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".

Not all profitable companies are created equal, and that’s why we built StockStory - to help you find the ones that truly shine bright. Keeping that in mind, here is one profitable company that leverages its financial strength to beat the competition and two that may face some trouble.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Brunswick (BC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5.1%

Formerly known as Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Brunswick (NYSE: BC) is a designer and manufacturer of recreational marine products, including boats, engines, and marine parts.

Why Do We Avoid BC?

1. Annual sales declines of 13.8% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market
2. Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin is anticipated to drop by 2.8 percentage points over the next year
3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

At $46.70 per share, Brunswick trades at 10.7x forward price-to-earnings. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than BC.

LeMaitre (LMAT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 23.8%

Founded in 1983 and named after a pioneering vascular surgeon, LeMaitre Vascular (NASDAQGM:LMAT) develops and manufactures specialized medical devices used by vascular surgeons to treat peripheral vascular disease and other circulatory conditions.

Why Does LMAT Give Us Pause?

1. Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $219.9 million, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals
2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 7.7 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive

LeMaitre is trading at $91.57 per share, or 42.3x forward price-to-earnings. If you’re considering LMAT for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Stock to Buy:

Copart (CPRT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 36.2%

Starting as a single salvage yard in California in 1982, Copart (NASDAQ: CPRT) operates an online auction platform that connects sellers of damaged and salvage vehicles with buyers ranging from dismantlers and rebuilders to used car dealers and exporters.

Why Will CPRT Outperform?

1. Annual revenue growth of 15.2% over the past five years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle
2. Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 18.3% over the last five years outstripped its revenue performance
3. Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends, and its growing cash flow gives it even more resources to deploy

Copart’s stock price of $60.50 implies a valuation ratio of 36.8x forward price-to-earnings. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.

While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like 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 175% over the last five years.

Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Comfort Systems (+751% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.