Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on. But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.

Luckily for you, our mission at StockStory is to help you make money and avoid losses by sorting the winners from the losers. That said, here is one small-cap stock that could be the next big thing and two best left ignored.

Two Small-Cap Stocks to Sell:

LeMaitre (LMAT)

Market Cap: $1.83 billion

Founded in 1983 and named after a pioneering vascular surgeon, LeMaitre Vascular (NASDAQGM:LMAT) develops and manufactures specialized medical devices used by vascular surgeons to treat peripheral vascular disease and other circulatory conditions.

Why Is LMAT Not Exciting?

1. Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $226.3 million, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals
2. 8.9 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

LeMaitre is trading at $80.39 per share, or 35x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including LMAT in your portfolio.

TriCo Bancshares (TCBK)

Market Cap: $1.30 billion

Founded in 1975 and headquartered in Chico, California, TriCo Bancshares (NASDAQ: TCBK) operates Tri Counties Bank, providing personal, small business, and commercial banking services through branches across California.

Why Are We Wary of TCBK?

1. Muted 6.1% annual net interest income growth over the last four years shows its demand lagged behind its bank peers
2. Net interest margin dropped by 25.7 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, implying the company’s spreads fell as competitors entered the market
3. Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last two years, showing each sale was less profitable

TriCo Bancshares’s stock price of $39.51 implies a valuation ratio of 1x forward P/B. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why TCBK doesn’t pass our bar.

One Small-Cap Stock to Watch:

Barrett (BBSI)

Market Cap: $1.06 billion

Operating as a professional employer organization (PEO) that serves over 8,000 companies with more than 120,000 worksite employees, Barrett Business Services (NASDAQ: BBSI) provides management solutions that help small and mid-sized businesses handle human resources, payroll, workers' compensation, and other administrative functions.

Why Does BBSI Stand Out?

1. Operating margin improvement of 1.1 percentage points over the last five years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently
2. ROIC punches in at 57.3%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments, and its rising returns show it’s making even more lucrative bets
3. Returns on capital are growing as management capitalizes on its market opportunities

At $41 per share, Barrett trades at 18.2x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.

While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we’re homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver’s seat and build a durable portfolio by checking 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-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