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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. Keeping that in mind, here is one cash-producing company that reinvests wisely to drive long-term success and two that may struggle to keep up.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Inspired (INSE)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 6.3%

Specializing in digital casino gaming, Inspired (NASDAQ:INSE) is a provider of gaming hardware, virtual sports platforms, and server-based gaming systems.

Why Does INSE Give Us Pause?

1. Annual revenue growth of 1.9% over the last two years was below our standards for the consumer discretionary sector

2. Estimated sales growth of 2.3% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand

3. Low free cash flow margin of 3.5% for the last two years gives it little breathing room, constraining its ability to self-fund growth or return capital to shareholders

At $8.28 per share, Inspired trades at 2.2x forward EV-to-EBITDA. To fully understand why you should be careful with INSE, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Hudson Technologies (HDSN)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 44.5%

Founded in 1991, Hudson Technologies (NASDAQ:HDSN) specializes in refrigerant services and solutions, providing refrigerant sales, reclamation, and recycling.

Why Are We Wary of HDSN?

1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 15.5% annually over the last two years

2. Earnings per share have dipped by 51.9% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term

3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

Hudson Technologies is trading at $7.75 per share, or 10.2x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than HDSN.

One Stock to Watch:

OSI Systems (OSIS)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 2.5%

With security scanners deployed at airports and borders worldwide and patient monitors used in hospitals across the globe, OSI Systems (NASDAQ:OSIS) designs and manufactures specialized electronic systems for security screening, patient monitoring, and optoelectronic applications.

Why Are We Positive On OSIS?

1. Market share has increased this cycle as its 18.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional

2. Earnings per share grew by 27.4% annually over the last two years, massively outpacing its peers

3. Rising returns on capital show the company is starting to reap the benefits of its past investments