"You get what you pay for" often applies to expensive stocks with best-in-class business models and execution. While their quality can sometimes justify the premium, they typically experience elevated volatility during market downturns when expectations change.
Separating true intrinsic value from speculation isn’t easy, especially during bull markets. That’s where StockStory comes in - to help you find high-quality companies that will stand the test of time. Keeping that in mind, here are two high-flying stocks to hold for the long term and one with big downside risk.
One High-Flying Stock to Sell:
Knight-Swift Transportation (KNX)
Forward P/E Ratio: 29.6x
Covering 1.6 billion loaded miles in 2023 alone, Knight-Swift Transportation (NYSE: KNX) offers less-than-truckload and full truckload delivery services.
Why Should You Sell KNX?
- 2.3% annual revenue growth over the last two years was slower than its industrials peers
- Incremental sales over the last five years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 14.4% annually while its revenue grew
- Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
Knight-Swift Transportation’s stock price of $57.45 implies a valuation ratio of 29.6x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with KNX, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Two High-Flying Stocks to Watch:
Cintas (CTAS)
Forward P/E Ratio: 39.6x
Starting as a family business collecting and cleaning shop rags in Cincinnati, Cintas (NASDAQ: CTAS) provides corporate identity uniforms, facility services, and safety products to over one million businesses across North America.
Why Should You Buy CTAS?
- Impressive 9.3% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Share repurchases over the last five years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 15.6% to outpace its revenue gains
- CTAS is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
Cintas is trading at $200.47 per share, or 39.6x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
UL Solutions (ULS)
Forward P/E Ratio: 36.9x
Founded in 1894 as a response to the growing dangers of electricity in American homes and businesses, UL Solutions (NYSE: ULS) provides testing, inspection, and certification services that help companies ensure their products meet safety, security, and sustainability standards.
Why Do We Watch ULS?
- Adjusted operating margin improvement of 3.1 percentage points over the last four years demonstrates its ability to scale efficiently
- Free cash flow margin expanded by 7.6 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
- Industry-leading 28.5% return on capital demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments
At $82.60 per share, UL Solutions trades at 36.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full 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 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%. AppLovin before it ran 753%. Nvidia before it ran 1,178%. 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 (+1,326% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
