3 Volatile Stocks We Find Risky

A highly volatile stock can deliver big gains - or just as easily wipe out a portfolio if things go south. While some investors embrace risk, mistakes can be costly for those who aren’t prepared.

These stocks can be a rollercoaster, and StockStory is here to guide you through the ups and downs. That said, here are three volatile stocks to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.

MGP Ingredients (MGPI)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.20

Headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:MGPI) is a leading supplier of high-quality ingredients to the food and beverage industry

Why Is MGPI Risky?

1. Sales tumbled by 8.6% annually over the last three years, showing consumer trends are working against its favor
2. Sales are projected to tank by 12% over the next 12 months as its demand continues evaporating
3. Inability to adjust its cost structure while its revenue declined over the last year led to a 18.3 percentage point drop in the company’s operating margin

MGP Ingredients is trading at $24.49 per share, or 10.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MGPI in your portfolio.

American Express Global Business Travel (GBTG)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.40

Originally spun off from American Express in 2014 but maintaining the Amex GBT brand, Global Business Travel Group (NYSE:GBTG) provides end-to-end business travel and expense management solutions, connecting corporate clients with travel suppliers and offering specialized software services.

Why Should You Sell GBTG?

1. Muted 5.3% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its software peers
2. High servicing costs result in a relatively inferior gross margin of 61% that must be offset through increased usage
3. Operating profits increased over the last year as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient

American Express Global Business Travel’s stock price of $7.66 implies a valuation ratio of 1.2x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than GBTG.

Carrier Global (CARR)

Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.19

Founded by the inventor of air conditioning, Carrier Global (NYSE:CARR) manufactures heating, ventilation, air conditioning, and refrigeration products.

Why Do We Avoid CARR?

1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
2. Estimated sales growth of 1.5% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

At $53.02 per share, Carrier Global trades at 19.2x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why CARR doesn’t pass our bar.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in 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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% 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.