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.
At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. That said, here is one volatile stock that could reward patient investors and two that might not be worth the risk.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Photronics (PLAB)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.19
Sporting a global footprint of facilities, Photronics (NASDAQ:PLAB) is a manufacturer of photomasks, templates used to transfer patterns onto semiconductor wafers.
Why Does PLAB Fall Short?
- Flat sales over the last two years suggest it must find different ways to grow during this cycle
- Projected sales growth of 2.2% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand
- Gross margin of 34.7% reflects its high production costs
Photronics is trading at $28.31 per share, or 13.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PLAB in your portfolio.
Ford (F)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.36
Established to make automobiles accessible to a broader segment of the population, Ford (NYSE:F) designs, manufactures, and sells a variety of automobiles, trucks, and electric vehicles.
Why Do We Steer Clear of F?
- Declining vehicles sold over the past two years suggest it might have to lower prices to accelerate growth
- Eroding returns on capital from an already low base indicate that management’s recent investments are destroying value
At $12.18 per share, Ford trades at 7x forward P/E. If you’re considering F for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
One Stock to Buy:
Uber (UBER)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.15
Notoriously funded with $7.7 billion from the Softbank Vision Fund, Uber (NYSE:UBER) operates a platform of on-demand services such as ride-hailing, food delivery, and freight.
Why Is UBER a Top Pick?
- Has the opportunity to boost monetization through new features and premium offerings as its monthly active platform consumers have grown by 15.6% annually over the last two years
- Share repurchases over the last three years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 41% to outpace its revenue gains
- Free cash flow margin increased by 13.3 percentage points over the last few years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders
Uber’s stock price of $69.34 implies a valuation ratio of 12x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. The best stocks don’t just beat the market once. They do it again. And again. Robust revenue growth, rising free cash flow, returns on capital that leave their competition in the dust. The market has already rewarded these businesses.
But our AI platform says the party isn’t over. Find out which 9 stocks made the cut this week — FREE. Get Our Top 9 Market-Beating 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+1,154% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.