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.

Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. That said, here are three S&P 500 stocks to steer clear of and a few alternatives to consider.

Marriott (MAR)

Market Cap: $77.14 billion

Founded by J. Willard Marriott in 1927, Marriott International (NASDAQ: MAR) is a global hospitality company with a portfolio of over 7,000 properties and 30 brands, spanning 130+ countries and territories.

Why Does MAR Worry Us?

1. Revenue per room has disappointed over the past two years due to weaker trends in its daily rates and occupancy levels
2. Estimated sales growth of 4% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
3. Lacking free cash flow generation means it has few chances to reinvest for growth, repurchase shares, or distribute capital

Marriott’s stock price of $281.64 implies a valuation ratio of 27.3x forward P/E. If you’re considering MAR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

IDEX (IEX)

Market Cap: $13.71 billion

Founded in 1988, IDEX (NYSE: IEX) is a global manufacturer specializing in highly engineered products such as pumps, flow meters, and fluidics systems for various industries.

Why Do We Avoid IEX?

1. Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 5.4 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

IDEX is trading at $181.47 per share, or 21.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than IEX.

Viatris (VTRS)

Market Cap: $10.7 billion

Created through the 2020 merger of Mylan and Pfizer's Upjohn division, Viatris (NASDAQ: VTRS) is a healthcare company that develops, manufactures, and distributes branded and generic medicines across more than 165 countries worldwide.

Why Do We Pass on VTRS?

1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 4.8% annually over the last two years
2. Earnings per share fell by 11.2% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, partly because it diluted shareholders
3. Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

At $9.19 per share, Viatris trades at 4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with VTRS, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Stocks We Like More

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 6 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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