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3 of Wall Street’s Favorite Stocks with Open Questions

BYND Cover Image

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’s estimates seem disconnected from reality and some better opportunities to consider.

Beyond Meat (BYND)

Consensus Price Target: $1.61 (30.4% implied return)

A pioneer at the forefront of the plant-based protein revolution, Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) is a food company specializing in alternatives to traditional meat products.

Why Are We Out on BYND?

  1. Shrinking unit sales over the past two years show it’s struggled to move its products and had to rely on price increases
  2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 16.7 percentage points over the last year, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
  3. Depletion of cash reserves could lead to a fundraising event that triggers shareholder dilution

Beyond Meat is trading at $1.24 per share, or 0.4x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BYND doesn’t pass our bar.

Byrna (BYRN)

Consensus Price Target: $39.70 (117% implied return)

Providing civilians with tools to disable, disarm, and deter would-be assailants, Byrna (NASDAQ: BYRN) is a provider of non-lethal weapons.

Why Is BYRN Not Exciting?

  1. Persistent operating margin losses suggest the business manages its expenses poorly
  2. Cash burn makes us question whether it can achieve sustainable long-term growth
  3. Unfavorable liquidity position could lead to additional equity financing that dilutes shareholders

Byrna’s stock price of $18.31 implies a valuation ratio of 19.9x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including BYRN in your portfolio.

MillerKnoll (MLKN)

Consensus Price Target: $35 (123% implied return)

Created through the 2021 merger of industry icons Herman Miller and Knoll, MillerKnoll (NASDAQ: MLKN) designs, manufactures, and distributes interior furnishings for offices, healthcare facilities, educational settings, and homes worldwide.

Why Do We Steer Clear of MLKN?

  1. Annual sales declines of 2.1% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
  2. Anticipated sales growth of 1.2% for the next year implies demand will be shaky
  3. Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 7.2% annually

At $15.69 per share, MillerKnoll trades at 8.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with MLKN, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

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 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.

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