The stocks featured in this article have all approached their 52-week highs. When these price levels hit, it typically signals strong business execution, positive market sentiment, or significant industry tailwinds.
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 is one stock we think lives up to the hype and two that may correct.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Edgewell Personal Care (EPC)
One-Month Return: +55.9%
Boasting brands such as Banana Boat, Schick, and Skintimate, Edgewell Personal Care (NYSE:EPC) sells personal care products in the skin and sun care, shave, and feminine care categories.
Why Do We Steer Clear of EPC?
- Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
- Operating profits fell over the last year as its sales dropped and it struggled to adjust its fixed costs
- Sales were less profitable over the last three years as its earnings per share fell by 6.8% annually, worse than its revenue declines
Edgewell Personal Care’s stock price of $27.76 implies a valuation ratio of 13.8x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with EPC, check out our full research report (it’s free).
First Commonwealth Financial (FCF)
One-Month Return: +8.8%
Tracing its roots back to the Great Depression era of 1934, First Commonwealth Financial (NYSE:FCF) is a financial holding company that provides consumer and commercial banking, wealth management, and insurance services across Pennsylvania and Ohio.
Why Does FCF Give Us Pause?
- Sales trends were unexciting over the last two years as its 5.7% annual growth was below the typical banking company
- Incremental sales over the last two years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 1.6% annually while its revenue grew
- Anticipated tangible book value per share growth of 9.9% for the next year implies profitability will be modest
First Commonwealth Financial is trading at $20.30 per share, or 1.3x forward P/B. If you’re considering FCF for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
One Stock to Watch:
Popular (BPOP)
One-Month Return: +12%
Founded in 1893 as the first bank in Puerto Rico to serve the working class, Popular (NASDAQ:BPOP) is a financial holding company that provides retail, mortgage, and commercial banking services primarily in Puerto Rico and the mainland United States.
Why Are We Fans of BPOP?
- Net interest margin grew by 57.2 basis points (100 basis points = 1 percentage point) over the last two years, giving the firm more chips to play with
- Performance over the past two years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
- Annual tangible book value per share growth of 18.2% over the past two years was outstanding, reflecting strong capital accumulation this cycle
At $165.50 per share, Popular trades at 1.6x forward P/B. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
ONE MORE THING: Top 5 Growth Stocks. The biggest stock winners almost always had one thing in common before they ran. Revenue growing like crazy. Meta. CrowdStrike. Broadcom. Our AI flagged all three. They returned 315%, 314%, and 455%, respectively.
Find out which 5 stocks it’s flagging this month — FREE. Get Our Top 5 Growth Stocks for Free HERE.
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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
