ZACKS·2025-12-18 13:11Core Insights - Investors are gravitating towards safer, low-beta stocks due to anticipated market uncertainty [1] - Companies are increasingly utilizing complex borrowing methods for funding data center projects, contributing to market nervousness [1] Stock Recommendations - Suggested low-beta stocks include J & J Snack Foods Corp. (JJSF), USA Compression Partners, LP (USAC), Natural Gas Services Group, Inc. (NGS), and The Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO) [2] Stock Characteristics - Beta measures the volatility of a stock relative to the market, with a beta of less than 1 indicating lower volatility [3][4] - A beta range of 0 to 0.6 is used as a screening criterion for less volatile stocks [5] Screening Criteria - Stocks must have a positive price change over the last four weeks [5] - Average 20-day trading volume should exceed 50,000 [6] - Stock price must be at least $5 [6] - Zacks Rank of 1 indicates strong buy potential [6] Company Profiles - J & J Snack Foods: Strong balance sheet, negligible debt, focused on capital return to shareholders, and plans to accelerate stock repurchases [7] - USA Compression Partners: Positioned to benefit from rising demand for cleaner fuels and LNG exports, with plans to add new equipment by year-end [8][9] - Natural Gas Services: Benefits from increased LNG exports, leading to higher demand for compression equipment [10] - The Vita Coco Company: Leading producer of coconut water, experiencing strong demand growth across regions [11]