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3 Overrated Stocks We Steer Clear Of


Anthony Lee /
2025/12/18 11:36 pm EST

Great things are happening to the stocks in this article. They’re all outperforming the market over the last month because of positive catalysts such as a new product line, constructive news flow, or even a loyal Reddit fanbase.

But not every company with momentum is a long-term winner, and plenty of investors have lost money betting on short-term fads. All that said, here are three overhyped stocks that may correct and some you should consider instead.

The Honest Company (HNST)

One-Month Return: +6.7%

Co-founded by actress Jessica Alba, The Honest Company (NASDAQ:HNST) sells diapers and wipes, skin care products, and household cleaning products.

Why Should You Sell HNST?

  1. Revenue base of $383.1 million puts it at a disadvantage compared to larger competitors exhibiting economies of scale
  2. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 13.2 percentage points
  3. Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction

The Honest Company’s stock price of $2.79 implies a valuation ratio of 23.6x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with HNST, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

Crocs (CROX)

One-Month Return: +12%

Founded in 2002, Crocs (NASDAQ:CROX) sells casual footwear and is known for its iconic clog shoe.

Why Do We Think CROX Will Underperform?

  1. Weak constant currency growth over the past two years indicates challenges in maintaining its market share
  2. Free cash flow margin is forecasted to grow by 1.9 percentage points in the coming year, potentially giving the company more chips to play with
  3. Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned

At $88.65 per share, Crocs trades at 7.7x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including CROX in your portfolio.

Azenta (AZTA)

One-Month Return: +15%

Serving as the guardian of some of medicine's most valuable materials, Azenta (NASDAQ:AZTA) provides biological sample management, storage, and genomic services that help pharmaceutical and biotechnology companies preserve and analyze critical research materials.

Why Should You Dump AZTA?

  1. Sales tumbled by 5.5% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
  2. Sales were less profitable over the last five years as its earnings per share fell by 18.8% annually, worse than its revenue declines
  3. Cash burn has widened over the last five years, making us question whether it can reliably generate shareholder value

Azenta is trading at $34.52 per share, or 44x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why AZTA doesn’t pass our bar.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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.