Wall Street has issued downbeat forecasts for the stocks in this article. These predictions are rare - financial institutions typically hesitate to say bad things about a company because it can jeopardize their other revenue-generating business lines like M&A advisory.
At StockStory, we look beyond the headlines with our independent analysis to determine whether these bearish calls are justified. Keeping that in mind, here is one stock where Wall Street’s pessimism is creating a buying opportunity and two facing legitimate challenges.
Two Stocks to Sell:
The ONE Group (STKS)
Consensus Price Target: $5.50 (16% implied return)
Doubling as a hospitality services provider for hotels and resorts, The One Group Hospitality (NASDAQ: STKS) is an upscale restaurant company that operates STK Steakhouse and Kona Grill.
Why Do We Pass on STKS?
- Weak same-store sales trends over the past two years suggest there may be few opportunities in its core markets to open new restaurants
- Falling earnings per share over the last five years has some investors worried as stock prices ultimately follow EPS over the long term
- 7× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings
At $4.74 per share, The ONE Group trades at 1.4x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than STKS.
Hilton (HLT)
Consensus Price Target: $250.20 (-6.4% implied return)
Founded in 1919, Hilton Worldwide (NYSE: HLT) is a global hospitality company with a portfolio of hotel brands.
Why Are We Cautious About HLT?
- Annual sales growth of 9.9% over the last two years lagged behind its consumer discretionary peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
- Weak revenue per room over the past two years indicates challenges in maintaining pricing power and occupancy rates
- Estimated sales growth of 6.8% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
Hilton’s stock price of $267.20 implies a valuation ratio of 33.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with HLT, check out our full research report (it’s free).
One Stock to Buy:
O'Reilly (ORLY)
Consensus Price Target: $97.25 (6% implied return)
Serving both the DIY customer and professional mechanic, O’Reilly Automotive (NASDAQ: ORLY) is an auto parts and accessories retailer that sells everything from fuel pumps to car air fresheners to mufflers.
Why Should You Buy ORLY?
- Comparable store sales rose by 4.5% on average over the past two years, demonstrating its ability to drive increased spending at existing locations
- Unique assortment of products and pricing power result in a best-in-class gross margin of 51.3%
- Strong free cash flow margin of 12% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently
O'Reilly is trading at $91.75 per share, or 30.5x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth.
While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we’re leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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
