While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success. Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies — as Jeff Bezos said, “Your margin is my opportunity”.
Not all profitable companies are created equal, and that’s why we built StockStory - to help you find the ones that truly shine bright. That said, here are three profitable companies that don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.
Expedia (EXPE)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 16%
Originally founded as a part of Microsoft, Expedia (NASDAQ:EXPE) is one of the world’s leading online travel agencies.
Why Does EXPE Fall Short?
- Decision to emphasize platform growth over monetization has contributed to sluggish trends in its average revenue per booking
- Estimated sales growth of 6.4% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend
- Excessive marketing spend signals little organic demand and traction for its platform
At $259.21 per share, Expedia trades at 7x forward EV/EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including EXPE in your portfolio.
Pangaea (PANL)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 8.9%
Established in 1996, Pangaea Logistics (NASDAQ:PANL) specializes in global logistics and transportation services, focusing on the shipment of dry bulk cargoes.
Why Are We Wary of PANL?
- Competitive supply chain dynamics and steep production costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 19.8%
- Efficiency has decreased over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 4.9 percentage points
- Earnings per share have dipped by 23.4% annually over the past four years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
Pangaea’s stock price of $8.26 implies a valuation ratio of 9.2x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PANL.
Stanley Black & Decker (SWK)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 9.4%
With an iconic “STANLEY” logo which has remained virtually unchanged for over a century, Stanley Black & Decker (NYSE:SWK) is a manufacturer primarily catering to the tool and outdoor equipment industry.
Why Should You Sell SWK?
- Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
- Demand will likely be weak over the next 12 months as Wall Street expects flat revenue
- Earnings per share have dipped by 15.9% annually over the past five years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
Stanley Black & Decker is trading at $90.12 per share, or 15.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with SWK, check out our full research report (it’s free).
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Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+271% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.