3 of Wall Street’s Favorite Stocks That Fall Short
Wall Street has set ambitious price targets for the stocks in this article. While this suggests attractive upside potential, it’s important to remain skeptical because analysts face institutional pressures that can sometimes lead to overly optimistic forecasts.
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 three stocks where Wall Street may be overlooking some important risks and some alternatives with better fundamentals.
Consensus Price Target: $36.38 (53.3% implied return)
Started in 2001, Five9 (NASDAQ: FIVN) offers software-as-a-service that makes it easier for companies to set up and efficiently run call centers to offer more tailored customer support.
Why Does FIVN Give Us Pause?
16.5% annual revenue growth over the last three years was slower than its software peers
Estimated sales growth of 8.1% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend
Sky-high servicing costs result in an inferior gross margin of 55.3% that must be offset through increased usage
Five9’s stock price of $23.73 implies a valuation ratio of 1.8x forward price-to-sales. If you’re considering FIVN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Consensus Price Target: $180.70 (30.1% implied return)
Headquartered in Milwaukee, Regal Rexnord (NYSE:RRX) provides power transmission and industrial automation products.
Why Are We Cautious About RRX?
Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term
Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging
Regal Rexnord is trading at $138.90 per share, or 12.8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why RRX doesn’t pass our bar.
Consensus Price Target: $49 (22.8% implied return)
Founded during the post-World War II economic boom when businesses needed temporary workers, ManpowerGroup (NYSE:MAN) connects millions of people to employment opportunities through its global network of staffing, recruitment, and workforce management services.
Why Do We Pass on MAN?
Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last five years, showing each sale was less profitable
Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
At $39.90 per share, ManpowerGroup trades at 11.5x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MAN in your portfolio, it’s free.
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