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2 of Wall Street’s Favorite Stocks to Consider Right Now and 1 Facing Challenges


Anthony Lee /
2026/02/16 11:32 pm EST

Wall Street is overwhelmingly bullish on the stocks in this article, with price targets suggesting significant upside potential. However, it’s worth remembering that analysts rarely issue sell ratings, partly because their firms often seek other business from the same companies they cover.

At StockStory, we look beyond the headlines with our independent analysis to determine whether these bullish calls are justified. Keeping that in mind, here are two stocks where Wall Street’s positive outlook is supported by strong fundamentals and one where consensus estimates seem disconnected from reality.

One Stock to Sell:

Mission Produce (AVO)

Consensus Price Target: $17.33 (23.7% implied return)

Founded in 1983 in California, Mission Produce (NASDAQ:AVO) grows, packages, and distributes avocados.

Why Do We Avoid AVO?

  1. Revenue base of $1.39 billion puts it at a disadvantage compared to larger competitors exhibiting economies of scale
  2. Forecasted revenue decline of 12.3% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall off a cliff
  3. Easily substituted products (and therefore stiff competition) result in an inferior gross margin of 11.9% that must be offset through higher volumes

Mission Produce is trading at $14.01 per share, or 19.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with AVO, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Two Stocks to Watch:

Guidewire Software (GWRE)

Consensus Price Target: $256.79 (102% implied return)

With its systems powering the operations of hundreds of insurance brands across 42 countries, Guidewire Software (NYSE:GWRE) provides a technology platform that helps property and casualty insurance companies manage their core operations, digital engagement, and analytics.

Why Could GWRE Be a Winner?

  1. Winning new contracts that can potentially increase in value as its billings growth has averaged 20.7% over the last year
  2. Fast payback periods on sales and marketing expenses allow the company to invest heavily and onboard many customers concurrently
  3. Free cash flow generation is better than most peers and allows it to explore new investment opportunities

At $127.25 per share, Guidewire Software trades at 7.5x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.

Broadridge (BR)

Consensus Price Target: $245.88 (41.6% implied return)

Processing over $10 trillion in equity and fixed income trades daily and managing proxy voting for over 800 million equity positions, Broadridge Financial Solutions (NYSE:BR) provides technology-driven solutions that power investing, governance, and communications for banks, broker-dealers, asset managers, and public companies.

Why Do We Like BR?

  1. Offerings and unique value proposition resonate with customers, as seen in its above-market 8.9% annual sales growth over the last five years
  2. Free cash flow margin increased by 11.2 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more capital to invest or return to shareholders
  3. Returns on capital are growing as management capitalizes on its market opportunities

Broadridge’s stock price of $173.70 implies a valuation ratio of 17.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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.