
While strong cash flow is a key indicator of stability, it doesn’t always translate to superior returns. Some cash-heavy businesses struggle with inefficient spending, slowing demand, or weak competitive positioning.
Luckily for you, we built StockStory to help you separate the good from the bad. That said, here are three cash-producing companies to steer clear of and a few better alternatives.
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 12.8%
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 Does PCAR Worry Us?
PACCAR’s stock price of $112.80 implies a valuation ratio of 22.2x 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).
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 8.6%
Pioneering carbon-neutral flooring since its founding in 1973, Interface (NASDAQ:TILE) is a global manufacturer of modular carpet tiles, luxury vinyl tile (LVT), and rubber flooring that specializes in carbon-neutral and sustainable flooring solutions.
Why Are We Wary of TILE?
Interface is trading at $27.97 per share, or 14.1x forward P/E. If you’re considering TILE for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 7.1%
Widely known for its success in the paint industry, Sherwin-Williams (NYSE:SHW) is a manufacturer of paints, coatings, and related products.
Why Does SHW Fall Short?
At $323.83 per share, Sherwin-Williams trades at 26.3x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why SHW doesn’t pass our bar.
The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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).
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