Quietest Compounders
Strong returns at low volatility — the sleep-at-night winners
Updated July 24, 2026
Two stocks can post the same one-year return and be completely different things to own. One climbs in a steady line; the other gets there through stomach-churning swings you’d probably have bailed on. This board rewards the first kind — strong returns earned quietly.
We score each name by its one-year return divided by the week-to-week volatility of its performance against the index — return per unit of turbulence. The names at the top compounded hard without making you watch. The volatility column shows roughly how much its weekly result wobbled around the market; the smaller that number for a given return, the smoother the ride.
| # | Stock | 1Y return | Weekly swing | 1M |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 1 | ROSTRoss StoresConsumer Discretionary | +83.1% | 3.1 pp | +2.4% |
| Consumer Discretionary — returned +83.1% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.1 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 2 | STTState Street CorporationFinancials | +72.5% | 2.8 pp | +8.4% |
| Financials — returned +72.5% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 3 | BNYBNY MellonFinancials | +62.3% | 2.4 pp | +8.8% |
| Financials — returned +62.3% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.4 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 4 | CMICumminsIndustrials | +90.9% | 3.9 pp | −7.4% |
| Industrials — returned +90.9% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.9 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 5 | GOOGLAlphabet Inc. (Class A)Communication Services | +74.2% | 3.7 pp | −12.1% |
| Communication Services — returned +74.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 6 | MSMorgan StanleyFinancials | +52.2% | 2.6 pp | −4.7% |
| Financials — returned +52.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.6 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 7 | VTRSViatrisHealth Care | +86.0% | 4.4 pp | +9.6% |
| Health Care — returned +86.0% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.4 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 8 | NUENucorMaterials | +75.9% | 4.0 pp | −2.0% |
| Materials — returned +75.9% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.0 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 9 | STLDSteel DynamicsMaterials | +88.4% | 4.8 pp | −8.5% |
| Materials — returned +88.4% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 10 | JBHTJ.B. HuntIndustrials | +88.8% | 4.9 pp | +7.9% |
| Industrials — returned +88.8% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.9 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 11 | CSXCSX CorporationIndustrials | +54.2% | 3.0 pp | +16.8% |
| Industrials — returned +54.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.0 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 12 | CHRWC.H. RobinsonIndustrials | +89.3% | 5.1 pp | +0.7% |
| Industrials — returned +89.3% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 5.1 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 13 | GSGoldman SachsFinancials | +50.3% | 2.9 pp | −3.4% |
| Financials — returned +50.3% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.9 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 14 | FDXFedExIndustrials | +71.3% | 4.1 pp | −3.4% |
| Industrials — returned +71.3% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.1 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 15 | MNSTMonster BeverageConsumer Staples | +58.2% | 3.3 pp | +2.0% |
| Consumer Staples — returned +58.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.3 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 16 | IVZInvescoFinancials | +73.2% | 4.3 pp | +4.0% |
| Financials — returned +73.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.3 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 17 | KEYSKeysight TechnologiesInformation Technology | +95.4% | 5.6 pp | −9.1% |
| Information Technology — returned +95.4% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 5.6 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 18 | JNJJohnson & JohnsonHealth Care | +61.6% | 3.7 pp | +12.5% |
| Health Care — returned +61.6% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 19 | AAPLApple Inc.Information Technology | +58.6% | 3.6 pp | +12.5% |
| Information Technology — returned +58.6% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.6 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 20 | CVSCVS HealthHealth Care | +70.2% | 4.4 pp | +8.7% |
| Health Care — returned +70.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.4 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 21 | WELLWelltowerReal Estate | +59.9% | 3.8 pp | +22.0% |
| Real Estate — returned +59.9% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 22 | INCYIncyteHealth Care | +70.0% | 4.4 pp | +18.0% |
| Health Care — returned +70.0% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.4 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 23 | MPWRMonolithic Power SystemsInformation Technology | +86.9% | 5.6 pp | −7.9% |
| Information Technology — returned +86.9% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 5.6 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 24 | TRGPTarga ResourcesEnergy | +69.0% | 4.5 pp | +7.9% |
| Energy — returned +69.0% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.5 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 25 | NTRSNorthern TrustFinancials | +42.1% | 2.8 pp | +3.2% |
| Financials — returned +42.1% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||