3 Russell 2000 Stocks We Think Twice About

August 11, 2025 at 00:36 AM EDT

VSCO Cover Image

Small-cap stocks in the Russell 2000 (^RUT) can be a goldmine for investors looking beyond the usual large-cap names. But with less stability and fewer resources than their bigger counterparts, these companies face steeper challenges in scaling their businesses.

Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. That said, here are three Russell 2000 stocks to avoid and better alternatives to consider.

Victoria's Secret (VSCO)

Market Cap: $1.69 billion

Spun off from L Brands in 2020, Victoria’s Secret (NYSE: VSCO) is an intimate clothing and beauty retailer that sells its own brands of lingerie, undergarments, and personal fragrances.

Why Do We Pass on VSCO?

Disappointing same-store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its product selection and store experience
Responsiveness to unforeseen market trends is restricted due to its substandard operating margin profitability
Earnings per share have contracted by 25.8% annually over the last three years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance

At $21.16 per share, Victoria's Secret trades at 9.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than VSCO.

Insteel (IIIN)

Market Cap: $696.2 million

Growing from a small wire manufacturer to one of the largest in the U.S., Insteel (NYSE: IIIN) provides steel wire reinforcing products for concrete.

Why Does IIIN Worry Us?

Annual sales declines of 7% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
Performance over the past two years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 19.5% annually, worse than its revenue
Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam

Insteel is trading at $35.87 per share, or 13.8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why IIIN doesn’t pass our bar.

Tri Pointe Homes (TPH)

Market Cap: $2.89 billion

Established in 2009 in California, Tri Pointe Homes (NYSE: TPH) is a United States homebuilder recognized for its innovative and sustainable approach to creating premium, life-enhancing homes.

Why Do We Steer Clear of TPH?

Product roadmap and go-to-market strategy need to be reconsidered as its backlog has averaged 7.6% declines over the past two years
Forecasted revenue decline of 18.5% for the upcoming 12 months implies demand will fall even further
Performance over the past two years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 8.1% annually, worse than its revenue

Tri Pointe Homes’s stock price of $33.43 implies a valuation ratio of 11.7x forward P/E. If you’re considering TPH for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at 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-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

StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.

About Us

Additional Information

Website & Technical Help

3 Russell 2000 Stocks We Think Twice About

Victoria's Secret (VSCO)

Insteel (IIIN)

Tri Pointe Homes (TPH)

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

More News