Each stock in this article is trading near its 52-week high. These elevated prices usually indicate some degree of investor confidence, business improvements, or favorable market conditions.

However, not all companies with momentum are long-term winners, and many investors have lost money by following short-term trends. On that note, here is one stock we think lives up to the hype and two not so much.

Two Stocks to Sell:

CSX (CSX)

One-Month Return: +2.3%

Established as part of the Chessie System and Seaboard Coast Line Industries merger, CSX (NASDAQ: CSX) is a transportation company specializing in freight rail services.

Why Should You Sell CSX?

1. Underwhelming unit sales over the past two years suggest it might have to lower prices to accelerate growth
2. Sales were less profitable over the last two years as its earnings per share fell by 6.5% annually, worse than its revenue declines
3. 18.9 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

CSX is trading at $36.15 per share, or 19.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CSX.

SS&C (SSNC)

One-Month Return: +2.2%

Founded in 1986 as a bridge between technology and financial services, SS&C Technologies (NASDAQ: SSNC) provides software and software-enabled services that help financial firms and healthcare organizations automate complex business processes.

Why Does SSNC Fall Short?

1. Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last five years as its adjusted operating margin fell by 1.3 percentage points
2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 4.1 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities

SS&C’s stock price of $87.66 implies a valuation ratio of 13.3x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with SSNC, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).

One Stock to Watch:

Acuity Brands (AYI)

One-Month Return: +3.1%

One of the pioneers of smart lights, Acuity (NYSE: AYI) designs and manufactures light fixtures and building management systems used in various industries.

Why Could AYI Be a Winner?

1. Offerings are mission-critical for businesses and result in a top-tier gross margin of 44.5%
2. Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 16.9% exceeded its revenue gains over the last five years
3. Stellar returns on capital showcase management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures

At $374.78 per share, Acuity Brands trades at 18.5x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.

Stocks We Like Even More

The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% 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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