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. Keeping that in mind, here is one volatile stock with massive upside potential and two that might not be worth the risk.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Park-Ohio (PKOH)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.48
Based in Cleveland, Park-Ohio (NASDAQ:PKOH) provides supply chain management services, capital equipment, and manufactured components.
Why Is PKOH Risky?
- Sales tumbled by 1.8% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
- Competitive supply chain dynamics and steep production costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 15.5%
- Cash-burning tendencies make us wonder if it can sustainably generate shareholder value
At $28.03 per share, Park-Ohio trades at 8.9x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with PKOH, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Stifel (SF)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.30
Tracing its roots back to 1890 when the firm was established in St. Louis, Stifel Financial (NYSE:SF) is a financial services firm that provides wealth management, investment banking, and institutional brokerage services to individuals, corporations, and institutions.
Why Are We Hesitant About SF?
- Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last five years as its EPS grew by just 8.2% annually
- Muted 4.4% annual book value per share growth over the last two years shows its capital generation lagged behind its financials peers
Stifel’s stock price of $118.99 implies a valuation ratio of 12.2x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including SF in your portfolio.
One Stock to Buy:
QuinStreet (QNST)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.33
Founded during the dot-com era in 1999 and specializing in high-intent consumer traffic, QuinStreet (NASDAQ:QNST) operates digital performance marketplaces that connect clients in financial and home services with consumers actively searching for their products.
Why Should You Buy QNST?
- Market share has increased this cycle as its 41.8% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional
- Earnings per share have massively outperformed its peers over the last two years, increasing by 454% annually
- Improving returns on capital suggest its past investments are beginning to deliver value
QuinStreet is trading at $11.26 per share, or 7.1x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
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 Growth Stocks for this month. 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.