Value investing has created more billionaires than any other strategy, like Warren Buffett, who built his fortune by purchasing wonderful businesses at reasonable prices. But these hidden gems are few and far between - many stocks that appear cheap often stay that way because they face structural issues.

Separating the winners from the value traps is a tough challenge, and that’s where StockStory comes in. Our job is to find you high-quality companies that will stand the test of time. Keeping that in mind, here is one value stock offering a compelling risk-reward profile and two with little support.

Two Value Stocks to Sell:

The ONE Group (STKS)

Forward P/E Ratio: 5.7x

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 Does STKS Fall Short?

1. Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand
2. Earnings per share have contracted by 19.2% annually over the last five years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
3. High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens

The ONE Group is trading at $2.38 per share, or 5.7x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including STKS in your portfolio.

Toll Brothers (TOL)

Forward P/E Ratio: 9.8x

Started by two brothers who started by building and selling just one home in Pennsylvania, today Toll Brothers (NYSE: TOL) is a luxury homebuilder across the United States.

Why Does TOL Worry Us?

1. Sales pipeline suggests its future revenue growth won’t meet our standards as its backlog averaged 6.3% declines over the past two years
2. Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term
3. 6.5 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position

At $134.95 per share, Toll Brothers trades at 9.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with TOL, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

One Value Stock to Buy:

First Solar (FSLR)

Forward P/E Ratio: 11.9x

Headquartered in Arizona, First Solar (NASDAQ: FSLR) specializes in manufacturing solar panels and providing photovoltaic solar energy solutions.

Why Do We Love FSLR?

1. Annual revenue growth of 26.4% over the past two years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle
2. Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were extremely profitable, as its annual earnings per share growth of 71.6% outpaced its revenue gains
3. Free cash flow profile has moved into positive territory over the last five years, showing the company has crossed a key inflection point

First Solar’s stock price of $267.35 implies a valuation ratio of 11.9x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

Stocks We Like Even More

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today

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