While the S&P 500 (^GSPC) includes industry leaders, not every stock in the index is a winner. Some companies are past their prime, weighed down by poor execution, weak financials, or structural headwinds.

Even among blue-chip stocks, not all investments are created equal - which is why we built StockStory to help you navigate the market. Keeping that in mind, here are three S&P 500 stocks that don’t make the cut and some better choices instead.

Palo Alto Networks (PANW)

Market Cap: $114.2 billion

Founded in 2005 by cybersecurity engineer Nir Zuk, Palo Alto Networks (NASDAQ: PANW) makes hardware and software cybersecurity products that protect companies from cyberattacks, breaches, and malware threats.

Why Are We Hesitant About PANW?

1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last three years as its 19.7% annual growth was below the typical software company
2. Average billings growth of 3% over the last year was subpar, suggesting it struggled to push its software and might have to lower prices to stimulate demand

Palo Alto Networks is trading at $171.56 per share, or 12x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PANW.

Align Technology (ALGN)

Market Cap: $9.99 billion

Pioneering an alternative to traditional metal braces with nearly invisible plastic aligners, Align Technology (NASDAQ: ALGN) designs and manufactures Invisalign clear aligners, iTero intraoral scanners, and dental CAD/CAM software for orthodontic and restorative treatments.

Why Does ALGN Fall Short?

1. Disappointing clear aligner shipments over the past two years indicate demand is soft and that the company may need to revise its strategy
2. Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 7.5 percentage points
3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

At $138.14 per share, Align Technology trades at 12.7x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ALGN in your portfolio.

Quest (DGX)

Market Cap: $19.28 billion

Processing approximately one-third of the adult U.S. population's lab tests annually, Quest Diagnostics (NYSE: DGX) provides laboratory testing and diagnostic information services to patients, physicians, hospitals, and other healthcare providers across the United States.

Why Do We Think Twice About DGX?

1. Annual sales growth of 5.3% over the last two years lagged behind its healthcare peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
2. Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last five years, causing its adjusted operating margin to decline by 11.1 percentage points
3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Quest’s stock price of $172.44 implies a valuation ratio of 17.1x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why DGX doesn’t pass our bar.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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 Strong Momentum 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.

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