1 Small-Cap Stock Worth Your Attention and 2 to Be Wary Of

July 04, 2025 at 00:32 AM EDT

PVH Cover Image

Small-cap stocks can be incredibly lucrative investments because their lack of analyst coverage leads to frequent mispricings. However, these businesses (and their stock prices) often stay small because their subscale operations make it harder to expand their competitive moats.

The downside that can come from buying these securities is precisely why we started StockStory - to isolate the long-term winners from the losers so you can invest with confidence. That said, here is one small-cap stock that could amplify your portfolio’s returns and two that may have trouble.

Two Small-Cap Stocks to Sell:

PVH (PVH)

Market Cap: $3.48 billion

Founded in 1881 by a husband and wife duo, PVH (NYSE: PVH) is a global fashion conglomerate with iconic brands like Calvin Klein and Tommy Hilfiger.

Why Should You Sell PVH?

Underwhelming constant currency revenue performance over the past two years suggests its product offering at current prices doesn’t resonate with customers
Anticipated sales growth of 1.8% for the next year implies demand will be shaky
Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively

At $72.44 per share, PVH trades at 5.5x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PVH in your portfolio.

Horace Mann Educators (HMN)

Market Cap: $1.74 billion

Founded in 1945 and named after the 19th-century education reformer known as the "father of American public education," Horace Mann Educators (NYSE: HMN) is an insurance company that specializes in providing auto, property, life, and retirement products tailored for educators and other public service employees.

Why Are We Hesitant About HMN?

6.1% annual net premiums earned growth over the last four years was slower than its insurance peers
Policy losses and capital returns have eroded its book value per share this cycle as its book value per share declined by 1.7% annually over the last five years
Underwhelming 6.3% return on equity reflects management’s difficulties in finding profitable growth opportunities

Horace Mann Educators is trading at $42.60 per share, or 1.2x forward P/B. If you’re considering HMN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Small-Cap Stock to Buy:

Pathward Financial (CASH)

Market Cap: $1.95 billion

Formerly known as Meta Financial until its 2022 rebranding, Pathward Financial (NASDAQ: CASH) provides banking-as-a-service solutions and commercial finance products, enabling partners to offer financial services like prepaid cards, payment processing, and lending options.

Why Is CASH a Good Business?

Impressive 15.1% annual net interest income growth over the last four years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
Differentiated product suite is reflected in its Strong performance of its loan book is reflected in its High-yielding loan book and low cost of funds lead to a best-in-class net interest margin of 6.4%
Share repurchases over the last two years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 24.5% to outpace its revenue gains

Pathward Financial’s stock price of $82.73 implies a valuation ratio of 2.2x forward P/B. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself 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 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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

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