Small-cap stocks in the Russell 2000 (^RUT) can be a goldmine for investors looking beyond the usual large-cap names. But with less stability and fewer resources than their bigger counterparts, these companies face steeper challenges in scaling their businesses.
Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. That said, here is one Russell 2000 stock that could be a breakout winner and two that may struggle to keep up.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Cracker Barrel (CBRL)
Market Cap: $1.35 billion
Known for its country-themed food and merchandise, Cracker Barrel (NASDAQ: CBRL) is a beloved American restaurant and retail chain that celebrates the warmth and charm of Southern hospitality.
Why Are We Out on CBRL?
- Disappointing same-store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its menu offerings and dining experience
- Demand will likely fall over the next 12 months as Wall Street expects flat revenue
- 5× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio shows it’s overleveraged and increases the probability of shareholder dilution if things turn unexpectedly
Cracker Barrel is trading at $60.72 per share, or 21.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why CBRL doesn’t pass our bar.
Enpro (NPO)
Market Cap: $4.78 billion
Holding a Guinness World Record for creating the world's largest gasket, Enpro (NYSE: NPO) designs, manufactures, and sells products used for machinery in various industries.
Why Is NPO Not Exciting?
- Products and services are facing end-market challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat sales over the last five years
- Flat earnings per share over the last two years underperformed the sector average
- Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively
Enpro’s stock price of $226.89 implies a valuation ratio of 28.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with NPO, check out our full research report (it’s free).
One Stock to Buy:
Pathward Financial (CASH)
Market Cap: $1.73 billion
Formerly known as Meta Financial until its 2022 rebranding, Pathward Financial (NASDAQ: CASH) provides banking-as-a-service solutions and commercial finance products, enabling partners to offer financial services like prepaid cards, payment processing, and lending options.
Why Will CASH Beat the Market?
- Impressive 13.7% annual net interest income growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Differentiated product suite leads to a Strong performance of its loan book is reflected in its High-yielding loan book and low cost of funds result in a best-in-class net interest margin of 6.6%
- Performance over the past two years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
At $75.41 per share, Pathward Financial trades at 2.1x forward P/B. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even 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 6 Stocks for this week. 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-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% 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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