Since 2000, pest control juggernaut Rollins (NYSE: ROL) has delivered total returns of nearly 10,000%, leaving it just shy of being a 100-bagger in under 25 years. While this feat is impressive in its own right, it is even more remarkable considering that the stock's beta never rose above 0.9 during those years.

In simplest terms, beta measures how reactive a stock is to market movements, with a score below 1.0 signifying that the stock is less volatile than the overall market. Sporting a 5-year beta of just 0.64, Rollins has not only thoroughly stomped the market since 2000 but done so with less volatility, as its services are generally viewed as non-discretionary.

In a sense, this combination of incredible returns and low beta allows investors to have their cake and eat it, too -- giving them market outperformance from a somewhat "boring" investment.

Continue reading

Source Fool.com