Market swings can be tough to stomach, and volatile stocks often experience exaggerated moves in both directions. While many thrive during risk-on environments, many also struggle to maintain investor confidence when the ride gets bumpy.
At StockStory, our job is to help you avoid costly mistakes and stay on the right side of the trade. Keeping that in mind, here are three volatile stocks best left to the gamblers and some better opportunities instead.
Intel (INTC)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.60
Inventor of the x86 processor that powered decades of technological innovation in PCs, data centers, and numerous other markets, Intel (NASDAQ:INTC) is a leading manufacturer of computer processors and graphics chips.
Why Do We Steer Clear of INTC?
- Annual sales declines of 7.6% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
- Overall productivity fell over the last five years as its plummeting sales were accompanied by a decline in its operating margin
- Free cash flow margin dropped by 39.4 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
At $23.72 per share, Intel trades at 75.2x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than INTC.
Lucky Strike (LUCK)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.49
Born from the transformation of traditional bowling alleys into modern entertainment destinations, Lucky Strike (NYSE:LUCK) operates bowling alleys and other entertainment venues with upscale amenities, arcade games, and food and beverage services across North America.
Why Should You Sell LUCK?
- Disappointing same-store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its product selection and in-store experience
- Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging
- Unfavorable liquidity position could lead to additional equity financing that dilutes shareholders
Lucky Strike is trading at $10.03 per share, or 33.5x forward P/E. If you’re considering LUCK for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Park-Ohio (PKOH)
Rolling One-Year Beta: 1.52
Based in Cleveland, Park-Ohio (NASDAQ:PKOH) provides supply chain management services, capital equipment, and manufactured components.
Why Are We Hesitant About PKOH?
- Flat sales over the last two years suggest it must find different ways to grow during this cycle
- Gross margin of 15.4% reflects its high production costs
- Cash burn makes us question whether it can achieve sustainable long-term growth
Park-Ohio’s stock price of $18.79 implies a valuation ratio of 5.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PKOH.
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.
The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out 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 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).
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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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
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