2 Cash-Producing Stocks with Promising Prospects and 1 That Underwhelm
Generating cash is essential for any business, but not all cash-rich companies are great investments. Some produce plenty of cash but fail to allocate it effectively, leading to missed opportunities.
Luckily for you, we built StockStory to help you separate the good from the bad. That said, here are two cash-producing companies that excel at turning cash into shareholder value and one that may struggle to keep up.
One Stock to Sell:
Zumiez (ZUMZ)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 2.7%
With store associates called “Zumiez Stash Members”, Zumiez (NASDAQ:ZUMZ) is a specialty retailer of street and skate apparel, footwear, and accessories.
Why Should You Sell ZUMZ?
- Reduction in its number of stores signals a focus on profitability through targeted consolidation
- Smaller revenue base of $932.8 million means it hasn’t achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy
- Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging
Zumiez is trading at $14.40 per share, or 43.3x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with ZUMZ, check out our full research report (it’s free).
Two Stocks to Watch:
Booking (BKNG)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 33.8%
Formerly known as The Priceline Group, Booking Holdings (NASDAQ:BKNG) is the world’s largest online travel agency.
Why Do We Like BKNG?
- Platform is difficult to replicate at scale and leads to a best-in-class gross margin of 87%
- Disciplined cost controls and effective management resulted in a strong two-year EBITDA margin of 36.4%, and its profits increased over the last few years as it scaled
- BKNG is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
At $164.35 per share, Booking trades at 11.7x forward EV/EBITDA. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Marsh (MRSH)
Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 17.1%
With roots dating back to 1871 and a presence in over 130 countries, Marsh (NYSE:MRSH) is a global professional services firm that helps organizations manage risk, strategy, and workforce challenges through its four specialized businesses.
Why Are We Fans of MRSH?
- Offerings and unique value proposition resonate with customers, as seen in its above-market 8.8% annual sales growth over the last two years
- Dominant market position is represented by its $27.95 billion in revenue and gives it fixed cost leverage when sales grow
- Strong free cash flow margin of 15.9% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently, and its rising cash conversion increases its margin of safety
Marsh’s stock price of $169.84 implies a valuation ratio of 15.7x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
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Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+1,154% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.