Mid-cap stocks often strike the right balance between having proven business models and market opportunities that can support $100 billion corporations. However, they face intense competition from scaled industry giants and can be disrupted by new innovative players vying for a slice of the pie.
This is precisely where StockStory comes in - we do the heavy lifting to identify companies with solid fundamentals so you can invest with confidence. Keeping that in mind, here are three mid-cap stocks to swipe left on and some alternatives you should look into instead.
Clorox (CLX)
Market Cap: $12.65 billion
Founded in 1913 with bleach as the sole product offering, Clorox (NYSE:CLX) today is a consumer products giant whose product portfolio spans everything from bleach to skincare to salad dressing to kitty litter.
Why Are We Hesitant About CLX?
- Annual sales declines of 1.3% for the past three years show its products struggled to connect with the market
- Organic revenue growth fell short of our benchmarks over the past two years and implies it may need to improve its products, pricing, or go-to-market strategy
- Sales are expected to decline once again over the next 12 months as it continues working through a challenging demand environment
At $103.80 per share, Clorox trades at 16.2x forward P/E. If you’re considering CLX for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.
Zebra (ZBRA)
Market Cap: $12.19 billion
Taking its name from the black and white stripes of barcodes, Zebra Technologies (NASDAQ:ZBRA) provides barcode scanners, mobile computers, RFID systems, and other data capture technologies that help businesses track assets and optimize operations.
Why Do We Think Twice About ZBRA?
- 1.7% annual revenue growth over the last two years was slower than its business services peers
- Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
- Free cash flow margin shrank by 7 percentage points over the last five years, suggesting the company is consuming more capital to stay competitive
Zebra is trading at $240.42 per share, or 14.1x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including ZBRA in your portfolio.
CNA Financial (CNA)
Market Cap: $12.53 billion
With roots dating back to 1853 and majority ownership by Loews Corporation, CNA Financial (NYSE:CNA) is a commercial property and casualty insurance provider offering coverage for businesses, including professional liability, surety bonds, and specialized risk management services.
Why Does CNA Fall Short?
- Large revenue base constrains its growth potential, as seen in its unexciting 7.3% annualized increases in net premiums earned over the last five years fell below our expectations for the insurance sector
- Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 6.8% annually
- Annual book value per share declines of 1.1% for the past five years show its capital management struggled during this cycle
CNA Financial’s stock price of $46.29 implies a valuation ratio of 9.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than CNA.
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 Kadant (+351% 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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