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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 dynamic can trouble even the most skilled investors, but luckily for you, we started StockStory to help you navigate these trade-offs and uncover exceptional companies that break the mold. That said, here are three large-cap stocks whose existing offerings may be tapped out and some other investments you should look into instead.
Electronic Arts (EA)
Market Cap: $36.92 billion
Best known for its Madden NFL and FIFA sports franchises, Electronic Arts (NASDAQ:EA) is one of the world’s largest video game publishers.
Why Do We Think Twice About EA?
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Sales trends were unexciting over the last three years as its 2.1% annual growth was below the typical consumer internet company
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Projected sales are flat for the next 12 months, implying demand will slow from its three-year trend
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Costs have risen faster than its revenue over the last few years, causing its EBITDA margin to decline by 8.1 percentage points
Electronic Arts’s stock price of $147.50 implies a valuation ratio of 14.7x forward EV/EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including EA in your portfolio, it’s free.
Coupang (CPNG)
Market Cap: $48.86 billion
Founded in 2010 by Harvard Business School student Bom Kim, Coupang (NYSE:CPNG) is an e-commerce giant often referred to as the "Amazon of South Korea".
Why Are We Cautious About CPNG?
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Bad unit economics and steep infrastructure costs are reflected in its low gross margin of 28%
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Poor free cash flow margin of 4.4% for the last two years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
At $26.93 per share, Coupang trades at 27.8x forward EV/EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why CPNG doesn’t pass our bar.
Ford (F)
Market Cap: $42.35 billion
Established to make automobiles accessible to a broader segment of the population, Ford (NYSE:F) designs, manufactures, and sells a variety of automobiles, trucks, and electric vehicles.
Why Should You Sell F?
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Flat vehicles sold over the past two years imply it may need to invest in improvements to get back on track
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Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 13.4 percentage points
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8× net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio makes lenders less willing to extend additional capital, potentially necessitating dilutive equity offerings