While the S&P 500 (^GSPC) includes industry leaders, not every stock in the index is a winner. Some companies are past their prime, weighed down by poor execution, weak financials, or structural headwinds.

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 is positioned to outperform and two best left off your watchlist.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Kimberly-Clark (KMB)

Market Cap: $43.07 billion

Originally founded as a Wisconsin paper mill in 1872, Kimberly-Clark (NYSE: KMB) is now a household products powerhouse known for personal care and tissue products.

Why Are We Hesitant About KMB?

1. Organic sales performance over the past two years indicates the company may need to make strategic adjustments or rely on M&A to catalyze faster growth
2. Demand will likely be soft over the next 12 months as Wall Street’s estimates imply tepid growth of 2.6%
3. Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 2.6 percentage points

Kimberly-Clark is trading at $130.25 per share, or 17.5x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with KMB, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Henry Schein (HSIC)

Market Cap: $8.37 billion

With a vast inventory of over 300,000 products stocked in distribution centers spanning more than 5.3 million square feet worldwide, Henry Schein (NASDAQ: HSIC) is a global distributor of healthcare products and services primarily to dental practices, medical offices, and other healthcare facilities.

Why Does HSIC Fall Short?

1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
2. Free cash flow margin shrank by 3.6 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

At $69.06 per share, Henry Schein trades at 13.7x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why HSIC doesn’t pass our bar.

One Stock to Buy:

Philip Morris (PM)

Market Cap: $259.5 billion

Founded in 1847, Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) manufactures and sells a wide range of tobacco and nicotine-containing products, including cigarettes, heated tobacco products, and oral nicotine pouches.

Why Should You Buy PM?

1. Average unit sales growth of 3% over the past two years reflects steady demand for its products
2. Unique products and pricing power result in a best-in-class gross margin of 65.3%
3. Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends

Philip Morris’s stock price of $166.89 implies a valuation ratio of 20.8x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

Donald Trump’s April 2025 "Liberation Day" tariffs sent markets into a tailspin, but stocks have since rebounded strongly, proving that knee-jerk reactions often create the best buying opportunities.

The smart money is already positioning for the next leg up. Don’t miss out on the recovery - check out 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 183% over the last five years (as of March 31st 2025).

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free. Find your next big winner with StockStory today. Find your next big winner with StockStory today

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