While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success. Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".

Profits are valuable, but they’re not everything. At StockStory, we help you identify the companies that have real staying power. Keeping that in mind, here are three profitable companies to avoid and some better opportunities instead.

Harley-Davidson (HOG)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 11.9%

Founded in 1903, Harley-Davidson (NYSE: HOG) is an American motorcycle manufacturer known for its heavyweight motorcycles designed for cruising on highways.

Why Do We Steer Clear of HOG?

1. Demand for its offerings was relatively low as its number of motorcycles sold has underwhelmed
2. Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
3. High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens

Harley-Davidson is trading at $21.63 per share, or 15.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with HOG, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

Allient (ALNT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 7.6%

Founded in 1962, Allient (NASDAQ: ALNT) develops and manufactures precision and specialty-controlled motion components and systems.

Why Does ALNT Give Us Pause?

1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 3.2% annually over the last two years
2. Issuance of new shares over the last two years caused its earnings per share to fall by 5.7% annually, even worse than its revenue declines
3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities, and its shrinking returns suggest its past profit sources are losing steam

At $55.52 per share, Allient trades at 23.2x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ALNT in your portfolio.

IBM (IBM)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 17.1%

With a corporate history spanning over a century and once known for its iconic mainframe computers, IBM (NYSE: IBM) provides hybrid cloud computing platforms, AI solutions, consulting services, and enterprise infrastructure to help businesses modernize their operations.

Why Are We Cautious About IBM?

1. Annual sales growth of 1.3% over the last five years lagged behind its business services peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
2. Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last five years as its EPS grew by just 4.2% annually

IBM’s stock price of $308.63 implies a valuation ratio of 25.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering IBM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Stocks We Like More

If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.

Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. 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 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

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