Business services providers play a critical role for enterprises, assisting them with everything from new hardware integrations to consulting and marketing. But cutbacks in corporate spending and the threat of new AI products have kept sentiment in check, and over the past six months, the industry’s 3.7% return has trailed the S&P 500 by 4.3 percentage points.

The elite companies can churn out earnings growth under any circumstance, however, and our mission at StockStory is to help you find them. On that note, here is one resilient services stock at the top of our wish list and two we’re steering clear of.

Two Business Services Stocks to Sell:

Cogent (CCOI)

Market Cap: $1.82 billion

Operating a massive network spanning 20,000 miles of fiber optic cable and connecting to over 3,200 buildings worldwide, Cogent Communications (NASDAQ: CCOI) provides high-speed Internet access, private network services, and data center colocation to businesses and bandwidth-intensive organizations across 54 countries.

Why Does CCOI Fall Short?

1. 39.7 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position
2. Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam
3. Limited cash reserves may force the company to seek unfavorable financing terms that could dilute shareholders

Cogent’s stock price of $37.89 implies a valuation ratio of 5x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why CCOI doesn’t pass our bar.

Flex (FLEX)

Market Cap: $19.88 billion

Originally known as Flextronics until its 2016 rebranding, Flex (NASDAQ: FLEX) is a global manufacturing partner that designs, engineers, and builds products for companies across industries from medical devices to solar trackers.

Why Do We Think Twice About FLEX?

1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 4.2% annually over the last two years
2. Anticipated sales growth of 2.8% for the next year implies demand will be shaky
3. Lacking free cash flow generation means it has few chances to reinvest for growth, repurchase shares, or distribute capital

At $53.31 per share, Flex trades at 12.3x forward EV-to-EBITDA. If you’re considering FLEX for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Business Services Stock to Buy:

Huron (HURN)

Market Cap: $2.19 billion

Founded in 2002 during a time of significant regulatory change in corporate America, Huron Consulting Group (NASDAQ: HURN) is a professional services company that helps organizations develop growth strategies, optimize operations, and implement digital transformation solutions.

Why Will HURN Outperform?

1. Impressive 10.9% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
2. Adjusted operating margin improvement of 7.5 percentage points over the last five years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently
3. Share buybacks catapulted its annual earnings per share growth to 27.8%, which outperformed its revenue gains over the last two years

Huron is trading at $136.52 per share, or 17.7x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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