While strong cash flow is a key indicator of stability, it doesn’t always translate to superior returns. Some cash-heavy businesses struggle with inefficient spending, slowing demand, or weak competitive positioning.
Not all companies are created equal, and StockStory is here to surface the ones with real upside. Keeping that in mind, here are two cash-producing companies that leverage their financial strength to beat the competition and one that may face some trouble.
One Stock to Sell:
Hewlett Packard Enterprise (HPE)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 1.7%
Born from the 2015 split of the iconic Silicon Valley pioneer Hewlett-Packard, Hewlett Packard Enterprise (NYSE: HPE) provides edge-to-cloud technology solutions that help businesses capture, analyze, and act upon their data across hybrid IT environments.
Why Are We Wary of HPE?
- Large revenue base makes it harder to increase sales quickly, and its annual revenue growth of 4.2% over the last five years was below our standards for the business services sector
- Earnings per share fell by 7.5% annually over the last two years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
- Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities
Hewlett Packard Enterprise’s stock price of $21.75 implies a valuation ratio of 9.8x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why HPE doesn’t pass our bar.
Two Stocks to Watch:
LegalZoom (LZ)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 21.4%
Founded by famous lawyer Robert Shapiro, LegalZoom (NASDAQ: LZ) offers online legal services and documentation assistance for individuals and businesses.
Why Could LZ Be a Winner?
- Has the opportunity to boost monetization through new features and premium offerings as its subscription units have grown by 12.1% annually over the last two years
- Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 109% exceeded its revenue gains over the last three years
- Free cash flow margin expanded by 17.1 percentage points over the last few years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
LegalZoom is trading at $9.19 per share, or 9.1x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
Coca-Cola (KO)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 11.7%
A pioneer and behemoth in carbonated soft drinks, Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) is a storied beverage company best known for its flagship soda.
Why Do We Like KO?
- Customer loyalty and massive revenue base of $47.79 billion makes it a household name that influences purchasing decisions
- Products command premium prices and result in a best-in-class gross margin of 61.1%
- Excellent operating margin of 25.7% highlights the efficiency of its business model, and it turbocharged its profits by achieving some fixed cost leverage
At $72.75 per share, Coca-Cola trades at 22.9x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free for active Edge members.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.
Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check 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 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 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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