The stocks featured in this article have all approached their 52-week highs. When these price levels hit, it typically signals strong business execution, positive market sentiment, or significant industry tailwinds.
However, not all companies with momentum are long-term winners, and many investors have lost money by following short-term trends. All that said, here are three overhyped stocks that may correct and some you should consider instead.
Laureate Education (LAUR)
One-Month Return: +18.7%
Founded in 1998 by Douglas L. Becker and based in Miami, Laureate Education (NASDAQ: LAUR) is a global network of higher education institutions.
Why Does LAUR Fall Short?
- Number of enrolled students has disappointed over the past two years, indicating weak demand for its offerings
- Earnings per share fell by 2.9% annually over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were much less profitable
- Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively
Laureate Education’s stock price of $27.34 implies a valuation ratio of 15.9x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with LAUR, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Goldman Sachs (GS)
One-Month Return: +3.6%
Founded in 1869 as a small commercial paper business in New York City, Goldman Sachs (NYSE: GS) is a global financial institution that provides investment banking, securities, asset management, and consumer banking services to corporations, governments, and individuals.
Why Are We Hesitant About GS?
- Sizable revenue base leads to growth challenges as its 6.9% annual revenue increases over the last five years fell short of other financials companies
Goldman Sachs is trading at $750 per share, or 15.7x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including GS in your portfolio.
Essent Group (ESNT)
One-Month Return: +13.4%
Serving as a crucial bridge between homebuyers and the American dream of homeownership, Essent Group (NYSE: ESNT) provides private mortgage insurance and title services that enable lenders to offer home loans with down payments of less than 20%.
Why Is ESNT Not Exciting?
- Growth in insurance policies was lackluster over the last five years as its 3.6% annual growth underperformed the typical financial institution
- Expenses have increased as a percentage of revenue over the last two years as its pre-tax profit margin fell by 12.5 percentage points
- Incremental sales over the last two years were less profitable as its 4.9% annual earnings per share growth lagged its revenue gains
At $63.61 per share, Essent Group trades at 1.1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than ESNT.
Stocks We Like More
Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.
The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out our Top 5 Strong Momentum 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 Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.
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