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 are three small-cap stocks to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

Surgery Partners (SGRY)

Market Cap: $2.75 billion

With more than 180 locations across 33 states serving as alternatives to traditional hospital settings, Surgery Partners (NASDAQ: SGRY) operates a national network of outpatient surgical facilities including ambulatory surgery centers and short-stay surgical hospitals.

Why Does SGRY Worry Us?

1. Disappointing unit sales over the past two years show it’s struggled to increase its sales volumes and had to rely on price increases
2. Ability to fund investments or reward shareholders with increased buybacks or dividends is restricted by its weak free cash flow margin of 4.3% for the last five years
3. High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 6× could force the company to raise capital at unfavorable terms if market conditions deteriorate

Surgery Partners is trading at $21.60 per share, or 22.7x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why SGRY doesn’t pass our bar.

TriCo Bancshares (TCBK)

Market Cap: $1.47 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 Cautious About TCBK?

1. Muted 5.7% annual net interest income growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its banking peers
2. Net interest margin dropped by 28.7 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, implying the firm’s loan book profitability 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 $45.09 implies a valuation ratio of 1.1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than TCBK.

S&T Bancorp (STBA)

Market Cap: $1.48 billion

Tracing its roots back to 1902 in western Pennsylvania's industrial heartland, S&T Bancorp (NASDAQ: STBA) is a Pennsylvania-based bank holding company that provides retail and commercial banking services, cash management, trust services, and investment advisory solutions.

Why Do We Think Twice About STBA?

1. 3.9% annual net interest income growth over the last five years was slower than its banking peers
2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 5.1%
3. Net interest margin dropped by 35.7 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, implying the firm’s loan book profitability fell as competitors entered the market

At $38.56 per share, S&T Bancorp trades at 1x forward P/B. To fully understand why you should be careful with STBA, check out 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 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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