The S&P 500 (^GSPC) is often seen as a benchmark for strong businesses, but that doesn’t mean every stock is worth owning. Some companies face significant challenges, whether it’s stagnating growth, heavy debt, or disruptive new competitors.
Even among blue-chip stocks, not all investments are created equal - which is why we built StockStory to help you navigate the market. Keeping that in mind, here are two S&P 500 stocks that could deliver good returns and one best left off your watchlist.
One Stock to Sell:
C.H. Robinson Worldwide (CHRW)
Market Cap: $20.71 billion
Engaging in contracts with tens of thousands of transportation companies, C.H. Robinson (NASDAQ: CHRW) offers freight transportation and logistics services.
Why Does CHRW Give Us Pause?
- Sales tumbled by 5.4% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
- Gross margin of 7.4% reflects its high production costs
- Diminishing returns on capital suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
C.H. Robinson Worldwide’s stock price of $173.84 implies a valuation ratio of 30.8x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CHRW.
Two Stocks to Buy:
AMD (AMD)
Market Cap: $371.1 billion
Founded in 1969 by a group of former Fairchild semiconductor executives led by Jerry Sanders, Advanced Micro Devices (NASDAQ: AMD) is one of the leading designers of computer processors and graphics chips used in PCs and data centers.
Why Is AMD a Good Business?
- Impressive 29.9% annual revenue growth over the last five years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Exciting sales outlook for the upcoming 12 months calls for 27.7% growth, an acceleration from its two-year trend
- Earnings growth has massively outpaced its peers over the last five years as its EPS has compounded at 27.9% annually
AMD is trading at $230.32 per share, or 39.9x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
EMCOR (EME)
Market Cap: $30.54 billion
Through its network of over 70 subsidiaries, EMCOR (NYSE: EME) provides electrical, mechanical, and building construction and services
Why Are We Bullish on EME?
- Impressive 15.9% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Share buybacks catapulted its annual earnings per share growth to 47.4%, which outperformed its revenue gains over the last two years
- Returns on capital are growing as management capitalizes on its market opportunities
At $688.51 per share, EMCOR trades at 24.5x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
If your portfolio success hinges on just 4 stocks, your wealth is built on fragile ground. You have a small window to secure high-quality assets before the market widens and these prices disappear.
Don’t wait for the next volatility shock. Check out our Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. 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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
