The past year hasn't been kind to the stocks featured in this article. Each has tumbled to their lowest points in 12 months, leaving investors to decide whether they're witnessing fire sales or falling knives.
Price charts only tell part of the story. Our team at StockStory evaluates each company's underlying fundamentals to separate temporary setbacks from structural declines. That said, here are three stocks where the skepticism is well-placed and some better opportunities to consider.
Old Dominion Freight Line (ODFL)
One-Month Return: -7.7%
With its name deriving from the Commonwealth of Virginia’s nickname, Old Dominion (NASDAQ:ODFL) delivers less-than-truckload (LTL) and full-container load freight.
Why Are We Wary of ODFL?
- Declining unit sales over the past two years imply it may need to invest in improvements to get back on track
- Earnings per share decreased by more than its revenue over the last two years, showing each sale was less profitable
- Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam
At $135 per share, Old Dominion Freight Line trades at 28.5x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why ODFL doesn’t pass our bar.
Quest Resource (QRHC)
One-Month Return: -24.3%
Recycling corporate waste to help companies be more sustainable, Quest Resource (NASDAQ:QRHC) is a provider of waste and recycling services.
Why Do We Steer Clear of QRHC?
- Annual sales declines of 2.4% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
- Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results
- Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders
Quest Resource is trading at $1.31 per share, or 137x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including QRHC in your portfolio.
Robert Half (RHI)
One-Month Return: -9.1%
With roots dating back to 1948 as the first specialized recruiting firm for accounting and finance professionals, Robert Half (NYSE:RHI) provides specialized talent solutions and business consulting services, connecting skilled professionals with companies across various fields.
Why Do We Avoid RHI?
- Products and services are facing end-market challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat sales over the last five years
- Sales over the last five years were less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 12.6% annually while its revenue was flat
- Waning returns on capital imply its previous profit engines are losing steam
Robert Half’s stock price of $31.83 implies a valuation ratio of 19.2x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than RHI.
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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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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