2 Large-Cap Stocks to Target This Week and 1 We Avoid
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.
This is precisely where StockStory comes in - our job is to find you high-quality companies that can win regardless of the conditions. Keeping that in mind, here are two large-cap stocks that still have big upside potential and one that could be stalling.
One Large-Cap Stock to Sell:
Lowe's (LOW)
Market Cap: $117.8 billion
Founded in North Carolina as Lowe's North Wilkesboro Hardware, the company is a home improvement retailer that sells everything from paint to tools to building materials.
Why Is LOW Not Exciting?
- Products have few die-hard fans as sales have declined by 2.6% annually over the last three years
- Disappointing same-store sales over the past two years show customers aren’t responding well to its product selection and store experience
- Widely-available products (and therefore stiff competition) result in an inferior gross margin of 33.3% that must be offset through higher volumes
Lowe's is trading at $210.32 per share, or 16.9x forward P/E. If you’re considering LOW for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Two Large-Cap Stocks to Buy:
Fair Isaac Corporation (FICO)
Market Cap: $24.61 billion
Creator of the three-digit number that can determine whether you get a mortgage or credit card, Fair Isaac Corporation (NYSE:FICO) develops analytics software and the widely used FICO Score, which is the standard measure of consumer credit risk in the United States.
Why Are We Bullish on FICO?
- Performance over the past two years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
- Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends, and its improved cash conversion implies it’s becoming a less capital-intensive business
- Returns on capital are climbing as management makes more lucrative bets
Fair Isaac Corporation’s stock price of $1,145 implies a valuation ratio of 26.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Diamondback Energy (FANG)
Market Cap: $56.2 billion
Sporting one of Wall Street's most memorable ticker symbols, Diamondback Energy (NASDAQ:FANG) drills for and produces oil and natural gas from underground rock formations in the Permian Basin of West Texas and New Mexico.
Why Do We Love FANG?
- Impressive 42.8% annual revenue growth over the last ten years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Highly-profitable operating model results in strong unit economics and a best-in-class gross margin of 80.2%
- FANG is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
At $199.41 per share, Diamondback Energy trades at 10.2x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
ONE MORE THING: Top 6 Stocks for This Week. This market is separating quality stocks from expensive ones fast. AI is taking down whole sectors with no warning. In a rotation this fast, you need more than a list of good companies.
Our AI system flagged Palantir before it ran 1,662% between October 2022 and February 2026. AppLovin before it ran 753% between February 2024 and February 2026. Nvidia before it ran 1,178% between January 2023 and February 2026. Each week it produces 6 new names that pass the same tests. Get Our Top 6 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+1,154% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.