3 Inflated Stocks We Approach with Caution

Each stock in this article is trading near its 52-week high. These elevated prices usually indicate some degree of investor confidence, business improvements, or favorable market conditions.

However, not all companies with momentum are long-term winners, and many investors have lost money by following short-term trends. All that said, here are three stocks getting more buzz than they deserve and some you should buy instead.

One-Month Return: +2.2%

Run by the Boyd family, Boyd Gaming (NYSE:BYD) is a diversified operator of gaming entertainment properties across the United States, offering casino games, hotel accommodations, and dining.

Why Should You Sell BYD?

  1. Sales trends were unexciting over the last two years as its 4.6% annual growth was below the typical consumer discretionary company

  2. Sales are projected to tank by 12% over the next 12 months as demand evaporates

  3. Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results

Boyd Gaming’s stock price of $87.50 implies a valuation ratio of 13.1x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than BYD.

One-Month Return: +2.4%

Established in 1993, Monarch (NASDAQ:MCRI) operates luxury casinos and resorts, offering high-end gaming, dining, and hospitality experiences.

Why Does MCRI Give Us Pause?

  1. 4% annual revenue growth over the last two years was slower than its consumer discretionary peers

  2. Anticipated sales growth of 4.5% for the next year implies demand will be shaky

At $105.11 per share, Monarch trades at 21x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why MCRI doesn’t pass our bar.

One-Month Return: +7.8%

Powering fluid dynamics since 1934, Gorman-Rupp (NYSE:GRC) has evolved from its Ohio origins into a global manufacturer and seller of pumps and pump systems.

Why Do We Think Twice About GRC?

  1. Annual revenue growth of 3.3% over the last two years was below our standards for the industrials sector

  2. Anticipated sales growth of 3.7% for the next year implies demand will be shaky

  3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 4.7 percentage points

Gorman-Rupp is trading at $45.46 per share, or 20.4x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including GRC in your portfolio, it’s free.

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.

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