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3 Russell 2000 Stocks We Approach with Caution

By: StockStory

September 26, 2025 at 00:32 AM EDT

ⓘ This article is third-party content and does not represent the views of this site. We make no guarantees regarding its accuracy or completeness.

COUR Cover Image

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 avoid and better alternatives to consider.

Coursera (COUR)

Market Cap: $1.90 billion

Founded by two Stanford University computer science professors, Coursera (NYSE: COUR) is an online learning platform that offers courses, specializations, and degrees from top universities and organizations around the world.

Why Are We Cautious About COUR?

Focus on expanding its platform came at the expense of monetization as its average revenue per customer fell by 6.4% annually
Estimated sales growth of 5.6% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its three-year trend
Highly competitive market means it’s on the never-ending treadmill of sales and marketing spend

Coursera is trading at $11.69 per share, or 36.5x forward EV/EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why COUR doesn’t pass our bar.

Sunrun (RUN)

Market Cap: $3.90 billion

Helping homeowners use solar energy to power their homes, Sunrun (NASDAQ: RUN) provides residential solar electricity, specializing in panel installation and leasing services.

Why Are We Wary of RUN?

Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 6.2% annually over the last two years
Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned
Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders

Sunrun’s stock price of $16.96 implies a valuation ratio of 23.4x forward EV-to-EBITDA. To fully understand why you should be careful with RUN, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Ellington Financial (EFC)

Market Cap: $1.31 billion

Operating under the guidance of Ellington Management Group, a respected name in structured credit markets, Ellington Financial (NYSE: EFC) acquires and manages a diverse portfolio of mortgage-related, consumer-related, and other financial assets to generate returns for investors.

Why Is EFC Risky?

5% annual net interest income growth over the last five years was slower than its banking peers
Incremental sales over the last five years were less profitable as its earnings per share were flat while its revenue grew
Loan losses and capital returns have eroded its tangible book value per share this cycle as its tangible book value per share declined by 2.9% annually over the last five years

At $12.99 per share, Ellington Financial trades at 1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than EFC.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check 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

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

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AMZN	268.26	+3.20 (1.21%)
AAPL	280.14	+8.79 (3.24%)
AMD	360.54	+6.05 (1.71%)
BAC	53.24	-0.22 (-0.41%)
GOOG	383.22	+1.28 (0.34%)
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MSFT	414.44	+6.66 (1.63%)
NVDA	198.45	-1.12 (-0.56%)
ORCL	171.83	+10.44 (6.47%)
TSLA	390.82	+9.19 (2.41%)