Business services providers use their specialized expertise to help enterprises streamline operations and cut costs. But cutbacks in corporate spending and the threat of new AI products have kept sentiment in check, and over the past six months, the industry has tumbled by 2.1%. This performance was disappointing since the S&P 500 climbed 5.8%.

The elite companies can churn out earnings growth under any circumstance, however, and our mission at StockStory is to help you find them. Taking that into account, here is one services stock boasting a durable advantage and two we’re swiping left on.

Two Business ServicesStocks to Sell:

Brady (BRC)

Market Cap: $3.35 billion

Founded in 1914 and evolving through more than a century of industrial innovation, Brady (NYSE: BRC) manufactures and supplies identification solutions and workplace safety products that help companies identify and protect their premises, products, and people.

Why Does BRC Give Us Pause?

1. Core business is underperforming as its organic revenue has disappointed over the past two years, suggesting it might need acquisitions to stimulate growth
2. Modest revenue base of $1.46 billion gives it less fixed cost leverage and fewer distribution channels than larger companies
3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 3.7 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

Brady’s stock price of $70.73 implies a valuation ratio of 14.4x forward P/E. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why BRC doesn’t pass our bar.

OPENLANE (KAR)

Market Cap: $2.66 billion

Facilitating the sale of approximately 1.3 million used vehicles in 2023, OPENLANE (NYSE: KAR) operates digital marketplaces that connect sellers and buyers of used vehicles across North America and Europe, facilitating wholesale transactions.

Why Do We Steer Clear of KAR?

1. Products and services are facing significant end-market challenges during this cycle as sales have declined by 7.9% annually over the last five years
2. Free cash flow margin dropped by 11.7 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up
3. High net-debt-to-EBITDA ratio of 6× could force the company to raise capital at unfavorable terms if market conditions deteriorate

OPENLANE is trading at $25.24 per share, or 24.6x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than KAR.

One Business Services Stock to Watch:

Globalstar (GSAT)

Market Cap: $3.14 billion

Known for powering the emergency SOS feature in newer Apple iPhones, Globalstar (NASDAQ: GSAT) operates a network of low-earth orbit satellites that provide voice and data communications services in remote areas where traditional cellular networks don't reach.

Why Does GSAT Stand Out?

1. Annual revenue growth of 20.7% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
2. Incremental sales over the last two years have been highly profitable as its earnings per share increased by 33.7% annually, topping its revenue gains
3. Impressive free cash flow profitability enables the company to fund new investments or reward investors with share buybacks/dividends, and its rising cash conversion increases its margin of safety

At $24.80 per share, Globalstar trades at 30.3x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

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