The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on. However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.

Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. Keeping that in mind, here is one Russell 2000 stock that could deliver strong gains and two that may struggle to keep up.

Two Stocks to Sell:

CarGurus (CARG)

Market Cap: $3.20 billion

Bringing transparency to a sometimes opaque process, CarGurus (NASDAQ: CARG) is a digital marketplace where auto dealers can connect with potential customers and where car buyers can browse, purchase, and obtain financing.

Why Does CARG Fall Short?

1. Annual revenue declines of 15.1% over the last three years indicate problems with its market positioning
2. Modest 1.7% annual growth in paying dealers over the last two years indicates potential challenges in customer acquisition and retention
3. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 3.3%

At $32.20 per share, CarGurus trades at 10.3x forward EV/EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CARG.

Enovis (ENOV)

Market Cap: $1.69 billion

With a focus on helping patients regain or maintain their natural motion, Enovis (NYSE: ENOV) develops and manufactures medical devices for orthopedic care, from injury prevention and pain management to joint replacement and rehabilitation.

Why Is ENOV Risky?

1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 7.1% annually over the last five years
2. Negative returns on capital show management lost money while trying to expand the business, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
3. Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions

Enovis is trading at $29.50 per share, or 9.5x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with ENOV, check out our full research report (it’s free).

One Stock to Buy:

Coastal Financial (CCB)

Market Cap: $1.58 billion

Pioneering the intersection of traditional banking and financial technology in the Pacific Northwest, Coastal Financial (NASDAQ: CCB) operates as a bank holding company that provides traditional banking services and Banking-as-a-Service (BaaS) solutions to consumers and businesses.

Why Will CCB Beat the Market?

1. Annual net interest income growth of 43.2% over the past five years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle
2. Productivity and efficiency ratio profits are expected to increase next year as some fixed cost leverage kicks in
3. Earnings growth has trumped its peers over the last five years as its EPS has compounded at 24% annually

Coastal Financial’s stock price of $105 implies a valuation ratio of 3.2x forward P/B. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 5 Strong Momentum 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 Exlservice (+354% 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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