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 that could reward patient investors and two that might not be worth the risk.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Upland (UPLD)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.87
Founder Jack McDonald’s second software rollup, Upland Software (NASDAQ: UPLD) is a one stop shop for sales and marketing software, project management, HR, and contact center services for small and medium sized businesses.
Why Should You Dump UPLD?
- Sales tumbled by 4.4% annually over the last three years, showing industry trends like AI are working against its favor
- Sales are projected to tank by 22.7% over the next 12 months as its demand continues evaporating
- Extended payback periods on sales investments suggest the company’s platform isn’t resonating enough to drive efficient sales conversions
Upland is trading at $2.55 per share, or 0.4x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with UPLD, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Purple (PRPL)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.31
Founded by two brothers, Purple (NASDAQ: PRPL) creates sleep and home comfort products such as mattresses, pillows, and bedding accessories.
Why Should You Sell PRPL?
- Products and services aren't resonating with the market as its revenue declined by 6.3% annually over the last two years
- Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results
- Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders
Purple’s stock price of $0.90 implies a valuation ratio of 29.6x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PRPL in your portfolio.
One Stock to Watch:
Qualcomm (QCOM)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.66
Having been at the forefront of developing the standards for cellular connectivity for over four decades, Qualcomm (NASDAQ: QCOM) is a leading innovator and a fabless manufacturer of wireless technology chips used in smartphones, autos and internet of things appliances.
Why Could QCOM Be a Winner?
- Annual revenue growth of 11.3% over the last five years beat the sector average and underscores the unique value of its offerings
- Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends
- ROIC punches in at 52.2%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments
At $152.79 per share, Qualcomm trades at 12.9x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.
While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years.
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
