We are seeing a meaningful increase in stock market volatility for the first time in months. Friday and Monday, the S&P 500 plunged more than 3% but recouped a significant chunk of these losses in today’s session.

Although volatility is never enjoyable, they often result in attractive entry points in high-quality stock. The POWR Ratings can help you identify stocks with strong technical and fundamental characteristics.

The POWR Ratings’ latest update reveals the following stocks have been upgraded to a Strong Buy: First United Corporation (FUNC), Northeast Bank (NBN), and Republic Services (RSG).
 
FUNC

FUNC is a one-bank holding business with two subsidiaries that are not official banks. In short, FUNC is a financial holding company with subsidiaries that provide commercial banking and retail services.

FUNC has a forward P/E ratio of 6.04. This ratio indicates the stock is likely underpriced at $16.39 per share. However, FUNC is not a tech stock so the low forward P/E ratio is somewhat expected. This low ratio is made all the more appealing because FUNC is within $4 of its 5-week high of $20.48. FUNC could easily set a new 52-week high and still have a respectable forward P/E ratio with even more room for upward movement to go. FUNC has a relatively low beta of 1.03 so investors can rest easy if the stock market undulates, knowing full well that FUNC should retain the majority of its value.

FUNC has an A POWR Rating grade. This solid grade indicates the stock is a Strong Buy. FUNC also has B grades in the Sentiment, Value, Stability, and Growth components of the POWR Ratings. If you are curious as to how FUNC fares in the rest of the POWR Ratings components such as Quality and Momentum, you can find out by clicking here.

Of the Mid-Atlantic Regional Banks, FUNC is ranked first, slotting in at number one overall out of 43 publicly traded companies in the sector. You can learn more about the stocks in this space by clicking here.

NBN

This savings and loan business is essentially a holding company with the main asset of its primary subsidiary, Northeast Bank. NBN makes money by attracting savings deposits and using the money to fund the origination of mortgage loans for residential real estate.

NBN has a beta of 1.72 so it probably won’t prove excessively volatile should the market undulate. The stock is trading at $29.85 per share, about a dollar below its 52-week high of $30.92. NBN has a 52-week low of $14.68.

Out of the 70 publicly traded companies in the Northeast Regional Banks sector, NBN is ranked first. You can find out more about the stocks in this category by clicking here.

NBN has an A POWR Rating grade. The stock has As in the Sentiment and Value components, a B in the Growth component, and a C Stability component grade. Click here to learn how NBN fares in the rest of the POWR Ratings components such as Quality and Momentum.

RSG

RSG is the country’s second-largest non-hazardous waste collection, disposal, and recycling company. RSG operates facilities in more than 40 states. Furthermore, RSG generates revenue through energy services as the company has 75 renewable energy and gas-to-energy projects. However, the bulk of RSG revenue stems from the company’s solid waste collection services.

RSG is ranked second of 18 stocks in the Waste Disposal industry. You can find out more about the stocks in this sector by clicking here.

RSG has B grades in the Growth, Stability, Sentiment, and Momentum components of the POWR Ratings. If you would like to find out how RSG fares in the rest of the POWR Ratings components such as Quality and Value, you can do so by clicking here.

RSG has a forward P/E ratio of 29.68, a slightly elevated ratio for a waste collection business. The stock has a beta of 0.7, indicating it is unlikely to significantly waver should the market sour or jump.

RSG’s price returns are stellar. The company has a year-to-date price return of 20.36% and a three-year price return of 78%.