The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%. But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.
Unlike the investment banks, we created StockStory to provide independent analysis that helps you determine which companies are truly worth following. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks where Wall Street’s estimates seem disconnected from reality and some better opportunities to consider.
Beyond Meat (BYND)
Consensus Price Target: $2.57 (16.1% implied return)
A pioneer at the forefront of the plant-based protein revolution, Beyond Meat (NASDAQ:BYND) is a food company specializing in alternatives to traditional meat products.
Why Is BYND Risky?
- Shrinking unit sales over the past two years show it’s struggled to move its products and had to rely on price increases
- Capital intensity has ramped up over the last year as its free cash flow margin decreased by 18.5 percentage points
- Unfavorable liquidity position could lead to additional equity financing that dilutes shareholders
Beyond Meat’s stock price of $2.21 implies a valuation ratio of 0.6x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with BYND, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Thermon (THR)
Consensus Price Target: $33 (21% implied return)
Creating the first packaged tracing systems, Thermon (NYSE:THR) is a leading provider of engineered industrial process heating solutions for process industries.
Why Are We Wary of THR?
- Muted 4.3% annual revenue growth over the last two years shows its demand lagged behind its industrials peers
- Estimated sales growth of 3.2% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand
- Earnings growth over the last two years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 4.3% annually
Thermon is trading at $27.28 per share, or 10.6x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why THR doesn’t pass our bar.
Columbus McKinnon (CMCO)
Consensus Price Target: $28 (92.8% implied return)
With 19 different brands across the globe, Columbus McKinnon (NASDAQ:CMCO) offers material handling equipment for the construction, manufacturing, and transportation industries.
Why Do We Think CMCO Will Underperform?
- Products and services are facing end-market challenges during this cycle, as seen in its flat sales over the last two years
- Earnings per share fell by 9.3% annually over the last two years while its revenue was flat, showing each sale was less profitable
- 7.4 percentage point decline in its free cash flow margin over the last five years reflects the company’s increased investments to defend its market position
At $14.52 per share, Columbus McKinnon trades at 5.5x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CMCO.
Stocks We Like More
Trump’s April 2025 tariff bombshell triggered a massive market selloff, but stocks have since staged an impressive recovery, leaving those who panic sold on the sidelines.
Take advantage of the rebound by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. 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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