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The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning. Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.
Some large-cap stocks are past their peak, and StockStory is here to help you separate the winners from the laggards. Keeping that in mind, here are three S&P 500 stocks that don’t make the cut and some better choices instead.
Market Cap: $57.82 billion
Spun off from Dutch electronics giant Philips in 2006, NXP Semiconductors (NASDAQ: NXPI) is a designer and manufacturer of chips used in autos, industrial manufacturing, mobile devices, and communications infrastructure.
Why Does NXPI Worry Us?
NXP Semiconductors’s stock price of $228.35 implies a valuation ratio of 17.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than NXPI.
Market Cap: $15.19 billion
Established in 1973, Deckers (NYSE:DECK) is a footwear and apparel conglomerate with a portfolio of lifestyle and performance brands.
Why Do We Avoid DECK?
Deckers is trading at $103.73 per share, or 16.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why DECK doesn’t pass our bar.
Market Cap: $58.91 billion
Founded more than a century ago, PACCAR (NASDAQ:PCAR) designs and manufactures commercial trucks of various weights and sizes for the commercial trucking industry.
Why Are We Cautious About PCAR?
At $112.16 per share, PACCAR trades at 22.6x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with PCAR, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.
Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check 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 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% 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.