Value investing has produced some of the world’s most famous investing billionaires, including Warren Buffett, David Einhorn, and Seth Klarman, who built their fortunes by purchasing wonderful businesses at reasonable prices. But these hidden gems are few and far between - many stocks that appear cheap often stay that way because they face structural issues.

Separating the winners from the value traps is a tough challenge, and that’s where StockStory comes in. Our job is to find you high-quality companies that will stand the test of time. Keeping that in mind, here are three value stocks climbing an uphill battle and some other investments you should look into instead.

Asana (ASAN)

Forward P/S Ratio: 2x

Born from the founders' frustration with the inefficiencies of email-based collaboration at Facebook, Asana (NYSE: ASAN) provides a work management platform that helps organizations track projects, set goals, and manage workflows in a centralized digital workspace.

Why Do We Steer Clear of ASAN?

1. Average billings growth of 9.3% over the last year was subpar, suggesting it struggled to push its software and might have to lower prices to stimulate demand
2. Customers have churned over the last year due to the commoditized nature of its software, as reflected in its 95.7% net revenue retention rate
3. Prolonged sales cycles signal certain parts of its software must be customized for its large enterprise clients, impeding customer growth

At $7.33 per share, Asana trades at 2x forward price-to-sales. If you’re considering ASAN for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Adtalem (ATGE)

Forward P/E Ratio: 11.9x

Formerly known as DeVry Education Group, Adtalem Global Education (NYSE: ATGE) is a global provider of workforce solutions and educational services.

Why Do We Pass on ATGE?

1. 13.9% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its consumer discretionary peers
2. Projected 2.1 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin next year reflects the company’s plans to increase its investments to defend its market position
3. ROIC of 10.6% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities

Adtalem is trading at $98.54 per share, or 11.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ATGE in your portfolio.

Insperity (NSP)

Forward P/E Ratio: 10.2x

Pioneering the professional employer organization (PEO) industry it helped establish, Insperity (NYSE: NSP) provides human resources outsourcing services to small and medium-sized businesses, handling payroll, benefits, compliance, and HR administration.

Why Do We Think NSP Will Underperform?

1. 2.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years was slower than its business services peers
2. Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 26% annually
3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 9.1 percentage points

Insperity’s stock price of $20.71 implies a valuation ratio of 10.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with NSP, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Stocks We Like More

ONE MORE THING: Top 6 Stocks for This Week. This market is separating quality stocks from expensive ones fast. AI taking down whole sectors with no warning. In a rotation this fast, you need more than a list of good companies.

Our AI system flagged Palantir before it ran 1,662%. AppLovin before it ran 753%. Nvidia before it ran 1,178%. Each week it produces 6 new names that pass the same tests. Get Our Top 6 Stocks for Free HERE.

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.