
Financial providers use their expertise in capital allocation and risk assessment to help facilitate economic growth while offering consumers and businesses essential financial services. But worries about economic uncertainty and potential market volatility have kept sentiment in check, and over the past six months, the industry's 5.6% return has trailed the S&P 500 by 5.7 percentage points.
Investors should tread carefully as many of these firms are also cyclical, and any misstep can have you catching a falling knife. Keeping that in mind, here are three financials stocks best left ignored.
Market Cap: $56.06 billion
Originally founded in 1971 as the world's first electronic stock market, Nasdaq (NASDAQ:NDAQ) operates global exchanges and provides technology, data, and corporate services that help companies, investors, and financial institutions navigate capital markets.
Why Do We Think Twice About NDAQ?
Nasdaq’s stock price of $98.23 implies a valuation ratio of 26.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering NDAQ for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Market Cap: $99.46 billion
Born from the Chicago Mercantile Exchange founded in 1898 as a butter and egg trading venue, CME Group (NASDAQ:CME) operates the world's largest derivatives marketplace where traders can buy and sell futures and options contracts across interest rates, equities, currencies, commodities, and more.
Why Are We Cautious About CME?
CME Group is trading at $275.55 per share, or 24.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CME.
Market Cap: $1.16 billion
Founded in 2006 by veteran investment bankers Joseph Perella and Peter Weinberg during a wave of boutique advisory firm launches, Perella Weinberg Partners (NASDAQ:PWP) is a global independent advisory firm that provides strategic and financial advice to corporations, financial sponsors, and government institutions.
Why Do We Pass on PWP?
At $17.44 per share, Perella Weinberg trades at 15.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including PWP in your portfolio.
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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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.