The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is home to the biggest and most well-known companies in the market, making it a go-to index for investors seeking stability. But not all large-cap stocks are created equal - some are struggling with slowing growth, declining margins, or increased competition.
Some large-cap stocks are past their peak, and StockStory is here to help you separate the winners from the laggards. That said, here is one S&P 500 stock that could deliver good returns and two that may struggle.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Molson Coors (TAP)
Market Cap: $9.72 billion
Sporting an impressive roster of iconic beer brands, Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) is a global brewing giant with a rich history dating back more than two centuries.
Why Do We Avoid TAP?
- Declining unit sales over the past two years imply it may need to invest in product improvements to get back on track
- Efficiency has decreased over the last year as its operating margin fell by 33.7 percentage points
- ROIC of -0.7% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
Molson Coors’s stock price of $49.11 implies a valuation ratio of 8.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including TAP in your portfolio.
United Parcel Service (UPS)
Market Cap: $90.42 billion
Trademarking its recognizable UPS Brown color, UPS (NYSE: UPS) offers package delivery, supply chain management, and freight forwarding services.
Why Is UPS Risky?
- Declining unit sales over the past two years show it’s struggled to increase its sales volumes and had to rely on price increases
- Earnings per share were flat over the last five years while its revenue grew, showing its incremental sales were less profitable
- Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability
At $106.54 per share, United Parcel Service trades at 15.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with UPS, check out our full research report (it’s free).
One Stock to Buy:
Ameriprise Financial (AMP)
Market Cap: $46.02 billion
Founded in 1894 and spun off from American Express in 2005, Ameriprise Financial (NYSE: AMP) provides financial planning, wealth management, asset management, and insurance products to help individuals and institutions achieve their financial goals.
Why Is AMP a Top Pick?
- Share repurchases over the last five years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 22.5% to outpace its revenue gains
- Impressive 35.5% annual tangible book value per share growth over the last two years indicates it’s building equity value this cycle
- Market-beating return on equity illustrates that management has a knack for investing in profitable ventures
Ameriprise Financial is trading at $495.45 per share, or 12.3x 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
Your portfolio can’t afford to be based on yesterday’s story. The risk in a handful of heavily crowded stocks is rising daily.
The names generating the next wave of massive growth are right here in 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.
