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Zacks.com featured highlights include Liquidia, Exxon Mobil, Valero Energy and Diamondback Energy
Read MoreHide Full Article
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – May 21, 2026 – Stocks in this week’s article are Liquidia Corp. (LQDA - Free Report) , Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM - Free Report) , Valero Energy Corp. (VLO - Free Report) and Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG - Free Report) .
4 Low-Beta Stocks for a Steadier Portfolio: LQDA, XOM, VLO & FANG
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have created significant uncertainty, making the U.S. stock market highly volatile. With fears dominating the market, it is ideal for investors to increase their allocation to low-beta stocks. Stocks that may attract investors' attention are Liquidia Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy Corp. and Diamondback Energy, Inc..
What Does Beta of a Stock Measure?
Beta measures the volatility or risk of a particular asset compared to the market. In other words, beta measures the extent of a security's price movement relative to the market. In this article, we are considering the S&P 500 as the market.
If a stock has a beta of 1, then the price of the stock will move with the market. So, the stock is more volatile than the market if its beta is more than 1. In the same way, the stock is not as volatile as the market if its beta is less than 1.
For example, if the market offers a return of 20%, a stock with a beta of 3 will return 60%, which is overwhelming. Similarly, when the market slips 20%, the stock will sink 60%, which is devastating.
Here are four of the 39 stocks that qualified for the screening:
Liquidia
Liquidia is experiencing rapid growth in YUTREPIA adoption, with increasing patient referrals, expanding prescriber base and rising market share. The company has achieved profitability and is generating positive cash flow, supported by a strong cash position. It is also pursuing expansion into additional indications and larger market opportunities through ongoing and planned clinical development.
Exxon Mobil
West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude is trading at more than the $100-per-barrel mark. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are driving the high prices. The U.S. Energy Information Administration ("EIA") in its latest short-term energy outlook projected WTI at $85.68 per barrel this year, higher than $65.40 last year. A highly favorable pricing environment for the commodity is likely to continue supporting ExxonMobil's exploration and production activities, which derive the majority of its earnings.
Valero Energy
Valero Energy is among the world's leading low-cost fuel producers, with a combined throughput capacity of 3 million barrels per day. In addition to its presence in traditional refining, the company has exposure to lower-carbon fuels, comprising sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and ethanol.
Diamondback Energy
Diamondback is a pure-play Permian producer and benefits from the ongoing high crude pricing environment. Apart from having an investment-grade balance sheet, the company has a promising production outlook, thanks to the huge inventory of drilling locations. Diamondback also expects its well costs in the prolific Midland basin to continue declining, aiding its bottom line.
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
About Screen of the Week
Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has more than doubled the market from 1988 through 2016. Its average gain has been a stellar +25% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.
Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.
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Zacks.com featured highlights include Liquidia, Exxon Mobil, Valero Energy and Diamondback Energy
For Immediate Release
Chicago, IL – May 21, 2026 – Stocks in this week’s article are Liquidia Corp. (LQDA - Free Report) , Exxon Mobil Corp. (XOM - Free Report) , Valero Energy Corp. (VLO - Free Report) and Diamondback Energy, Inc. (FANG - Free Report) .
4 Low-Beta Stocks for a Steadier Portfolio: LQDA, XOM, VLO & FANG
Escalating tensions in the Middle East have created significant uncertainty, making the U.S. stock market highly volatile. With fears dominating the market, it is ideal for investors to increase their allocation to low-beta stocks. Stocks that may attract investors' attention are Liquidia Corp., Exxon Mobil Corp., Valero Energy Corp. and Diamondback Energy, Inc..
What Does Beta of a Stock Measure?
Beta measures the volatility or risk of a particular asset compared to the market. In other words, beta measures the extent of a security's price movement relative to the market. In this article, we are considering the S&P 500 as the market.
If a stock has a beta of 1, then the price of the stock will move with the market. So, the stock is more volatile than the market if its beta is more than 1. In the same way, the stock is not as volatile as the market if its beta is less than 1.
