Wall Street’s bearish price targets for the stocks in this article signal serious concerns. Such forecasts are uncommon in an industry where maintaining cordial corporate relationships often trumps delivering the hard truth.
Accurately determining a company’s long-term prospects isn’t easy, especially when sentiment is weak. That’s where StockStory comes in - to help you find attractive investment candidates backed by unbiased research. That said, here are two stocks where you should be greedy instead of fearful and one where the outlook is warranted.
One Stock to Sell:
United Community Banks (UCB)
Consensus Price Target: $37.17 (10.7% implied return)
Starting as a small community bank in 1950 and expanding through strategic acquisitions across the Southeast, United Community Banks (NYSE: UCB) is a regional bank holding company that provides financial services including loans, deposits, wealth management, and merchant services across the southeastern United States.
Why Are We Hesitant About UCB?
- 6% annual revenue growth over the last two years was slower than its banking peers
- Incremental sales over the last five years were less profitable as its 6.7% annual earnings per share growth lagged its revenue gains
- Projected tangible book value per share growth of 9.3% for the next 12 months suggests sluggish capital generation
At $33.57 per share, United Community Banks trades at 1.1x forward P/B. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than UCB.
Two Stocks to Watch:
Booz Allen Hamilton (BAH)
Consensus Price Target: $106 (13% implied return)
With roots dating back to 1914 and deep ties to nearly all U.S. cabinet-level departments, Booz Allen Hamilton (NYSE: BAH) provides management consulting, technology services, and cybersecurity solutions primarily to U.S. government agencies and military branches.
Why Are We Fans of BAH?
- Offerings and unique value proposition resonate with customers, as seen in its above-market 7.8% annual sales growth over the last five years
- Large revenue base of $11.41 billion and strong customer awareness give it distribution advantages
- Improving returns on capital reflect management’s ability to monetize investments
Booz Allen Hamilton is trading at $93.78 per share, or 17.2x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
PJT (PJT)
Consensus Price Target: $182.40 (1.9% implied return)
Spun off from Blackstone in 2015 and founded by former Morgan Stanley executive Paul J. Taubman, PJT Partners (NYSE: PJT) is an advisory-focused investment bank that provides strategic advice, restructuring services, and fundraising solutions to corporations, boards, and investment firms.
Why Should PJT Be on Your Watchlist?
- Market share has increased this cycle as its 22.4% annual revenue growth over the last two years was exceptional
- Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 36.8% annually, topping its revenue gains
- ROE punches in at 27.3%, illustrating management’s expertise in identifying profitable investments
PJT’s stock price of $178.97 implies a valuation ratio of 24.6x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
Stocks We Like Even More
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-small-cap company Comfort Systems (+782% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
