3 of Wall Street's Favorite Stocks That Fall Short
Unlike the investment banks, we created StockStory to provide independent analysis that helps you determine which companies are truly worth following. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks where Wall Street may be overlooking some important risks and some alternatives with better fundamentals.
Jamf (JAMF)
Consensus Price Target: $17.45 (112% implied return)
Founded in 2002 by Zach Halmstad and Chip Pearson, right around the time when Apple began to dominate the personal computing market, Jamf (NASDAQ:JAMF) provides software for companies to manage Apple devices such as Macs, iPads, and iPhones.
Why Do We Think Twice About JAMF?
Revenue increased by 17.7% annually over the last three years, acceptable on an absolute basis but tepid for a software company enjoying secular tailwinds
Average billings growth of 8.9% over the last year was subpar, suggesting it struggled to push its software and might have to lower prices to stimulate demand
Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses
Jamf is trading at $8.22 per share, or 1.6x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including JAMF in your portfolio, it's free.
Moderna (MRNA)
Consensus Price Target: $47.59 (47.1% implied return)
Rising to global prominence during the COVID-19 pandemic with one of the first effective vaccines, Moderna (NASDAQ:MRNA) develops messenger RNA (mRNA) medicines that direct the body's cells to produce proteins with therapeutic or preventive benefits for various diseases.
Why Do We Steer Clear of MRNA?
Historically negative EPS is a worrisome sign for conservative investors and obscures its long-term earnings potential
Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 309.9 percentage points
Limited cash reserves may force the company to seek unfavorable financing terms that could dilute shareholders
Moderna's stock price of $32.36 implies a valuation ratio of 6x forward price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MRNA doesn't pass our bar.
Kemper (KMPR)
Consensus Price Target: $82.20 (37% implied return)
Originally known as Unitrin until rebranding in 2011, Kemper (NYSE:KMPR) is an insurance holding company that provides automobile, homeowners, life, and other insurance products to individuals and businesses across the United States.
Why Do We Pass on KMPR?
Net premiums earned tumbled by 2.4% annually over the last four years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
Performance over the past five years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 2.8% annually, worse than its revenue
Policy losses and capital returns have eroded its book value per share this cycle as its book value per share declined by 4.5% annually over the last five years
At $60 per share, Kemper trades at 1.3x forward P/B. If you're considering KMPR for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2024, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that's already erased most losses.
Don't let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 6 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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SS&C Technologies to Acquire Calastone
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Calastone's more than 250 staffers in London, Luxembourg, Hong Kong, Taipei, Singapore, New York and Sydney are expected to join SS&C Global Investor & Distribution Solutions, reporting to General Manager Nick Wright. 'We're excited to welcome Julien, the Calastone team and their valued clients to SS&C,' said Bill Stone, Chairman and CEO of SS&C Technologies. 'Together, we will create a more connected, automated, and intelligent global fund ecosystem — reducing complexity, enhancing client experience, and shaping the future of distribution and investment operations.' The acquisition of Calastone reinforces SS&C's commitment to transforming investment operations and bolsters SS&C's ongoing geographic expansion. Calastone's global network and technology solutions complement SS&C's leadership in fund administration, transfer agency services, AI and intelligent automation. 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Fernando Chueca, Managing Director on the Carlyle Europe Technology Partners investment advisory team, said: 'We are pleased to have supported Calastone through such a transformational period of growth for the business. Its well-established technology network represents a differentiated, automated offering and we believe the business is well-positioned to build upon its market position and business momentum. We are confident that SS&C is the right partner to continue Calastone's success, and we look forward to watching the company thrive in its next phase.' SS&C was advised by Davis Polk & Wardwell LLP. Barclays served as exclusive financial advisor to Calastone and Linklaters and Mishcon De Reya served as legal advisors to Calastone in connection with the transaction. About Calastone Calastone is the largest global funds network, connecting the world's leading financial organisations. 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About Carlyle Carlyle (NASDAQ: CG) is a global investment firm with deep industry expertise that deploys private capital across three business segments: Global Private Equity, Global Credit, and Carlyle AlpInvest. With $453 billion of assets under management as of March 31, 2025, Carlyle's purpose is to invest wisely and create value on behalf of its investors, portfolio companies, and the communities in which we live and invest. Carlyle employs more than 2,300 people in 29 offices across four continents. Further information is available at Follow Carlyle on X @OneCarlyle and LinkedIn at The Carlyle Group. Additional information about SS&C (Nasdaq:SSNC) is available at Follow SS&C on X, LinkedIn and Facebook.
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Q1 Earnings Outperformers: CarGurus (NASDAQ:CARG) And The Rest Of The Online Marketplace Stocks
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CarGurus (NASDAQ:CARG) 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. CarGurus reported revenues of $225.2 million, up 4.3% year on year. This print was in line with analysts' expectations, and overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts' expectations. "Our strong momentum in our Marketplace business continued into 2025, which grew 13% year-over-year,' said Jason Trevisan, Chief Executive Officer at CarGurus. Interestingly, the stock is up 18.6% since reporting and currently trades at $33.16. Is now the time to buy CarGurus? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it's free. 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Weakest Q1: The RealReal (NASDAQ:REAL) Founded by consignment store aficionado Julie Wainwright, The RealReal (NASDAQ: REAL) is an online marketplace for buying and selling secondhand luxury goods. The RealReal reported revenues of $160 million, up 11.3% year on year, in line with analysts' expectations. It was a slower quarter as it posted full-year EBITDA guidance missing analysts' expectations significantly and EBITDA guidance for next quarter missing analysts' expectations significantly. The RealReal delivered the weakest full-year guidance update in the group. The company reported 985,000 users, up 157% year on year. As expected, the stock is down 20% since the results and currently trades at $5.84. Read our full analysis of The RealReal's results here. (NYSE:CARS) Originally started as a joint venture between several media companies including The Washington Post and The New York Times, (NYSE:CARS) is a digital marketplace that connects new and used car buyers and sellers. reported revenues of $179 million, flat year on year. This print came in 0.6% below analysts' expectations. Aside from that, it was a mixed quarter as it also produced a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates but disappointing growth in its buyers. The company reported 19,250 active buyers, down 0.7% year on year. The stock is up 13.7% since reporting and currently trades at $12.87. Read our full, actionable report on here, it's free. Sea (NYSE:SE) Founded in 2009 and a publicly traded company since 2017, Sea (NYSE:SE) started as a gaming platform and has since expanded to offer a variety of services such as e-commerce, digital payments, and financial services across Southeast Asia. Sea reported revenues of $4.84 billion, up 27.8% year on year. This result missed analysts' expectations by 1.2%. Taking a step back, it was still a strong quarter as it recorded a solid beat of analysts' EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts' number of paying users estimates. The company reported 64.6 million users, up 32.1% year on year. The stock is up 18.3% since reporting and currently trades at $168.76. Read our full, actionable report on Sea here, it's free. Market Update In response to the Fed's rate hikes in 2022 and 2023, inflation has been gradually trending down from its post-pandemic peak, trending closer to the Fed's 2% target. Despite higher borrowing costs, the economy has avoided flashing recessionary signals. This is the much-desired soft landing that many investors hoped for. The recent rate cuts (0.5% in September and 0.25% in November 2024) have bolstered the stock market, making 2024 a strong year for equities. Donald Trump's presidential win in November sparked additional market gains, sending indices to record highs in the days following his victory. However, debates continue over possible tariffs and corporate tax adjustments, raising questions about economic stability in 2025. Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here. Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
