The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%. But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.

At StockStory, we look beyond the headlines with our independent analysis to determine whether these bullish calls are justified. Keeping that in mind, here are three stocks where Wall Street may be overlooking some important risks and some alternatives with better fundamentals.

Beyond Meat (BYND)

Consensus Price Target: $12.50 (49.3% implied return)

A pioneer at the forefront of the plant-based protein revolution, Beyond Meat (NASDAQ: BYND) is a food company specializing in alternatives to traditional meat products.

Why Is BYND Risky?

1. Declining unit sales over the past two years imply it may need to invest in product improvements to get back on track
2. Increased cash burn over the last year raises questions about the return timeline for its investments
3. Unfavorable liquidity position could lead to additional equity financing that dilutes shareholders

Beyond Meat’s stock price of $8.37 implies a valuation ratio of 0.7x trailing 12-month price-to-sales. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BYND doesn’t pass our bar.

United Parks & Resorts (PRKS)

Consensus Price Target: $47.30 (44.2% implied return)

Parent company of SeaWorld and home of the world-famous Shamu, United Parks & Resorts (NYSE: PRKS) is a theme park chain featuring marine life, live entertainment, roller coasters, and waterparks.

Why Do We Pass on PRKS?

1. Demand for its offerings was relatively low as its number of visitors has underwhelmed
2. Poor free cash flow margin of 12.4% for the last two years limits its freedom to invest in growth initiatives, execute share buybacks, or pay dividends
3. Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned

United Parks & Resorts is trading at $32.81 per share, or 8.2x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than PRKS.

Core Laboratories (CLB)

Consensus Price Target: $15 (44.4% implied return)

With roots dating back to the first commercial oil boom, Core Laboratories (NYSE: CLB) analyzes rock and fluid samples from oil and gas reservoirs to help energy companies optimize production and recovery.

Why Do We Think CLB Will Underperform?

1. 3.1% annual revenue growth over the last five years was slower than its energy upstream and integrated energy peers
2. Smaller revenue base of $519.2 million means it hasn’t achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy
3. Gross margin of 20.3% reflects its high production costs and unfavorable asset base

At $10.39 per share, Core Laboratories trades at 16.4x forward P/E. To fully understand why you should be careful with CLB, check out our full research report (it’s free).

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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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-micro-cap company Kadant (+214% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.