3 Small-Cap Stocks We're Skeptical Of

Investors looking for hidden gems should keep an eye on small-cap stocks because they’re frequently overlooked by Wall Street. Many opportunities exist in this part of the market, but it is also a high-risk, high-reward environment due to the lack of reliable analyst price targets.

The downside that can come from buying these securities is precisely why we started StockStory - to isolate the long-term winners from the losers so you can invest with confidence. That said, here are three small-cap stocks to avoid and some other investments you should consider instead.

Health Catalyst (HCAT)

Market Cap: $239.3 million

Built on its "Health Catalyst Flywheel" methodology that emphasizes measurable outcomes, Health Catalyst (NASDAQ:HCAT) provides data and analytics technology and services that help healthcare organizations manage their data and drive measurable clinical, financial, and operational improvements.

Why Do We Think HCAT Will Underperform?

1. Annual revenue growth of 6% over the last three years was well below our standards for the software sector
2. Competitive market means the company must spend more on sales and marketing to stand out even if the return on investment is low
3. Limited cash reserves may force the company to seek unfavorable financing terms that could dilute shareholders

Health Catalyst’s stock price of $3.35 implies a valuation ratio of 0.8x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including HCAT in your portfolio.

Columbia Sportswear (COLM)

Market Cap: $3.09 billion

Originally founded as a hat store in 1938, Columbia Sportswear (NASDAQ:COLM) is a manufacturer of outerwear, sportswear, and footwear designed for outdoor enthusiasts.

Why Should You Dump COLM?

1. Weak constant currency growth over the past two years indicates challenges in maintaining its market share
2. Estimated sales for the next 12 months are flat and imply a softer demand environment
3. Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam

At $57 per share, Columbia Sportswear trades at 17.6x forward P/E. If you’re considering COLM for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Pitney Bowes (PBI)

Market Cap: $2.07 billion

With a century-long history dating back to 1920 and processing over 15 billion pieces of mail annually, Pitney Bowes (NYSE:PBI) provides shipping, mailing technology, logistics, and financial services to businesses of all sizes.

Why Is PBI Not Exciting?

1. Sales tumbled by 9.5% annually over the last five years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
2. Sales are projected to tank by 1.3% over the next 12 months as its demand continues evaporating
3. High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 5× could force the company to raise capital at unfavorable terms if market conditions deteriorate

Pitney Bowes is trading at $12.01 per share, or 9.4x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PBI.

Stocks We Like More

When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.

Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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 Tecnoglass (+1,754% 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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