Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here are three profitable companies to avoid and some better opportunities instead.

Jacobs Solutions (J)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 7.2%

With a workforce of approximately 45,000 professionals tackling complex challenges from water scarcity to cybersecurity, Jacobs Solutions (NYSE: J) provides engineering, consulting, and technical services focused on infrastructure, sustainability, and advanced technology solutions.

Why Do We Pass on J?

1. Annual sales declines of 2.5% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
2. Performance over the past five years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 4% annually, worse than its revenue
3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities

Jacobs Solutions is trading at $146.91 per share, or 21.9x forward P/E. If you’re considering J for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Hexcel (HXL)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 7.2%

Founded shortly after World War II by a group of engineers from UC Berkley, Hexcel (NYSE: HXL) manufactures lightweight composite materials primarily for the aerospace and defense sectors.

Why Do We Avoid HXL?

1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 1.8% annually over the last five years
2. Earnings per share have contracted by 5.6% annually over the last five years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 8.2 percentage points

At $63.96 per share, Hexcel trades at 28.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with HXL, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Accenture (ACN)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 15.4%

With a workforce of approximately 774,000 people serving clients in more than 120 countries, Accenture (NYSE: ACN) is a professional services firm that helps organizations transform their businesses through consulting, technology, operations, and digital services.

Why Are We Wary of ACN?

1. Scale is a double-edged sword because it limits the company’s growth potential compared to its smaller competitors, as reflected in its below-average annual revenue increases of 3.8% for the last two years
2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 4.1 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Accenture’s stock price of $256.57 implies a valuation ratio of 19.3x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ACN in your portfolio.

Stocks We Like More

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Take advantage of the rebound by checking 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 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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