The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on. However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.
Picking the right small caps isn’t easy, and that’s exactly why StockStory exists - to help you focus on the best opportunities. That said, here is one Russell 2000 stock that could be the next big thing and two best left off your watchlist.
Two Stocks to Sell:
John Bean (JBTM)
Market Cap: $7.45 billion
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 Hesitant About JBTM?
- Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
- Day-to-day expenses have swelled relative to revenue 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 $143.30 per share, John Bean trades at 21.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including JBTM in your portfolio.
Insight Enterprises (NSIT)
Market Cap: $3.52 billion
With over 35 years of IT expertise and partnerships with more than 8,000 technology providers, Insight Enterprises (NASDAQ:NSIT) provides end-to-end digital transformation solutions that help businesses modernize their IT infrastructure and maximize the value of technology.
Why Should You Sell NSIT?
- Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 7.2% annually over the last two years
- Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 2.8% annually
- Poor free cash flow margin of 2.3% for the last five years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
Insight Enterprises’s stock price of $112 implies a valuation ratio of 11.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NSIT.
One Stock to Watch:
Hamilton Insurance Group (HG)
Market Cap: $2.42 billion
Founded in 2013 and operating through three distinct underwriting platforms across four countries, Hamilton Insurance Group (NYSE:HG) operates global specialty insurance and reinsurance platforms across Lloyd's, Ireland, Bermuda, and the United States.
Why Are We Fans of HG?
- Annual revenue growth of 49.7% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Net premiums earned surged by 26% annually over the past two years, reflecting strong market share gains this cycle
- Pre-tax profits and efficiency rose over the last two years as it benefited from some fixed cost leverage
Hamilton Insurance Group is trading at $24.15 per share, or 0.9x forward P/B. Is now the time to initiate a position? 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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