The expansion of the ℓ = 2 stellarator magnetohydrostatic equilibrium around its circular magnetic axis is reconsidered. All parameters occurring up to third order in the distance from the magnetic axis are kept finite. Equilibrium and stability plasma β estimates are calculated in connection with a discussion of stagnation points occurring in the third-order flux surfaces. Results for the case without toroidal current are: irrespective of the five parameters describing this type of stellarator, there are universal bounds for the β estimates of 0.66% and 0.22% for the necessary and the sufficient stability criterion, respectively.