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.

Finding the right unprofitable companies is difficult, which is why we started StockStory — to help you navigate the market. That said, here is one unprofitable company that could turn today’s losses into long-term gains and two that could struggle to survive.

Two Stocks to Sell:

Middleby (MIDD)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -3.2%

Holding a Guinness World Record for creating the world’s fastest conveyor pizza oven, Middleby (NASDAQ: MIDD) is a food service and equipment manufacturer.

Why Do We Pass on MIDD?

1. Absence of organic revenue growth over the past two years suggests it may have to lean into acquisitions to drive its expansion
2. Flat earnings per share over the last two years underperformed the sector average
3. Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned

Middleby’s stock price of $158.49 implies a valuation ratio of 15.9x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including MIDD in your portfolio.

Fortrea (FTRE)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -13.1%

Spun off from Labcorp in 2023 to focus exclusively on clinical research services, Fortrea (NASDAQ: FTRE) is a contract research organization that helps pharmaceutical, biotech, and medical device companies develop and bring their products to market through clinical trials and support services.

Why Do We Think FTRE Will Underperform?

1. Sales tumbled by 3.1% annually over the last four years, showing market trends are working against it during this cycle
2. Push for growth has led to negative returns on capital, signaling value destruction, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
3. Shrinking returns on capital from an already weak position reveal that neither previous nor ongoing investments are yielding the desired results

At $16.84 per share, Fortrea trades at 20.4x forward P/E. If you’re considering FTRE for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Stock to Watch:

Braze (BRZE)

Trailing 12-Month GAAP Operating Margin: -16.8%

With its technology powering interactions with 6.2 billion monthly active users across the digital landscape, Braze (NASDAQ: BRZE) provides a platform that helps brands build and maintain direct relationships with their customers through personalized, cross-channel messaging and engagement.

Why Do We Like BRZE?

1. Billings have averaged 32.1% growth over the last year, showing it’s securing new contracts that could potentially increase in value over time
2. Forecasted revenue growth of 18.6% for the next 12 months indicates its momentum over the last two years is sustainable
3. Software platform has product-market fit given the rapid recovery of its customer acquisition costs

Braze is trading at $21.81 per share, or 2.6x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our in-depth research report, it’s free.

High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions

WHILE YOU’RE HERE: Top 9 Market-Beating Stocks. The best stocks don’t just beat the market once. They do it again. And again. Robust revenue growth, rising free cash flow, returns on capital that leave their competition in the dust. The market has already rewarded these businesses.

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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 Exlservice (+354% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.