Financial institutions play a critical role, offering everything from consumer banking to wealth management and specialized financial solutions. But worries about economic uncertainty and potential market volatility have kept sentiment in check, and over the past six months, the industry has tumbled by 2.4%. This drawdown is a far cry from the S&P 500’s 7.7% ascent.
The elite companies can churn out earnings growth under any circumstance, however, and our mission at StockStory is to help you find them. With that said, here are three financials stocks boasting durable advantages.
Visa (V)
Market Cap: $627.5 billion
Processing over 829 million transactions daily and connecting billions of cards to 150 million merchant locations worldwide, Visa (NYSE: V) operates one of the world's largest electronic payments networks, facilitating secure money movement across more than 200 countries through its VisaNet processing platform.
Why Is V a Good Business?
- 14% annual revenue growth over the last five years surpassed the sector average as its products resonated with customers
- Performance over the past five years was boosted by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
- Stellar return on equity showcases management’s ability to surface highly profitable business ventures
Visa’s stock price of $329.62 implies a valuation ratio of 24.8x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Evercore (EVR)
Market Cap: $13.37 billion
Founded in 1995 as a boutique advisory firm focused on independence and client trust, Evercore (NYSE: EVR) is an independent investment banking firm that provides strategic advisory, capital markets, and wealth management services to corporations, financial sponsors, and high-net-worth individuals.
Why Will EVR Outperform?
- Market share has increased this cycle as its 25.9% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional
- Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 50.2% annually, topping its revenue gains
- ROE punches in at 32.9%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments
At $345.55 per share, Evercore trades at 19.3x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.
Shift4 (FOUR)
Market Cap: $4.04 billion
Starting as a payment gateway provider in 1999 and now processing over $200 billion in annual payment volume, Shift4 Payments (NYSE: FOUR) provides integrated payment processing solutions and software that help businesses accept and manage transactions across in-store, online, and mobile channels.
Why Are We Bullish on FOUR?
- Impressive 27.2% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Additional sales over the last two years increased its profitability as the 40.2% annual growth in its earnings per share outpaced its revenue
- ROE of 13% shows management can invest its resources competently
Shift4 is trading at $58.25 per share, or 9.8x 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 5 Growth Stocks for this month. 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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
