Key Takeaways Uncertainty around Fed rate cuts has made defensive, low-beta stocks more attractive to investors. ATO, FTS, CL, and KO all offer low beta, dividend yield, and positive earnings estimate revisions. Each stock holds a favorable Zacks Rank and operates in the utility or consumer staples sectors.The uncertainty over the timing of the next rate cut persists as the Federal Reserve is still maintaining a cautious stance, with policymakers concerned about the inflationary pressures that are going t ...

Key Takeaways Volatility has returned to Wall Street amid escalating tensions between Iran and Israel, with the United States gradually getting dragged into it. Although the United States has not yet been directly drawn into the conflict, President Donald Trump is weighing whether to strike Iran. Given the worsening situation, it would be ideal to invest in safe-haven defensive stocks from the utility sector such as Atmos Energy Corporation (ATO) , Fortis, Inc. (FTS) , MDU Resources Group, Inc. (MDU) and Ni ...

Market Overview - The U.S. stock market is expected to experience volatility due to rising tensions between Israel and Iran, which have led to increased oil prices and concerns about a broader regional conflict [1] - Uncertainty surrounding the Federal Reserve's interest rate decisions amid these geopolitical risks is adding further pressure to the market [1] Investment Strategy - A curated portfolio of low-beta stocks is recommended as a strategy to navigate the uncertain market conditions [2] - Low-beta stocks such as VirTra Inc. (VTSI), Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV), Elbit Systems Ltd (ESLT), and Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) are highlighted as potential investment opportunities [2] Stock Characteristics - Beta is a measure of a stock's volatility compared to the market, with a beta of 1 indicating movement in line with the market, greater than 1 indicating higher volatility, and less than 1 indicating lower volatility [3][4] - Stocks with a beta between 0 and 0.6 are screened for lower volatility, alongside other criteria such as positive price movement over the last month, average trading volume greater than 50,000, a price of at least $5, and a Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [5][6] Company Insights - **VirTra Inc. (VTSI)**: The company is benefiting from the U.S. Army's Integrated Visual Augmentation System (IVAS) project, which enhances training for soldiers and positions VirTra favorably for military contracts [7][9] - **Franco-Nevada Corporation (FNV)**: Recently invested $1.05 billion in a royalty on the Côté Gold Mine, which is expected to close by Q2 2025, indicating strong revenue potential from significant gold resources [9][10] - **Elbit Systems Ltd (ESLT)**: The company has a substantial backlog of $23.1 billion, with 66% of its contracts coming from international markets, reflecting strong global demand for defense solutions [9][11] - **Philip Morris International Inc. (PM)**: Transitioning from traditional cigarettes to smoke-free products like IQOS and ZYN, while focusing on shareholder returns and cost-cutting measures [12]

Stocks scrambled for direction on Wednesday in a choppy trading session as volatility returned to Wall Street after the Federal Reserve left interest rates unchanged at the end of its two-day policy meeting.Inflation is still high, and the uncertainty over President Donald Trump’s tariffs has raised concerns over the economy’s health. Also, the U.S. economy shrank in the first quarter of 2025. This could keep markets volatile for a longer period.Given this situation, it would be wise to invest in defensive ...