Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

Not all profitable companies are created equal, and that’s why we built StockStory - to help you find the ones that truly shine bright. That said, here is one profitable company that generates reliable profits without sacrificing growth and two that may face some trouble.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Arrow Electronics (ARW)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 2.5%

Founded as a single retail store, Arrow Electronics (NYSE: ARW) provides electronic components and enterprise computing solutions to businesses globally.

Why Do We Think ARW Will Underperform?

1. Sales tumbled by 7.8% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
2. Sales were less profitable over the last two years as its earnings per share fell by 28.5% annually, worse than its revenue declines
3. Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up

Arrow Electronics’s stock price of $118.65 implies a valuation ratio of 10.2x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with ARW, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Credit Acceptance (CACC)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 37.4%

Founded in 1972 by Donald Foss to serve customers overlooked by traditional lenders, Credit Acceptance (NASDAQ: CACC) provides auto financing solutions that enable car dealers to sell vehicles to consumers with limited or impaired credit histories.

Why Do We Steer Clear of CACC?

1. Muted 2.9% annual revenue growth over the last five years shows its demand lagged behind its financials peers
2. Incremental sales over the last two years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 5.4% annually while its revenue grew
3. High debt-to-equity ratio of 3.9× shows the firm carries too much debt relative to shareholder equity, increasing bankruptcy risk

At $473.35 per share, Credit Acceptance trades at 11.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CACC.

One Stock to Watch:

Zoetis (ZTS)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 37.2%

Originally spun off from Pfizer in 2013 as the world's largest pure-play animal health company, Zoetis (NYSE: ZTS) discovers, develops, and sells medicines, vaccines, diagnostic products, and services for pets and livestock animals worldwide.

Why Could ZTS Be a Winner?

1. Performance over the past five years was boosted by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
2. Strong free cash flow margin of 21.4% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently
3. Industry-leading 29.2% return on capital demonstrates management’s skill in finding high-return investments

Zoetis is trading at $124.64 per share, or 19.1x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Check out the high-quality names we’ve flagged in our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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.