1 S&P 500 Stock on Our Buy List and 2 That Underwhelm

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:

D.R. Horton (DHI)

Market Cap: $48.61 billion

One of the largest homebuilding companies in the U.S., D.R. Horton (NYSE:DHI) builds a variety of new construction homes across multiple markets.

Why Do We Pass on DHI?

1. Demand cratered as it couldn’t win new orders over the past two years, leading to an average 13.7% decline in its backlog
2. Earnings per share have dipped by 11% annually over the past two years, which is concerning because stock prices follow EPS over the long term
3. Shrinking returns on capital suggest that increasing competition is eating into the company’s profitability

D.R. Horton is trading at $166.85 per share, or 15.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than DHI.

U.S. Bancorp (USB)

Market Cap: $89.68 billion

With roots dating back to 1863 and a presence across 26 states primarily in the Midwest and West, U.S. Bancorp (NYSE:USB) is one of America's largest banks providing lending, deposit services, wealth management, payment processing, and merchant services to individuals and businesses.

Why Is USB Not Exciting?

1. Annual net interest income growth of 5.4% over the last five years lagged behind its banking peers as its large revenue base made it difficult to generate incremental demand
2. Inferior net interest margin of 2.7% means it must compensate for lower profitability through increased loan originations
3. Scale is a double-edged sword because it limits the firm’s capital growth potential compared to its smaller competitors, as reflected in its below-average annual tangible book value per share increases of 3.3% for the last five years

U.S. Bancorp’s stock price of $57.68 implies a valuation ratio of 1.4x forward P/B. If you’re considering USB for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Stock to Buy:

Copart (CPRT)

Market Cap: $36.29 billion

Starting as a single salvage yard in California in 1982, Copart (NASDAQ:CPRT) operates an online auction platform that connects sellers of damaged and salvage vehicles with buyers ranging from dismantlers and rebuilders to used car dealers and exporters.

Why Will CPRT Outperform?

1. Impressive 15.7% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
2. Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were extremely profitable, as its annual earnings per share growth of 19.3% outpaced its revenue gains
3. Strong free cash flow margin of 24.2% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently, and its growing cash flow gives it even more resources to deploy

At $37.70 per share, Copart trades at 22.1x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

The market’s up big this year - but there’s a catch. Just 4 stocks account for half the S&P 500’s entire gain. That kind of concentration makes investors nervous, and for good reason. While everyone piles into the same crowded names, smart investors are hunting quality where no one’s looking - and paying a fraction of the price. 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 Kadant (+351% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.