The Russell 2000 (^RUT) is home to many small-cap stocks, offering investors the chance to uncover hidden gems before the broader market catches on. However, these companies often come with higher volatility and risk, as their smaller size makes them more vulnerable to economic downturns.
Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. That said, here are three Russell 2000 stocks to steer clear of and some alternatives to watch instead.
Appian (APPN)
Market Cap: $2.22 billion
Founded by Matt Calkins and his three friends out of an apartment in Northern Virginia, Appian (NASDAQ: APPN) sells a software platform that lets its users build applications without using much code, allowing them to create new software more quickly.
Why Does APPN Give Us Pause?
- Revenue increased by 17.1% annually over the last three years, acceptable on an absolute basis but tepid for a software company enjoying secular tailwinds
- Long payback periods on sales and marketing expenses limit customer growth and signal the company operates in a highly competitive environment
- Low free cash flow margin of 4.8% for the last year gives it little breathing room, constraining its ability to self-fund growth or return capital to shareholders
At $30.30 per share, Appian trades at 3.2x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including APPN in your portfolio.
Leggett & Platt (LEG)
Market Cap: $1.21 billion
Founded in 1883, Leggett & Platt (NYSE: LEG) is a diversified manufacturer of products and components for various industries.
Why Do We Think LEG Will Underperform?
- Products and services have few die-hard fans as sales have declined by 1.5% annually over the last five years
- Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last five years, showing each sale was less profitable
- Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions
Leggett & Platt is trading at $9.25 per share, or 8.1x forward P/E. If you’re considering LEG for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Enviri (NVRI)
Market Cap: $698.7 million
Cooling America’s first indoor ice rink in the 19th century, Enviri (NYSE: NVRI) offers steel and waste handling services.
Why Should You Dump NVRI?
- Muted 7.1% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its industrials peers
- Cash burn makes us question whether it can achieve sustainable long-term growth
- Depletion of cash reserves could lead to a fundraising event that triggers shareholder dilution
Enviri’s stock price of $8.68 implies a valuation ratio of 2.8x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why NVRI doesn’t pass our bar.
Stocks We Like More
The market surged in 2024 and reached record highs after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, but questions about new economic policies are adding much uncertainty for 2025.
While the crowd speculates what might happen next, we’re homing in on the companies that can succeed regardless of the political or macroeconomic environment. Put yourself in the driver’s seat and build a durable portfolio by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. 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 Comfort Systems (+782% 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
