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".
A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here is one profitable company that balances growth and profitability and two that may struggle to keep up.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Entegris (ENTG)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 15.5%
With fabs representing the company’s largest customer type, Entegris (NASDAQ:ENTG) supplies products that purify, protect, and generally ensure the integrity of raw materials needed for advanced semiconductor manufacturing.
Why Do We Pass on ENTG?
- Annual sales declines of 6.1% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
- Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 2.6%
- Lacking free cash flow margin got worse over the last five years as its investment needs accelerated
Entegris’s stock price of $90.20 implies a valuation ratio of 31.6x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with ENTG, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
Mister Car Wash (MCW)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 18.3%
Formerly known as Hotshine Holdings, Mister Car Wash (NYSE:MCW) offers car washes across the United States through its conveyorized service.
Why Should You Sell MCW?
- Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new locations
- Rising returns on capital show management is making relatively better investments
- 5× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio shows it’s overleveraged and increases the probability of shareholder dilution if things turn unexpectedly
Mister Car Wash is trading at $5.45 per share, or 11.1x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MCW doesn’t pass our bar.
One Stock to Watch:
Lazard (LAZ)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 11.9%
Tracing its roots back to 1848 when it began as a dry goods merchant in New Orleans, Lazard (NYSE:LAZ) is a global financial advisory and asset management firm that provides strategic advice to corporations, governments, institutions, and wealthy individuals.
Why Does LAZ Stand Out?
- ROE punches in at 29%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments
At $50.50 per share, Lazard trades at 14.7x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
Stocks We Like Even More
If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.
Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today
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