Stability is great, but low-volatility stocks may struggle to deliver market-beating returns over time as they sometimes underperform during bull markets.

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 providing safe-and-steady growth and two that may not deliver the returns you need.

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.15

With a history that goes back more than a century, PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) is a household name in food and beverages today and best known for its flagship soda.

Why Does PEP Worry Us?

Falling unit sales over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its product strategy

Estimated sales growth of 3.8% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand

Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last year, causing its operating margin to decline by 2.4 percentage points

At $145.24 per share, PepsiCo trades at 16.9x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PEP.

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.45

Founded in 1978 when financial data was still primarily delivered through paper reports, FactSet (NYSE:FDS) provides financial data, analytics, and technology solutions that investment professionals use to research, analyze, and manage their portfolios.

Why Is FDS Not Exciting?

Muted 5.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its financials peers

Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 8.1% annually

FactSet is trading at $275.59 per share, or 15.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering FDS for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.68

Starting as Green Bay Financial Corporation in 2000 before rebranding in 2002, Nicolet Bankshares (NYSE:NIC) is a regional bank holding company that provides commercial, agricultural, and consumer banking services primarily in Wisconsin, Michigan, and Minnesota.

Why Do We Love NIC?

Impressive 18.5% annual net interest income growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle

Net interest margin expanded by 42.7 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, providing additional flexibility for investments

Earnings per share grew by 14.9% annually over the last two years, massively outpacing its peers

Nicolet Bankshares’s stock price of $125.18 implies a valuation ratio of 1.5x forward P/B. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.

Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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