Unprofitable companies can burn through cash quickly, leaving investors exposed if they fail to turn things around. Without a clear path to profitability, these businesses risk running out of capital or relying on dilutive fundraising.
Unprofitable companies face an uphill battle, but not all are created equal. Luckily for you, StockStory is here to separate the promising ones from the weak. That said, here is one unprofitable company investing heavily to secure market share and two that may never reach the Promised Land.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Amtech (ASYS)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -7.7%
Focusing on the silicon carbide and power semiconductor sectors, Amtech Systems (NASDAQ: ASYS) produces the machinery and related chemicals needed for manufacturing semiconductors.
Why Do We Pass on ASYS?
- Annual sales declines of 15.8% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
- Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating margin losses
- Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
At $6.50 per share, Amtech trades at 226.5x forward EV-to-EBITDA. If you’re considering ASYS for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
B&G Foods (BGS)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -7.9%
Started as a small grocery store in New York City, B&G Foods (NYSE: BGS) is an American packaged foods company with a diverse portfolio of more than 50 brands.
Why Do We Avoid BGS?
- Annual sales declines of 3.9% for the past three years show its products struggled to connect with the market
- Performance over the past three years shows each sale was less profitable as its earnings per share dropped by 27.2% annually, worse than its revenue
- High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 7× increases the risk of forced asset sales or dilutive financing if operational performance weakens
B&G Foods is trading at $4.50 per share, or 7.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BGS doesn’t pass our bar.
One Stock to Watch:
Workiva (WK)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -10.2%
Nicknamed "the Excel killer" by some finance professionals for its ability to eliminate spreadsheet chaos, Workiva (NYSE: WK) provides a cloud-based platform that enables organizations to streamline financial reporting, ESG, and compliance processes with connected data and automation.
Why Are We Fans of WK?
- Billings have averaged 23.2% growth over the last year, showing it’s securing new contracts that could potentially increase in value over time
- Net revenue retention rate of 112% demonstrates its ability to expand within existing accounts through upsells and cross-sells
- Superior software functionality and low servicing costs are reflected in its top-tier gross margin of 76.8%
Workiva’s stock price of $80.70 implies a valuation ratio of 4.9x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
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