3 Reasons BDC is Risky and 1 Stock to Buy Instead

Belden currently trades at $120.41 per share and has shown little upside over the past six months, posting a middling return of 4.1%.

Is now the time to buy Belden, or should you be careful about including it in your portfolio? Dive into our full research report to see our analyst team’s opinion, it’s free.

Why Is Belden Not Exciting?

We don't have much confidence in Belden. Here are three reasons why there are better opportunities than BDC and a stock we'd rather own.

1. Long-Term Revenue Growth Disappoints

A company’s long-term sales performance is one signal of its overall quality. Even a bad business can shine for one or two quarters, but a top-tier one grows for years. Regrettably, Belden’s sales grew at a sluggish 4% compounded annual growth rate over the last five years. This was below our standard for the industrials sector.

2. Projected Revenue Growth Is Slim

Forecasted revenues by Wall Street analysts signal a company’s potential. Predictions may not always be accurate, but accelerating growth typically boosts valuation multiples and stock prices while slowing growth does the opposite.

Over the next 12 months, sell-side analysts expect Belden’s revenue to rise by 4.3%. Although this projection suggests its newer products and services will spur better top-line performance, it is still below the sector average.

3. EPS Growth Has Stalled Over the Last Two Years

While long-term earnings trends give us the big picture, we also track EPS over a shorter period because it can provide insight into an emerging theme or development for the business.

Belden’s flat EPS over the last two years was weak. On the bright side, this performance was better than its 1.7% annualized revenue declines.

Final Judgment

Belden isn’t a terrible business, but it doesn’t pass our bar. That said, the stock currently trades at 16.6× forward P/E (or $120.41 per share). Beauty is in the eye of the beholder, but we don’t really see a big opportunity at the moment. We're fairly confident there are better stocks to buy right now. Let us point you toward one of our top digital advertising picks.

Stocks We Would Buy Instead of Belden

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.

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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.