The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on. However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.

Picking the right small caps isn’t easy, and that’s exactly why StockStory exists - to help you focus on the best opportunities. That said, here are three Russell 2000 stocks to steer clear of and some alternatives to watch instead.

Energizer (ENR)

Market Cap: $1.90 billion

Masterminds behind the viral Energizer Bunny mascot, Energizer (NYSE: ENR) is one of the world's largest manufacturers of batteries.

Why Are We Wary of ENR?

1. Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
2. Projected sales growth of 3.7% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish demand
3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 3.9 percentage points

At $28.34 per share, Energizer trades at 8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than ENR.

GMS (GMS)

Market Cap: $4.16 billion

Founded in 1971, GMS (NYSE: GMS) distributes specialty building materials including wallboard, ceilings, and insulation products, to the construction industry.

Why Does GMS Give Us Pause?

1. Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
2. Sales are projected to remain flat over the next 12 months as demand decelerates from its two-year trend
3. Falling earnings per share over the last two years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term

GMS is trading at $109.42 per share, or 17.8x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including GMS in your portfolio.

AAR (AIR)

Market Cap: $2.67 billion

The first third-party MRO approved by the FAA for Safety Management System Requirements, AAR (NYSE: AIR) is a provider of aircraft maintenance services

Why Are We Hesitant About AIR?

1. Annual revenue growth of 6.1% over the last five years was below our standards for the industrials sector
2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 5.6 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
3. ROIC of 7% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

AAR’s stock price of $75.38 implies a valuation ratio of 16.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering AIR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Stocks We Like More

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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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