1 Safe-and-Steady Stock to Target This Week and 2 We Avoid

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. That said, here is one low-volatility stock providing safe-and-steady growth and two that may not deliver the returns you need.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Paylocity (PCTY)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.93

Operating in a field where companies traditionally juggled multiple disconnected systems, Paylocity (NASDAQ:PCTY) provides cloud-based human capital management and payroll software solutions that help businesses manage their workforce and HR processes.

Why Are We Wary of PCTY?

1. Underwhelming ARR growth of 14.9% over the last year suggests the company faced challenges in acquiring and retaining long-term customers
2. Estimated sales growth of 7.6% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
3. Operating margin was unchanged over the last year, suggesting it failed to gain leverage on its fixed costs

At $163.81 per share, Paylocity trades at 5.4x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PCTY in your portfolio.

Waste Connections (WCN)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.23

Operating a network of municipal solid waste landfills in the U.S. and Canada, Waste Connections (NYSE:WCN) is North America's third-largest waste management company providing collection, disposal, and recycling services.

Why Are We Cautious About WCN?

1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
2. Efficiency has decreased over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 4.1 percentage points
3. ROIC of 6.6% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Waste Connections is trading at $171.85 per share, or 31.1x forward P/E. If you’re considering WCN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Stock to Watch:

UL Solutions (ULS)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 0.61

Founded in 1894 as a response to the growing dangers of electricity in American homes and businesses, UL Solutions (NYSE:ULS) provides testing, inspection, and certification services that help companies ensure their products meet safety, security, and sustainability standards.

Why Does ULS Catch Our Eye?

1. 7.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years surpassed the sector average as its services resonated with customers
2. Free cash flow margin jumped by 4.8 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends
3. ROIC punches in at 27.1%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments

UL Solutions’s stock price of $68.52 implies a valuation ratio of 37.1x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

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