While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success. Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".
Profits are valuable, but they’re not everything. At StockStory, we help you identify the companies that have real staying power. That said, here is one profitable company that generates reliable profits without sacrificing growth and two that may struggle to keep up.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Mayville Engineering (MEC)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5.8%
Originally founded solely on tool and die manufacturing, Mayville Engineering Company (NYSE: MEC) specializes in metal fabrication, tube bending, and welding to be used in various industries.
Why Are We Cautious About MEC?
- Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 2% annually over the last two years
- Competitive supply chain dynamics and steep production costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 12.8%
- Earnings per share have contracted by 43.3% annually over the last two years, a headwind for returns as stock prices often echo long-term EPS performance
Mayville Engineering is trading at $14.87 per share, or 15.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering MEC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Waters Corporation (WAT)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 27.7%
Founded in 1958 and pioneering innovations in laboratory analysis for over six decades, Waters (NYSE: WAT) develops and manufactures analytical instruments, software, and consumables for liquid chromatography, mass spectrometry, and thermal analysis used in scientific research and quality testing.
Why Do We Think Twice About WAT?
- Sales were flat over the last two years, indicating it’s failed to expand this cycle
- Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
- Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging
Waters Corporation’s stock price of $306.38 implies a valuation ratio of 22.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than WAT.
One Stock to Buy:
Merck (MRK)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 30%
With roots dating back to 1891 and a portfolio that includes the blockbuster cancer immunotherapy Keytruda, Merck (NYSE: MRK) develops and sells prescription medicines, vaccines, and animal health products across oncology, infectious diseases, cardiovascular, and other therapeutic areas.
Why Are We Bullish on MRK?
- Unparalleled scale of $63.62 billion in revenue gives it negotiating leverage and staying power in an industry with high barriers to entry
- Adjusted operating profits increased over the last two years as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient
- Free cash flow margin jumped by 10.7 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends
At $84.80 per share, Merck trades at 9.2x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.
Take advantage of the rebound by checking out 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 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
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