While most stocks like to stay as far away from market volatility as possible, MarketAxess (NASDAQ: MKTX) and its electronic bond-trading platform play a contrarian role. Typically, MarketAxess sees increased trading activity the more volatile the market gets -- much like its stock market counterpart tends to see.

However, with the CBOE Volatility Index (affectionately known as VIX) trading at its lowest levels since 2019, the market remains surprisingly calm despite inflation worries and possible recession fears. Although this feeling of comfort is good for the broader market, it has temporarily hampered MarketAxess's results, sending its revenue down 1% during the second quarter of 2023.

This has helped cause the company's share price to plunge nearly 46% from its 52-week highs as United States bond traders have less need to trade in and out of bonds in today's quiet environment.

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Source Fool.com