The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition.
Even among blue-chip stocks, not all investments are created equal - which is why we built StockStory to help you navigate the market. That said, here are two S&P 500 stocks positioned to outperform and one that could be in trouble.
One Stock to Sell:
Intercontinental Exchange (ICE)
Market Cap: $84.96 billion
Starting as an energy trading platform in 2000 before acquiring the iconic New York Stock Exchange in 2013, Intercontinental Exchange (NYSE: ICE) operates global financial exchanges, clearing houses, and provides data services and mortgage technology solutions to financial institutions and corporations.
Why Are We Hesitant About ICE?
- Annual earnings per share growth of 9.3% underperformed its revenue over the last five years, showing its incremental sales were less profitable
Intercontinental Exchange’s stock price of $148.90 implies a valuation ratio of 20.6x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ICE doesn’t pass our bar.
Two Stocks to Watch:
CrowdStrike (CRWD)
Market Cap: $135.5 billion
Known for detecting the massive SolarWinds hack in 2020 that compromised numerous government agencies, CrowdStrike (NASDAQ: CRWD) provides cloud-based cybersecurity solutions that protect endpoints, cloud workloads, identity, and data through its Falcon platform.
Why Will CRWD Beat the Market?
- Winning new contracts that can potentially increase in value as its billings growth has averaged 25% over the last year
- Sales outlook for the upcoming 12 months implies the business will stay on its desirable two-year growth trajectory
- Well-designed software integrates seamlessly with other workflows, enabling swift payback periods on marketing expenses and customer growth at scale
CrowdStrike is trading at $541.20 per share, or 25.6x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free for active Edge members .
Ulta (ULTA)
Market Cap: $23.22 billion
Offering high-end prestige brands as well as lower-priced, mass-market ones, Ulta Beauty (NASDAQ: ULTA) is an American retailer that sells makeup, skincare, haircare, and fragrance products.
Why Could ULTA Be a Winner?
- Offensive push to build new stores and attack its untapped market opportunities is backed by its same-store sales growth
- Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends
- ROIC punches in at 32.1%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments
At $517.60 per share, Ulta trades at 20.2x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
Fresh US-China trade tensions just tanked stocks—but strong bank earnings are fueling a sharp rebound. Don’t miss the bounce.
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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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