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3 Russell 2000 Stocks Walking a Fine Line

By: StockStory

July 17, 2026 at 00:31 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.

MEC Cover Image

The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is packed with potential breakout stocks, thanks to its focus on smaller companies with high growth potential. However, smaller size also means these businesses often lack the resilience and financial flexibility of large-cap firms, making careful selection crucial.

The high-risk, high-reward nature of the Russell 2000 makes stock selection critical, and we’re here to guide you toward the right ones. That said, here are three Russell 2000 stocks to steer clear of and some alternatives to watch instead.

Mayville Engineering (MEC)

Market Cap: $849.7 million

Originally founded solely on tool and die manufacturing, Mayville Engineering Company (NYSE: MEC) specializes in metal fabrication, tube bending, and welding to be used in various industries.

Why Does MEC Give Us Pause?

Sales tumbled by 4.3% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against it during this cycle
Earnings per share have dipped by 42.7% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 5× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens

Mayville Engineering’s stock price of $32.49 implies a valuation ratio of 62.6x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with MEC, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Sphere Entertainment (SPHR)

Market Cap: $4.96 billion

Famous for its viral Las Vegas Sphere venue, Sphere Entertainment (NYSE: SPHR) hosts live entertainment events and distributes content across various media platforms.

Why Do We Avoid SPHR?

Muted 18.7% annual revenue growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its consumer discretionary peers
Projected 11.6 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin next year reflects the company’s plans to increase its investments to defend its market position
EBITDA losses may force it to accept punitive lending terms or high-cost debt

At $139.10 per share, Sphere Entertainment trades at 17x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why SPHR doesn’t pass our bar.

Origin Bancorp (OBK)

Market Cap: $1.64 billion

Founded in 1912 during the early boom days of Louisiana banking, Origin Bancorp (NYSE: OBK) is a financial holding company that provides personalized banking services to businesses, municipalities, and individuals across Texas, Louisiana, and Mississippi.

Why Are We Wary of OBK?

Sales trends were unexciting over the last five years as its 8.2% annual growth was below the typical banking company
Annual earnings per share growth of 6.8% underperformed its revenue over the last five years, showing its incremental sales were less profitable
Capital generation will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid tangible book value per share growth of 9%

Origin Bancorp is trading at $53.18 per share, or 1.2x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including OBK in your portfolio.

Stocks We Like More

ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren’t just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meet near-term momentum — both boxes checked at the same time.

Find out which stocks our AI platform is flagging this week. See this week’s Strong Momentum stocks — FREE. Get Our Strong Momentum Stocks for Free HERE.

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Exlservice (+271% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.

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