Volatility cuts both ways - while it creates opportunities, it also increases risk, making sharp declines just as likely as big gains. This unpredictability can shake out even the most experienced investors.

These stocks can be a rollercoaster, and StockStory is here to guide you through the ups and downs. Keeping that in mind, here is one volatile stock with massive upside potential and two best left to the gamblers.

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.62

Involved in the 1996 Olympic Games MasTec (NYSE:MTZ) is an infrastructure construction company that specializes in the telecommunications, energy, and utility industries.

Why Does MTZ Give Us Pause?

Competitive supply chain dynamics and steep production costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 12.9%

Subpar operating margin of 3.1% has withered over the last five years as it prioritized growth over profits

4.2 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

MasTec’s stock price of $240.54 implies a valuation ratio of 32.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering MTZ for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.43

A key player in the transition to cleaner vehicles, Garrett Motion (NYSE:GTX) designs and manufactures turbochargers, air compressors, and electric motor technologies for vehicle manufacturers and industrial applications.

Why Does GTX Fall Short?

Sales tumbled by 4% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle

Estimated sales growth of 2.2% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand

Issuance of new shares over the last five years caused its earnings per share to fall by 12.7% annually while its revenue grew

At $18.06 per share, Garrett Motion trades at 10.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including GTX in your portfolio, it’s free.

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.60

Formed through the 2013 merger of Elance and oDesk, Upwork (NASDAQ:UPWK) is an online platform where businesses and independent professionals connect to get work done.

Why Could UPWK Be a Winner?

Customer spending is rising as the company has focused on monetization over the last two years, leading to 9.4% annual growth in its average revenue per customer

Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 123% over the last three years outstripped its revenue performance

Free cash flow margin increased by 29.3 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders

Upwork is trading at $20.09 per share, or 11.4x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

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 5 Strong Momentum 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.