Map of Risk
Industries depicted according to their risk/reward profiles
This article is for subscribers only.
The best investments provide high returns with low risk—and risk varies markedly from one business to another. Investors in renewable energy can pull down some huge windfalls but only by tolerating the possibility of big losses. Other industries—utilities, drugs, and food—may be safer bets but offer modest returns. Check out the industry risk/reward profiles below: Larger boxes indicate higher average returns. Pink denotes high risk; blue, low risk.