+214% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.