The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning. Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.

Picking the right S&P 500 stocks requires more than just buying big names, and that’s where StockStory comes in. That said, here is one S&P 500 stock that is leading the market forward and two best left off your watchlist.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Royal Caribbean (RCL)

Market Cap: $96.09 billion

Established in 1968, Royal Caribbean Cruises (NYSE: RCL) is a global cruise vacation company renowned for its innovative and exciting cruise experiences.

Why Are We Hesitant About RCL?

1. Number of passenger cruise days has disappointed over the past two years, indicating weak demand for its offerings
2. Estimated sales growth of 9.5% for the next 12 months implies demand will slow from its two-year trend
3. Below-average returns on capital indicate management struggled to find compelling investment opportunities

Royal Caribbean’s stock price of $353.22 implies a valuation ratio of 21.3x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why RCL doesn’t pass our bar.

Biogen (BIIB)

Market Cap: $20.05 billion

Founded in 1978 and pioneering treatments for some of medicine's most complex challenges, Biogen (NASDAQ: BIIB) develops and markets therapies for neurological conditions, including multiple sclerosis, Alzheimer's disease, spinal muscular atrophy, and rare diseases.

Why Do We Think Twice About BIIB?

1. Annual sales declines of 7.2% for the past five years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
2. Sales are projected to tank by 7% over the next 12 months as demand evaporates further
3. Sales were less profitable over the last five years as its earnings per share fell by 15.2% annually, worse than its revenue declines

At $136.90 per share, Biogen trades at 9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including BIIB in your portfolio.

One Stock to Watch:

Leidos (LDOS)

Market Cap: $23.4 billion

Formed through the split of IT services company SAIC, Leidos (NYSE: LDOS) offers technology and engineering solutions such as military training systems for the defense, civil, and health markets.

Why Does LDOS Stand Out?

1. Sales pipeline is in good shape as its backlog averaged 15.7% growth over the past two years
2. Operating profits increased over the last five years as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient
3. Share repurchases have amplified shareholder returns as its annual earnings per share growth of 31% exceeded its revenue gains over the last two years

Leidos is trading at $182.59 per share, or 16.5x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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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