Many small-cap stocks have limited Wall Street coverage, giving savvy investors the chance to act before everyone else catches on. But the flip side is that these businesses have increased downside risk because they lack the scale and staying power of their larger competitors.
The downside that can come from buying these securities is precisely why we started StockStory - to isolate the long-term winners from the losers so you can invest with confidence. Keeping that in mind, here is one small-cap stock that could be the next big thing and two that may have trouble.
Two Small-Cap Stocks to Sell:
The Cheesecake Factory (CAKE)
Market Cap: $3.09 billion
Celebrated for its delicious (and free) brown bread, gigantic portions, and delectable desserts, Cheesecake Factory (NASDAQ: CAKE) is an iconic American restaurant chain that also owns and operates a portfolio of separate restaurant brands.
Why Are We Cautious About CAKE?
- Poor same-store sales performance over the past two years indicates it’s having trouble bringing new diners into its restaurants
- Poor expense management has led to an operating margin of 4.5% that is below the industry average
- 6× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings
The Cheesecake Factory’s stock price of $62.06 implies a valuation ratio of 15.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CAKE, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Fastly (FSLY)
Market Cap: $1.14 billion
Taking its name from the core advantage it delivers to customers, Fastly (NYSE: FSLY) operates an edge cloud platform that processes, secures, and delivers web content as close to end users as possible, enabling faster digital experiences.
Why Should You Sell FSLY?
- Sales trends were unexciting over the last three years as its 13.6% annual growth was below the typical software company
- Sky-high servicing costs result in an inferior gross margin of 53.9% that must be offset through increased usage
- Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses
At $7.55 per share, Fastly trades at 1.8x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including FSLY in your portfolio.
One Small-Cap Stock to Watch:
United Parks & Resorts (PRKS)
Market Cap: $2.84 billion
Parent company of SeaWorld and home of the world-famous Shamu, United Parks & Resorts (NYSE: PRKS) is a theme park chain featuring marine life, live entertainment, roller coasters, and waterparks.
Why Are We Fans of PRKS?
- Healthy operating margin of 26.5% shows it’s a well-run company with efficient processes
- Share repurchases over the last five years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 39.7% to outpace its revenue gains
- Returns on capital are growing as management capitalizes on its market opportunities
United Parks & Resorts is trading at $51.56 per share, or 10.5x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
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 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
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