Companies with more cash than debt can be financially resilient, but that doesn’t mean they’re all strong investments. Some lack leverage because they struggle to grow or generate consistent profits, making them unattractive borrowers.
Financial flexibility is valuable, but it’s not everything - at StockStory, we help you find the stocks that can not only survive but also outperform. That said, here is one company with a net cash position that balances growth with stability and two best left off your watchlist.
Two Stocks to Sell:
Couchbase (BASE)
Net Cash Position: $138.1 million (10.2% of Market Cap)
Named after its fusion of Apache CouchDB and Membase technologies, Couchbase (NASDAQ:BASE) provides a modern cloud database platform that combines the reliability of traditional relational databases with the flexibility and scalability of NoSQL systems.
Why Do We Avoid BASE?
- Competitive market means the company must spend more on sales and marketing to stand out even if the return on investment is low
- Persistent operating margin losses suggest the business manages its expenses poorly
- Negative free cash flow raises questions about the return timeline for its investments
Couchbase’s stock price of $24.51 implies a valuation ratio of 6.1x trailing 12-month price-to-sales. If you’re considering BASE for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Calavo (CVGW)
Net Cash Position: $35.15 million (7.6% of Market Cap)
A trailblazer in the avocado industry, Calavo Growers (NASDAQ:CVGW) is a pioneering California-based provider of high-quality avocados and other fresh food products.
Why Do We Think CVGW Will Underperform?
- Products have few die-hard fans as sales have declined by 17.2% annually over the last three years
- Sales are projected to tank by 1.5% over the next 12 months as its demand continues evaporating
- Gross margin of 10.1% is below its competitors, leaving less money to invest in areas like marketing and production facilities
At $26.11 per share, Calavo trades at 14.7x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CVGW, check out our full research report (it’s free).
One Stock to Buy:
Stride (LRN)
Net Cash Position: $232.7 million (3.7% of Market Cap)
Formerly known as K12, Stride (NYSE:LRN) is an education technology company providing education solutions through digital platforms.
Why Is LRN a Top Pick?
- Rapid growth in enrollments demonstrates strong market adoption
- Incremental sales significantly boosted profitability as its annual earnings per share growth of 56.8% over the last two years outstripped its revenue performance
- Free cash flow margin expanded by 8.6 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
Stride is trading at $144.75 per share, or 18.4x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
When Trump unveiled his aggressive tariff plan in April 2025, markets tanked as investors feared a full-blown trade war. But those who panicked and sold missed the subsequent rebound that’s already erased most losses.
Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at 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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