Growth is a hallmark of all great companies, but the laws of gravity eventually take hold. Those who rode the COVID boom and ensuing tech selloff in 2022 will surely remember that the market’s punishment can be swift and severe when trajectories fall.
The risks that can come from buying these assets 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 growth stocks climbing an uphill battle and some other opportunities you should consider instead.
Workiva (WK)
One-Year Revenue Growth: +19.9%
Nicknamed "the Excel killer" by some finance professionals for its ability to eliminate spreadsheet chaos, Workiva (NYSE:WK) provides a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to streamline financial reporting, ESG, and compliance processes with connected data and automation.
Why Are We Hesitant About WK?
- Operating profits and efficiency rose over the last year as it benefited from some fixed cost leverage
- Free cash flow margin is forecasted to shrink by 3.1 percentage points in the coming year, suggesting the company will consume more capital to keep up with its competitors
At $85.72 per share, Workiva trades at 5.1x forward price-to-sales. If you’re considering WK for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Advanced Energy (AEIS)
One-Year Revenue Growth: +17.2%
Pioneering technologies for radio frequency power delivery, Advanced Energy (NASDAQ:AEIS) provides power supplies, thermal management systems, and measurement and control instruments for various manufacturing processes.
Why Do We Avoid AEIS?
- Flat sales over the last two years suggest it must find different ways to grow during this cycle
- Efficiency has decreased over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 3.1 percentage points
- Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability
Advanced Energy’s stock price of $259 implies a valuation ratio of 35.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than AEIS.
StoneX (SNEX)
One-Year Revenue Growth: +32.6%
Originally known as INTL FCStone until its 2020 rebranding, StoneX Group (NASDAQ:SNEX) provides a global financial services network connecting companies, traders, and investors to markets through clearing, execution, and advisory services.
Why Does SNEX Fall Short?
- Incremental sales over the last five years were less profitable as its 1.7% annual earnings per share growth lagged its revenue gains
- Scale is a double-edged sword because it limits the firm’s capital growth potential compared to its smaller competitors, as reflected in its below-average annual tangible book value per share increases of 6.5% for the last two years
- Elevated debt-to-equity ratio of 7.5× suggests the firm is overleveraged and may struggle to secure additional financing
StoneX is trading at $108.40 per share, or 1.9x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why SNEX doesn’t pass our bar.
Stocks We Like More
Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in 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 Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.