Growth is oxygen. But when it evaporates, the consequences can be extreme - ask anyone who bought Cisco in the Dot-Com Bubble (Nvidia?) 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 is one growth stock with significant upside potential and two that could be down big.
Two Growth Stocks to Sell:
The ONE Group (STKS)
One-Year Revenue Growth: +139%
Doubling as a hospitality services provider for hotels and resorts, The One Group Hospitality (NASDAQ: STKS) is an upscale restaurant company that operates STK Steakhouse and Kona Grill.
Why Is STKS Risky?
- Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new restaurants
- Earnings per share have dipped by 17.6% annually over the past five years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
- 7× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio shows it’s overleveraged and increases the probability of shareholder dilution if things turn unexpectedly
The ONE Group is trading at $4.35 per share, or 1.3x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than STKS.
LifeStance Health Group (LFST)
One-Year Revenue Growth: +16.3%
With over 6,600 licensed mental health professionals treating more than 880,000 patients annually, LifeStance Health (NASDAQ: LFST) provides outpatient mental health services through a network of clinicians offering psychiatric evaluations, psychological testing, and therapy across 33 states.
Why Are We Hesitant About LFST?
- Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $1.28 billion, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals
- Cash-burning history makes us doubt the long-term viability of its business model
- Negative returns on capital show that some of its growth strategies have backfired
At $5.79 per share, LifeStance Health Group trades at 76.2x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why LFST doesn’t pass our bar.
One Growth Stock to Watch:
Pinterest (PINS)
One-Year Revenue Growth: +17.8%
Created with the idea of virtually replacing paper catalogues, Pinterest (NYSE: PINS) is an online image and social discovery platform.
Why Are We Fans of PINS?
- Monthly Active Users have grown by 10.4% annually, allowing for more profitable cross-selling opportunities if it can build complementary products and features
- Healthy EBITDA margin of 27% shows it’s a well-run company with efficient processes
- PINS is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
Pinterest’s stock price of $32.35 implies a valuation ratio of 17.8x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.
While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we’re homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver’s seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out 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 176% over the last five years.
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
