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".
Not all profitable companies are created equal, and that’s why we built StockStory - to help you find the ones that truly shine bright. Keeping that in mind, here is one profitable company that balances growth and profitability and two that may struggle to keep up.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Saia (SAIA)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 12.2%
Pivoting its business model after realizing there was more success in delivering produce than selling it, Saia (NASDAQ: SAIA) is a provider of freight transportation solutions.
Why Does SAIA Fall Short?
- Performance over the past two years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 7.3% annually
- Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 9.6 percentage points
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
Saia is trading at $296 per share, or 28.5x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including SAIA in your portfolio.
John Bean (JBTM)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 2.9%
Tracing back to its invention of the mechanical milk bottle filler in 1884, John Bean (NYSE: JBT) designs, manufactures, and sells equipment used for food processing and aviation.
Why Are We Cautious About JBTM?
- Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
- Efficiency has decreased over the last five years as its operating margin fell by 6.1 percentage points
- ROIC of 6.8% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities
At $143.29 per share, John Bean trades at 21.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why JBTM doesn’t pass our bar.
One Stock to Watch:
Incyte (INCY)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 25.8%
Founded in 1991 and evolving from a genomics research firm to a commercial-stage drug developer, Incyte (NASDAQ: INCY) is a biopharmaceutical company that discovers, develops, and commercializes proprietary therapeutics for cancer and inflammatory diseases.
Why Are We Positive On INCY?
- Offerings and unique value proposition resonate with customers, as seen in its above-market 14.2% annual sales growth over the last two years
- Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 105% exceeded its revenue gains over the last five years
- Free cash flow margin jumped by 6.2 percentage points over the last five years, giving the company more resources to pursue growth initiatives, repurchase shares, or pay dividends
Incyte’s stock price of $85 implies a valuation ratio of 13.8x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, 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 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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 Exlservice (+354% 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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