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While profitability is essential, it doesn’t guarantee long-term success. Some companies that rest on their margins will lose ground as competition intensifies - as Jeff Bezos said, "Your margin is my opportunity".

Not all profitable companies are created equal, and that’s why we built StockStory - to help you find the ones that truly shine bright. Keeping that in mind, here is one profitable company that leverages its financial strength to beat the competition and two that may face some trouble.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Brunswick (BC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 5.1%

Formerly known as Brunswick-Balke-Collender Company, Brunswick (NYSE: BC) is a designer and manufacturer of recreational marine products, including boats, engines, and marine parts.

Why Do We Avoid BC?

1. Annual sales declines of 13.8% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market

2. Capital intensity will likely increase as its free cash flow margin is anticipated to drop by 2.8 percentage points over the next year

3. Eroding returns on capital suggest its historical profit centers are aging

At $46.70 per share, Brunswick trades at 10.7x forward price-to-earnings. If you’re considering BC for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

LeMaitre (LMAT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 23.8%

Founded in 1983 and named after a pioneering vascular surgeon, LeMaitre Vascular (NASDAQGM:LMAT) develops and manufactures specialized medical devices used by vascular surgeons to treat peripheral vascular disease and other circulatory conditions.

Why Does LMAT Give Us Pause?

1. Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $219.9 million, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals

2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 7.7 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive

LeMaitre is trading at $91.57 per share, or 42.3x forward price-to-earnings. To fully understand why you should be careful with LMAT, check out our full research report (it’s free).

One Stock to Buy:

Copart (CPRT)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 36.2%

Starting as a single salvage yard in California in 1982, Copart (NASDAQ:CPRT) operates an online auction platform that connects sellers of damaged and salvage vehicles with buyers ranging from dismantlers and rebuilders to used car dealers and exporters.

Why Will CPRT Outperform?

1. Annual revenue growth of 15.2% over the past five years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle

2. Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 18.3% over the last five years outstripped its revenue performance

3. Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends, and its growing cash flow gives it even more resources to deploy