Quietest Compounders
Strong returns at low volatility — the sleep-at-night winners
Updated October 23, 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 | EXPDExpeditors InternationalIndustrials | +65.4% | 3.2 pp | +6.8% |
| Industrials — returned +65.4% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.2 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 2 | TRGPTarga ResourcesEnergy | +95.8% | 4.7 pp | +6.8% |
| Energy — returned +95.8% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 3 | NUENucorMaterials | +88.9% | 4.4 pp | +4.1% |
| Materials — returned +88.9% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.4 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 4 | BIIBBiogenHealth Care | +69.7% | 4.0 pp | +10.7% |
| Health Care — returned +69.7% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.0 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 5 | STTState Street CorporationFinancials | +48.2% | 2.8 pp | −7.3% |
| Financials — returned +48.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 6 | TGTTarget CorporationConsumer Staples | +62.4% | 3.7 pp | −2.2% |
| Consumer Staples — returned +62.4% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 7 | ADIAnalog DevicesInformation Technology | +62.7% | 3.7 pp | +2.2% |
| Information Technology — returned +62.7% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 8 | VTRSViatrisHealth Care | +72.9% | 4.5 pp | +3.3% |
| Health Care — returned +72.9% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.5 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 9 | KEYSKeysight TechnologiesInformation Technology | +91.1% | 5.9 pp | −12.0% |
| Information Technology — returned +91.1% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 5.9 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 10 | CNCCentene CorporationHealth Care | +94.8% | 6.3 pp | +13.3% |
| Health Care — returned +94.8% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 6.3 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 11 | FDXFedExIndustrials | +54.9% | 3.7 pp | +6.9% |
| Industrials — returned +54.9% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 12 | WBDWarner Bros. DiscoveryCommunication Services | +63.0% | 4.3 pp | +9.6% |
| Communication Services — returned +63.0% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.3 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 13 | CSXCSX CorporationIndustrials | +41.4% | 2.8 pp | +8.2% |
| Industrials — returned +41.4% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 14 | COPConocoPhillipsEnergy | +72.5% | 5.0 pp | +16.6% |
| Energy — returned +72.5% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 5.0 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 15 | TXNTexas InstrumentsInformation Technology | +66.8% | 4.7 pp | +5.2% |
| Information Technology — returned +66.8% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 16 | NTAPNetAppInformation Technology | +84.5% | 6.1 pp | +9.2% |
| Information Technology — returned +84.5% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 6.1 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 17 | MRKMerck & Co.Health Care | +65.8% | 4.8 pp | −1.9% |
| Health Care — returned +65.8% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 18 | BNYBNY MellonFinancials | +35.7% | 2.6 pp | −3.3% |
| Financials — returned +35.7% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.6 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 19 | XOMExxonMobilEnergy | +59.7% | 4.5 pp | +13.1% |
| Energy — returned +59.7% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.5 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 20 | IEXIDEX CorporationIndustrials | +37.7% | 2.8 pp | +0.2% |
| Industrials — returned +37.7% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 21 | NDSNNordson CorporationIndustrials | +36.2% | 2.8 pp | −1.4% |
| Industrials — returned +36.2% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 22 | NTRSNorthern TrustFinancials | +33.8% | 2.6 pp | −3.8% |
| Financials — returned +33.8% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 2.6 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 23 | STLDSteel DynamicsMaterials | +62.6% | 4.8 pp | +2.7% |
| Materials — returned +62.6% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 4.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 24 | CRLCharles River LaboratoriesHealth Care | +84.7% | 6.7 pp | +17.3% |
| Health Care — returned +84.7% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 6.7 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||
| 25 | TRVTravelers Companies (The)Financials | +48.3% | 3.8 pp | +9.9% |
| Financials — returned +48.3% over the year while its weekly move versus the index swung only about 3.8 pp — a lot of return for very little turbulence. | ||||