3 Profitable Stocks Walking a Fine Line

Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages. Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.

A business making money today isn’t necessarily a winner, which is why we analyze companies across multiple dimensions at StockStory. That said, here are three profitable companies to avoid and some better opportunities instead.

Dropbox (DBX)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 27.3%

Originally named after the founders' tendency to "drop" files into a shared folder, Dropbox (NASDAQ:DBX) provides a content collaboration platform that helps individuals and teams store, organize, share, and work on files from anywhere.

Why Should You Dump DBX?

1. Customers had second thoughts about committing to its platform over the last year as its billings averaged 1.1% declines
2. Estimated sales for the next 12 months are flat and imply a softer demand environment
3. Operating margin expansion of 8.3 percentage points over the last year shows the company optimized its expenses

Dropbox’s stock price of $26.73 implies a valuation ratio of 2.7x forward price-to-sales. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than DBX.

Olaplex (OLPX)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 1.6%

Rising to fame on TikTok because of its “bond building" hair products, Olaplex (NASDAQ:OLPX) offers products and treatments that repair the damage caused by traditional heat and chemical-based styling goods.

Why Are We Wary of OLPX?

1. Annual sales declines of 15.6% for the past three years show its products struggled to connect with the market
2. Sales were less profitable over the last three years as its earnings per share fell by 49.7% annually, worse than its revenue declines
3. Free cash flow margin shrank by 19.8 percentage points over the last year, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive

Olaplex is trading at $1.37 per share, or 16x forward P/E. If you’re considering OLPX for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Columbia Sportswear (COLM)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: 6.1%

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 Do We Think COLM Will Underperform?

1. Weak constant currency growth over the past two years indicates challenges in maintaining its market share
2. Free cash flow margin is not anticipated to grow over the next year
3. Waning returns on capital from an already weak starting point displays the inefficacy of management’s past and current investment decisions

At $58.25 per share, Columbia Sportswear trades at 17.5x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with COLM, check out our full research report (it’s free).

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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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.