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2 Growth Stocks Set to Flourishand 1 We Ignore


Adam Hejl /
2026/02/16 11:32 pm EST

Growth is oxygen. But when it evaporates, the consequences can be severe - ask anyone who bought Cisco in the Dot-Com Bubble or newer investors who lived through the 2020 to 2022 COVID cycle.

Luckily for you, our job at StockStory is to help you avoid short-term fads by pointing you toward high-quality businesses that can generate sustainable long-term growth. That said, here are two growth stocks where the best is yet to come and one that could be down big.

One Growth Stock to Sell:

KeyCorp (KEY)

One-Year Revenue Growth: +16.4%

Tracing its roots back to 1849 during the California Gold Rush era, KeyCorp (NYSE:KEY) operates KeyBank, a full-service regional bank providing retail and commercial banking, wealth management, and investment services across 15 states.

Why Are We Cautious About KEY?

  1. Annual net interest income growth of 2.9% over the last five years was below our standards for the banking sector
  2. Net interest margin of 2.4% reflects its high servicing and capital costs
  3. Products and services are facing profitability challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat tangible book value per share over the last five years

At $21.58 per share, KeyCorp trades at 1.3x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why KEY doesn’t pass our bar.

Two Growth Stocks to Buy:

Monolithic Power Systems (MPWR)

One-Year Revenue Growth: +26.4%

Founded in 1997 by its longtime CEO Michael Hsing, Monolithic Power Systems (NASDAQ:MPWR) is an analog and mixed signal chipmaker that specializes in power management chips meant to minimize total energy consumption.

Why Are We Backing MPWR?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 27% over the last five years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
  2. Free cash flow margin grew by 8 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more chips to play with
  3. ROIC punches in at 43.5%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments

Monolithic Power Systems’s stock price of $1,171 implies a valuation ratio of 54.5x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Evercore (EVR)

One-Year Revenue Growth: +29.4%

Founded in 1995 as a boutique advisory firm focused on independence and client trust, Evercore (NYSE:EVR) is an independent investment banking firm that provides strategic advisory, capital markets, and wealth management services to corporations, financial sponsors, and high-net-worth individuals.

Why Is EVR a Top Pick?

  1. Market share has increased this cycle as its 25.9% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional
  2. Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 50.2% over the last two years outstripped its revenue performance
  3. Industry-leading 32.9% return on equity demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments

Evercore is trading at $322.28 per share, or 17.3x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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.