In this article, we will take a look at the 5 Best Low Volatility Blue Chip Stocks to Buy Now. For deeper discussion and analysis, have a look at the 15 Best Low Volatility Blue Chip Stocks to Buy Now.
Photo by Scott Graham on Unsplash
5. Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD)
Beta Value (5Y Monthly): 0.47
On April 7, UBS lowered the firm’s price recommendation on Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) to $98 from $102. The analyst reiterated a Neutral rating on the shares.UBS expects Q1 results across much of the consumer staples group to be “okay.” Organic revenue growth is showing some signs of stabilizing. The bigger question, in the firm’s view, is how companies will guide for the rest of the year. Inflation is expected to weigh more heavily on earnings in the second half and possibly beyond.
A week earlier, on March 31, TD Cowen also cut its price target on Church & Dwight to $93 from $112, while maintaining a Hold rating. The firm lowered its estimates across the household and personal care space. The analyst said companies are unlikely to fully offset higher oil-related input costs linked to the Iran war. Even if the conflict ends soon, the price increases “will prove sticky due to infrastructure damage.” TD Cowen also pointed to weaker pricing power compared to past periods. It sees fewer opportunities for companies to shift consumers toward higher-end products, which contributed to the lower targets.
Church & Dwight Co., Inc. (NYSE:CHD) develops, manufactures, and markets a range of household and personal care products. It also operates in specialty areas tied to animal and food production, chemicals, and cleaners, with business segments including Consumer Domestic, Consumer International, and the Specialty Products Division.
4. Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK)
Beta Value (5Y Monthly): 0.45
On April 7, Duke Energy had its price target recommendation on Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) to $143 from $127. The firm maintained an Overweight rating as it updated its outlook for the North America power and utilities group ahead of Q1.
A couple of weeks earlier, on March 23, Morgan Stanley also lifted its price target on Duke Energy to $142 from $139, while keeping an Equal Weight rating. The firm said it was revising targets across regulated and diversified utilities and independent power producers in North America. The analyst noted that utilities outperformed the S&P 500 in February. Conversations across the sector have been constructive, with companies pointing to growth opportunities. There is also some optimism around load growth and new deals tied to data centers.
Duke Energy Corporation (NYSE:DUK) operates as an energy holding company. Its business is organized across two segments: Electric Utilities and Infrastructure, and Gas Utilities and Infrastructure.
3. Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD)
Beta Value (5Y Monthly): 0.40
On April 7, Leerink reiterated an Outperform rating on Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD), after the company announced a definitive agreement to acquire privately held Tubulis in a deal valued at up to $5 billion. The firm views the acquisition positively, pointing to both the strategic fit and the terms of the deal. Gilead is set to gain a clinical-stage antibody-drug conjugate with potential in ovarian cancer, along with another earlier-stage ADC candidate. The deal also brings access to next-generation ADC technologies. Leerink noted that this goes beyond a typical oncology add-on, seeing broader platform value, including potential use in areas such as virology.
Also on April 7, RBC Capital raised its price recommendation on Gilead to $123 from $118, while keeping a Sector Perform rating. The update came as part of its Q1 preview for the biotech sector. The analyst said Q1 may face some seasonal pressure, including gross-to-net adjustments, reimbursement resets, and fewer selling days. Weather-related disruptions could add to that, especially for in-clinic treatments and new product launches. At the same time, the note pointed to a pickup in M&A activity and more clarity around tariff and Most Favored Nation drug pricing impacts. These factors, in the firm’s view, could help balance near-term pressures and support overall sentiment in the sector.
Gilead Sciences, Inc. (NASDAQ:GILD) develops treatments for serious diseases. Its work spans HIV, viral hepatitis, COVID-19, cancer, and inflammation.
2. Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL)
Beta Value (5Y Monthly): 0.33
On April 7, UBS lowered its price recommendation on Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) to $98 from $100. It kept a Buy rating and said Q1 results across much of the consumer staples group should be “okay.” The analyst expects organic revenue growth to show some stabilization. The bigger focus is on forward guidance, as inflation is likely to put more pressure on earnings in the second half and possibly beyond.
A week earlier, on March 31, TD Cowen downgraded Colgate-Palmolive to Hold from Buy. The firm also cut its price target to $85 from $96 and reduced earnings estimates to reflect rising input costs. The analyst pointed to higher prices for oil-based inputs and tallow, which are up 40% compared to last year on the Chicago Mercantile Exchange. While some investors see Colgate’s presence in emerging markets as a source of pricing power, the firm noted that a 13% negative revision to consensus earnings expectations in 2022 suggests its “resilience may not be as strong as investors believe.” TD Cowen also said the company’s U.S. business may need additional investment to support sales, following weak results in 2025 and a slow start to 2026.
Colgate-Palmolive Company (NYSE:CL) operates across Oral Care, Personal Care, Home Care, and Pet Nutrition. Its Oral, Personal, and Home Care business spans North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Africa/Eurasia, serving retailers, distributors, dentists, and skin health professionals.
1. Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ)
Beta Value (5Y Monthly): 0.33
On April 7, Citi lifted its price recommendation on Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) to $285 from $274. The firm kept a Buy rating as it updated its outlook for the medical technology group ahead of Q1. The analyst said the “walls of worry are high” going into earnings, with the sector facing meaningful multiple compression. Citi also made some changes to its top picks, removing iRhythm and Medtronic. Its preferred names now include Edwards Lifesciences and Intuitive Surgical.
That same day, Goldman Sachs reiterated a Buy rating on Johnson & Johnson with a $265 price target ahead of Q1 results. The firm pointed to a “banner year” in 2025, driven by a turnaround in the Innovative Medicines business after the Stelara loss of exclusivity, along with stabilization in MedTech. The analyst added that shares have continued to outperform in 2026 so far, as the story shifts toward commercial momentum. New product cycles are supporting a re-rating, with expectations of a sustained period of accelerating growth.
Johnson & Johnson (NYSE:JNJ) operates across the healthcare sector, focusing on research, development, manufacturing, and sales. Its business is organized into two segments: Innovative Medicine and MedTech.
While we acknowledge the potential of JNJ as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and have limited downside risk. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than JNJ and that has 100x upside potential, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
READ NEXT: 15 Cheapest Stocks with Highest Dividends and 15 Best Consistent Dividend Stocks to Buy Right Now
Disclosure: None. Insider Monkey focuses on uncovering the best investment ideas of hedge funds and insiders. Please subscribe to our free daily e-newsletter to get the latest investment ideas from hedge funds’ investor letters by entering your email address below.
Hedge Fund Resource Center