ETFOptimize | High-performance ETF-based Investment Strategies

Quantitative strategies, Wall Street-caliber research, and insightful market analysis since 1998.


ETFOptimize | HOME
Close Window

1 Mid-Cap Stock with Competitive Advantages and 2 We Brush Off

DPZ Cover Image

Mid-cap stocks often strike the right balance between having proven business models and market opportunities that can support $100 billion corporations. However, they face intense competition from scaled industry giants and can be disrupted by new innovative players vying for a slice of the pie.

Luckily for you, our mission at StockStory is to help you make money and avoid losses by sorting the winners from the losers. Keeping that in mind, here is one mid-cap stock with a long growth runway and two that may have trouble.

Two Mid-Cap Stocks to Sell:

Domino's (DPZ)

Market Cap: $14.65 billion

Founded by two brothers in Michigan, Domino’s (NYSE: DPZ) is a globally recognized pizza chain known for its creative marketing and fast delivery.

Why Are We Cautious About DPZ?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 5.3% over the last six years was below our standards for the restaurant sector
  2. Estimated sales growth of 5.4% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand

Domino’s stock price of $431.59 implies a valuation ratio of 22.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why DPZ doesn’t pass our bar.

International Paper (IP)

Market Cap: $20.62 billion

Established in 1898, International Paper (NYSE: IP) produces containerboard, pulp, paper, and materials used in packaging and printing applications.

Why Do We Pass on IP?

  1. Large revenue base makes it harder to increase sales quickly, and its annual revenue growth of 2.4% over the last five years was below our standards for the industrials sector
  2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 11.5 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
  3. Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned

International Paper is trading at $38.98 per share, or 22x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including IP in your portfolio.

One Mid-Cap Stock to Watch:

Jack Henry (JKHY)

Market Cap: $13.55 billion

Founded in 1976 by two entrepreneurs who saw the need for specialized banking software in the early days of financial computing, Jack Henry & Associates (NASDAQ: JKHY) provides technology solutions that help banks and credit unions innovate, differentiate, and compete while serving the evolving needs of their accountholders.

Why Is JKHY Interesting?

  1. Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 15.3% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue
  2. Market-beating return on equity illustrates that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures

At $187.26 per share, Jack Henry trades at 29.2x 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.

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 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

Recent Quotes

View More
Symbol Price Change (%)
AMZN  227.35
+0.59 (0.26%)
AAPL  273.67
+1.48 (0.54%)
AMD  213.43
+12.37 (6.15%)
BAC  55.27
+1.01 (1.86%)
GOOG  308.61
+4.86 (1.60%)
META  658.77
-5.68 (-0.85%)
MSFT  485.92
+1.94 (0.40%)
NVDA  180.99
+6.85 (3.93%)
ORCL  191.97
+11.94 (6.63%)
TSLA  481.20
-2.17 (-0.45%)
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.


 

IntelligentValue Home
Close Window

DISCLAIMER

All content herein is issued solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor should it be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, hold or sell (short or otherwise) any security.  All opinions, analyses, and information included herein are based on sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, is made including but not limited to any representation or warranty concerning accuracy, completeness, correctness, timeliness or appropriateness. We undertake no obligation to update such opinions, analysis or information. You should independently verify all information contained on this website. Some information is based on analysis of past performance or hypothetical performance results, which have inherent limitations. We make no representation that any particular equity or strategy will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. Shareholders, employees, writers, contractors, and affiliates associated with ETFOptimize.com may have ownership positions in the securities that are mentioned. If you are not sure if ETFs, algorithmic investing, or a particular investment is right for you, you are urged to consult with a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Neither this website nor anyone associated with producing its content are Registered Investment Advisors, and no attempt is made herein to substitute for personalized, professional investment advice. Neither ETFOptimize.com, Global Alpha Investments, Inc., nor its employees, service providers, associates, or affiliates are responsible for any investment losses you may incur as a result of using the information provided herein. Remember that past investment returns may not be indicative of future returns.

Copyright © 1998-2017 ETFOptimize.com, a publication of Optimized Investments, Inc. All rights reserved.