
Unprofitable companies can burn through cash quickly, leaving investors exposed if they fail to turn things around. Without a clear path to profitability, these businesses risk running out of capital or relying on dilutive fundraising.
A lack of profits can lead to trouble, but StockStory helps you identify the businesses that stand a chance of making it through. Keeping that in mind, here are three unprofitable companiesthat don’t make the cut and some better opportunities instead.
Domo (DOMO)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -14.1%
Named for the Japanese word meaning "thank you very much," Domo (NASDAQ:DOMO) provides a cloud-based business intelligence platform that connects people with real-time data and insights across organizations.
Why Do We Avoid DOMO?
- Customers had second thoughts about committing to its platform over the last year as its billings averaged 1.1% declines
- Sales are projected to be flat over the next 12 months and imply weak demand
- Customer acquisition costs take a while to recoup, making it difficult to justify sales and marketing investments that could increase revenue
Domo is trading at $13.22 per share, or 1.7x forward price-to-sales. To fully understand why you should be careful with DOMO, check out our full research report (it’s free for active Edge members).
Teleflex (TFX)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -7.5%
With a portfolio spanning from vascular access catheters to minimally invasive surgical tools, Teleflex (NYSE:TFX) designs, manufactures, and supplies single-use medical devices used in critical care and surgical procedures across hospitals worldwide.
Why Is TFX Not Exciting?
- Constant currency revenue growth has disappointed over the past two years and shows demand was soft
- Capital intensity has ramped up over the last five years as its free cash flow margin decreased by 12.1 percentage points
- Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results
Teleflex’s stock price of $112.26 implies a valuation ratio of 7.6x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why TFX doesn’t pass our bar.
Viatris (VTRS)
Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -18.8%
Created through the 2020 merger of Mylan and Pfizer's Upjohn division, Viatris (NASDAQ:VTRS) is a healthcare company that develops, manufactures, and distributes branded and generic medicines across more than 165 countries worldwide.
Why Should You Sell VTRS?
- Annual sales declines of 4.4% for the past two years show its products and services struggled to connect with the market during this cycle
- Performance over the past five years shows its incremental sales were much less profitable, as its earnings per share fell by 13.1% annually
- Negative returns on capital show that some of its growth strategies have backfired, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
At $11.13 per share, Viatris trades at 4.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than VTRS.
Stocks We Like More
Fresh US-China trade tensions just tanked stocks—but strong bank earnings are fueling a sharp rebound. Don’t miss the bounce.
Don’t let fear keep you from great opportunities and take a look at Top 5 Strong Momentum 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-small-cap company Exlservice (+354% 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
StockStory is growing and hiring equity analyst and marketing roles. Are you a 0 to 1 builder passionate about the markets and AI? See the open roles here.