
3 Hated Stocks Facing Headwinds

Rock-bottom prices don't always mean rock-bottom businesses. The stocks we're examining today have all touched their 52-week lows, creating a classic investor's dilemma: bargain opportunity or value trap?
At StockStory, we dig beneath the surface of price movements to uncover whether a company's fundamentals justify its current valuation or suggest hidden potential. That said, here are three stocks where the skepticism is well-placed and some better opportunities to consider.
Microchip Technology (MCHP)
One-Month Return: -29.6%
Spun out from General Instrument in 1987, Microchip Technology (NASDAQ: MCHP) is a leading provider of microcontrollers and integrated circuits used mainly in the automotive world, especially in electric vehicles and their charging devices.
Why Are We Out on MCHP?
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Sales tumbled by 2.1% annually over the last five years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
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Sales are projected to tank by 9% over the next 12 months as its demand continues evaporating
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Free cash flow margin dropped by 13.4 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
At $38.90 per share, Microchip Technology trades at 21x forward price-to-earnings. If you’re considering MCHP for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more .
Floor And Decor (FND)
One-Month Return: -15.5%
Operating large, warehouse-style stores, Floor & Decor (NYSE:FND) is a specialty retailer that specializes in hard flooring surfaces for the home such as tiles, hardwood, stone, and laminates.
Why Are We Hesitant About FND?
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Poor same-store sales performance over the past two years indicates it’s having trouble bringing new shoppers into its brick-and-mortar locations
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Revenue base of $4.46 billion puts it at a disadvantage compared to larger competitors exhibiting economies of scale
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Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
Floor And Decor’s stock price of $72.54 implies a valuation ratio of 36.4x forward price-to-earnings. To fully understand why you should be careful with FND, check out our full research report (it’s free) .
Standex (SXI)
One-Month Return: -18.8%
Holding over 500 patents globally, Standex (NYSE:SXI) is a manufacturer and distributor of industrial components for various sectors.
Why Are We Wary of SXI?
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Sales tumbled by 1.7% annually over the last two years, showing market trends are working against its favor during this cycle
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Earnings growth over the last two years fell short of the peer group average as its EPS only increased by 5.4% annually