Expensive stocks typically earn their valuations through superior growth rates that other companies simply can’t match. The flip side though is that these lofty expectations make them particularly susceptible to drawdowns when market sentiment shifts.
Determining whether a company’s quality justifies its price causes headaches for nearly all investors, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the real opportunities from the speculative ones. That said, here is one high-flying stock to hold for the long term and two with big downside risk.
Two High-Flying Stocks to Sell:
Marcus & Millichap (MMI)
Forward P/E Ratio: 43.2x
Founded in 1971, Marcus & Millichap (NYSE:MMI) specializes in commercial real estate investment sales, financing, research, and advisory services.
Why Do We Avoid MMI?
- Products and services have few die-hard fans as sales have declined by 1.5% annually over the last five years
- Free cash flow margin is forecasted to shrink by 7.3 percentage points in the coming year, suggesting the company will consume more capital to keep up with its competitors
- Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
Marcus & Millichap’s stock price of $28.04 implies a valuation ratio of 43.2x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MMI in your portfolio.
Strategy (MSTR)
Forward P/S Ratio: 104.8x
Once a traditional business intelligence software provider, Strategy (NASDAQ:MSTR) develops AI-powered enterprise analytics software while also functioning as a major corporate holder of Bitcoin cryptocurrency.
Why Do We Steer Clear of MSTR?
- MicroStrategy’s core analytics software has been eclipsed by its all-in Bitcoin strategy, leaving product innovation and enterprise deals starved for attention
- The company’s debt-financed Bitcoin buying ties shareholder fortunes to crypto swings and interest rates, amplifying downside risk and uncertainty
- On the bright side, its vast Bitcoin treasury gives Executive Chairman Michael Saylor a unique springboard to capture crypto upside and court investors seeking leveraged exposure to digital assets
Strategy is trading at $135.46 per share, or 104.8x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with MSTR, check out our full research report (it’s free).
One High-Flying Stock to Buy:
Palantir Technologies (PLTR)
Forward P/S Ratio: 50.6x
Named after the all-seeing stones in "Lord of the Rings," Palantir Technologies (NASDAQ:PLTR) develops software platforms that help government agencies and enterprises integrate, analyze, and operationalize their data for decision-making.
Why Do We Love PLTR?
- Billings growth has averaged 76.7% over the last year, indicating a healthy pipeline of new contracts that should drive future revenue increases
- Fast payback periods on sales and marketing expenses allow the company to invest heavily and onboard many customers concurrently
- Strong free cash flow margin of 56.5% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently
At $184.10 per share, Palantir Technologies trades at 50.6x forward price-to-sales. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. The best stocks don’t just beat the market once. They do it again. And again. Robust revenue growth, rising free cash flow, returns on capital that leave their competition in the dust. The market has already rewarded these businesses.
But our AI platform says the party isn’t over. Find out which 9 stocks made the cut this week — FREE. Get Our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+1,154% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.