For example, if the market offers a return of 20%, a stock with a beta of 3 will return 60%, which is overwhelming. Similarly, when the market slips 20%, the stock will sink 60%, which is devastating.
Here are four of the 39 stocks that qualified for the screening:
Liquidia
Liquidia is experiencing rapid growth in YUTREPIA adoption, with increasing patient referrals, expanding prescriber base and rising market share. The company has achieved profitability and is generating positive cash flow, supported by a strong cash position. It is also pursuing expansion into additional indications and larger market opportunities through ongoing and planned clinical development.
Exxon Mobil
West Texas Intermediate ("WTI") crude is trading at more than the $100-per-barrel mark. Ongoing tensions in the Middle East are driving the high prices. The U.S. Energy Information Administration ("EIA") in its latest short-term energy outlook projected WTI at $85.68 per barrel this year, higher than $65.40 last year. A highly favorable pricing environment for the commodity is likely to continue supporting ExxonMobil's exploration and production activities, which derive the majority of its earnings.
Valero Energy
Valero Energy is among the world's leading low-cost fuel producers, with a combined throughput capacity of 3 million barrels per day. In addition to its presence in traditional refining, the company has exposure to lower-carbon fuels, comprising sustainable aviation fuel, renewable diesel and ethanol.
Diamondback Energy
Diamondback is a pure-play Permian producer and benefits from the ongoing high crude pricing environment. Apart from having an investment-grade balance sheet, the company has a promising production outlook, thanks to the huge inventory of drilling locations. Diamondback also expects its well costs in the prolific Midland basin to continue declining, aiding its bottom line.
For the rest of this Screen of the Week article please visit Zacks.com at: https://www.zacks.com/stock/news/2924251/4-low-beta-stocks-for-a-steadier-portfolio-lqda-xom-vlo-fang
Disclosure: Officers, directors and/or employees of Zacks Investment Research may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material. An affiliated investment advisory firm may own or have sold short securities and/or hold long and/or short positions in options that are mentioned in this material.
About Screen of the Week
Zacks.com created the first and best screening system on the web earning the distinction as the "#1 site for screening stocks" by Money Magazine. But powerful screening tools is just the start. That is why Zacks created the Screen of the Week to highlight profitable stock picking strategies that investors can actively use.
Strong Stocks that Should Be in the News
Many are little publicized and fly under the Wall Street radar. They're virtually unknown to the general public. Yet today's 220 Zacks Rank #1 "Strong Buys" were generated by the stock-picking system that has more than doubled the market from 1988 through 2016. Its average gain has been a stellar +25% per year. See these high-potential stocks free >>.
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Zacks Investment Research is under common control with affiliated entities (including a broker-dealer and an investment adviser), which may engage in transactions involving the foregoing securities for the clients of such affiliates.
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Zacks.com provides investment resources and informs you of these resources, which you may choose to use in making your own investment decisions. Zacks is providing information on this resource to you subject to the Zacks "Terms and Conditions of Service" disclaimer. www.zacks.com/disclaimer.
Past performance is no guarantee of future results. Inherent in any investment is the potential for loss. This material is being provided for informational purposes only and nothing herein constitutes investment, legal, accounting or tax advice, or a recommendation to buy, sell or hold a security. No recommendation or advice is being given as to whether any investment is suitable for a particular investor. It should not be assumed that any investments in securities, companies, sectors or markets identified and described were or will be profitable. All information is current as of the date of herein and is subject to change without notice. Any views or opinions expressed may not reflect those of the firm as a whole. Zacks Investment Research does not engage in investment banking, market making or asset management activities of any securities. These returns are from hypothetical portfolios consisting of stocks with Zacks Rank = 1 that were rebalanced monthly with zero transaction costs. These are not the returns of actual portfolios of stocks. The S&P 500 is an unmanaged index. Visit https://www.zacks.com/performancefor information about the performance numbers displayed in this press release.