A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner. Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
Cash flow is valuable, but it’s not everything - StockStory helps you identify the companies that truly put it to work. That said, here are three cash-producing companies to avoid and some better opportunities instead.
Himax (HIMX)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 16.1%
Taiwan-based Himax Technologies (NASDAQ:HIMX) is a leading manufacturer of display driver chips and timing controllers used in TVs, laptops, and mobile phones.
Why Should You Sell HIMX?
- Annual sales declines of 6% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
- Sales are projected to tank by 4.4% over the next 12 months as its demand continues evaporating
- Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 22.9 percentage points
Himax’s stock price of $8.69 implies a valuation ratio of 55.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HIMX.
YETI (YETI)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 14.4%
Founded by two brothers from Texas, YETI (NYSE:YETI) specializes in durable outdoor goods including coolers, drinkware, and other gear tailored to adventure enthusiasts.
Why Do We Think YETI Will Underperform?
- 12.7% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its consumer discretionary peers
- Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin is anticipated to drop by 13.5 percentage points over the next year
- Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
At $49.42 per share, YETI trades at 18.5x forward P/E. If you’re considering YETI for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
TD SYNNEX (SNX)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 2.2%
Serving as the crucial middleman in the technology supply chain, TD SYNNEX (NYSE:SNX) is a global technology distributor that connects thousands of IT manufacturers with resellers, helping businesses access hardware, software, and technology solutions.
Why Are We Cautious About SNX?
- Annual sales growth of 4.2% over the last two years lagged behind its business services peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
- Incremental sales over the last five years were less profitable as its earnings per share were flat while its revenue grew
- Ability to fund investments or reward shareholders with increased buybacks or dividends is restricted by its weak free cash flow margin of 1.6% for the last five years
TD SYNNEX is trading at $155.80 per share, or 10.3x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with SNX, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Stocks We Like More
Your portfolio can’t afford to be based on yesterday’s story. The risk in a handful of heavily crowded stocks is rising daily.
The names generating the next wave of massive growth are right here in our Top 5 Strong Momentum Stocks for this week. 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.