Large-cap stocks are known for their staying power and ability to weather market storms better than smaller competitors. However, their sheer size makes it more challenging to maintain high growth rates as they’ve already captured significant portions of their markets.
These trade-offs can cause headaches for even the most seasoned professionals, which is why we started StockStory - to help you find high-quality companies that can grow their earnings no matter what. That said, here are two large-cap stocks that still have big upside potential and one whose momentum may slow.
One Large-Cap Stock to Sell:
Northern Trust (NTRS)
Market Cap: $33.92 billion
Founded in 1889 during Chicago's post-Great Fire rebuilding boom, Northern Trust (NASDAQ:NTRS) provides wealth management, asset servicing, and banking solutions to corporations, institutions, families, and high-net-worth individuals globally.
Why Is NTRS Not Exciting?
- 6.9% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its financials peers
Northern Trust is trading at $185.44 per share, or 16.1x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why NTRS doesn’t pass our bar.
Two Large-Cap Stocks to Watch:
Chipotle (CMG)
Market Cap: $43.86 billion
Born from a desire to offer quick meals with fresh, flavorful ingredients, Chipotle (NYSE:CMG) is a fast-food chain known for its healthy, Mexican-inspired cuisine and customizable dishes.
Why Is CMG on Our Radar?
- Rapidly increasing restaurant base reflects a desire to sell in new markets and scale quickly
- Dominant market position is represented by its $12.42 billion in revenue and gives it fixed cost leverage when sales grow
- Industry-leading 19.8% return on capital demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments, and its rising returns show it’s making even more lucrative bets
At $34.61 per share, Chipotle trades at 26.3x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Cintas (CTAS)
Market Cap: $81.27 billion
Starting as a family business collecting and cleaning shop rags in Cincinnati, Cintas (NASDAQ:CTAS) provides corporate identity uniforms, facility services, and safety products to over one million businesses across North America.
Why Is CTAS a Good Business?
- Market share has increased this cycle as its 9.6% annual revenue growth over the last five years was exceptional
- Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends
- ROIC punches in at 26.6%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments, and its returns are climbing as it finds even more attractive growth opportunities
Cintas’s stock price of $203.38 implies a valuation ratio of 36.3x 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
ONE MORE THING: Top 5 Growth Stocks. The biggest stock winners almost always had one thing in common before they ran. Revenue growing like crazy. Meta. CrowdStrike. Broadcom. Our AI flagged all three. They returned 315%, 314%, and 455%, respectively.
Find out which 5 stocks it’s flagging this month — FREE. Get Our Top 5 Growth 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,552% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.