The stocks in this article are all trading near their 52-week highs. This strength often reflects positive developments such as new product launches, favorable industry trends, or improved financial performance.
But not every company with momentum is a long-term winner, and plenty of investors have lost money betting on short-term fads. Keeping that in mind, here is one stock with lasting competitive advantages and two best left ignored.
Two Industrials Stocks to Sell:
MYR Group (MYRG)
One-Month Return: +21.1%
Constructing electrical and phone lines in the American Midwest dating back to the 1890s, MYR Group (NASDAQ:MYRG) is a specialty contractor in the electrical construction industry.
Why Does MYRG Fall Short?
- Backlog failed to grow over the past two years, suggesting the company may need to tweak its product roadmap and go-to-market strategy
- Gross margin of 10.8% reflects its high production costs
- Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging
At $269.29 per share, MYR Group trades at 29.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering MYRG for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Nordson (NDSN)
One-Month Return: +11.3%
Founded in 1954, Nordson Corporation (NASDAQ:NDSN) manufactures dispensing equipment and industrial adhesives, sealants and coatings.
Why Does NDSN Worry Us?
- Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
- Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 2% annually
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
Nordson is trading at $290.62 per share, or 25x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NDSN.
One Industrials Stock to Buy:
Mueller Water Products (MWA)
One-Month Return: +14.8%
As one of the oldest companies in the water infrastructure industry, Mueller (NYSE:MWA) is a provider of water infrastructure products and flow control systems for various sectors.
Why Should You Buy MWA?
- Core business can prosper without any help from acquisitions as its organic revenue growth averaged 9.2% over the past two years
- Operating profits increased over the last five years as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient
- Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 45.2% over the last two years outstripped its revenue performance
Mueller Water Products’s stock price of $28.98 implies a valuation ratio of 19x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
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 6 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.