A survey of the magnetohydrodynamic (MHD) stability properties of three-dimensional (3-D) MHD configurations representing the Wendelstein 7–X (W7–X) stellarator experiment [ G. Grieger et al., Plasma Physics and Controlled Nuclear Fusion Research, 1990 (International Atomic Energy Agency, Vienna, 1991), Vol. 3, p. 525] was performed with the Code for the Analysis for the Stability of 3-D Equilibria (CAS3D) [C. Schwab, Phys. Fluids B 5, 3195 (1993)] . This study confirms and elaborates previous indications on the structural characteristics of global MHD modes in stellarators. In particular these characteristics pertain to the compressibility of these modes, the equivalence of the decoupled stability problems for the modes with different parities, and the separability of global from fine-scale perturbations within the same mode family. As to the W7–X stellarator experiment, the envisaged configurational class—providing the intended experimental flexibility—appears to offer scenarios of safely stable operation.