When Wall Street turns bearish on a stock, it’s worth paying attention. These calls stand out because analysts rarely issue grim ratings on companies for fear their firms will lose out in other business lines such as M&A advisory.
At StockStory, we look beyond the headlines with our independent analysis to determine whether these bearish calls are justified. That said, here is one stock where Wall Street’s pessimism is creating a buying opportunity and two facing legitimate challenges.
Two Stocks to Sell:
EchoStar (SATS)
Consensus Price Target: $122.86 (-2.5% implied return)
Following its 2023 acquisition of DISH Network, EchoStar (NASDAQ: SATS) provides satellite communications, pay-TV services, wireless networks, and broadband solutions across consumer and enterprise markets.
Why Do We Steer Clear of SATS?
- Sales tumbled by 6.6% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
- Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned
- EBITDA losses may force it to accept punitive lending terms or high-cost debt
EchoStar’s stock price of $126.03 implies a valuation ratio of 34.4x forward EV-to-EBITDA. If you’re considering SATS for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
United Bankshares (UBSI)
Consensus Price Target: $45.20 (9% implied return)
With roots dating back to 1982 and a strong presence in the Mid-Atlantic region, United Bankshares (NASDAQ: UBSI) is a bank holding company that provides commercial and retail banking services through its United Bank subsidiary across multiple states.
Why Does UBSI Worry Us?
- 9.8% annual net interest income growth over the last five years was slower than its banking peers
- Earnings growth underperformed the sector average over the last five years as its EPS grew by just 4.6% annually
- Projected tangible book value per share growth of 7.3% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish capital generation
United Bankshares is trading at $41.46 per share, or 1x forward P/B. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including UBSI in your portfolio.
One Stock to Watch:
Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A)
Consensus Price Target: $768,440 (6.6% implied return)
Led by legendary investor Warren Buffett since 1965, transforming it from a struggling textile manufacturer into a corporate giant, Berkshire Hathaway (NYSE: BRK.A) is a diversified holding company that owns businesses across insurance, railroads, utilities, manufacturing, retail, and services sectors.
Why Is BRK.A Interesting?
- Earnings per share grew by 18.9% annually over the last two years, comfortably beating the peer group average
- Annual tangible book value per share growth of 15.9% over the last five years was superb and indicates its capital strength increased during this cycle
- Stellar return on equity showcases management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures
At $721,100 per share, Berkshire Hathaway trades at 21.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.
Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 244% over the last five years (as of June 30, 2025).
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.
