Healthcare companies are pushing the status quo by innovating in areas like drug development and digital health. But speed bumps such as inventory destockings have persisted in the wake of COVID-19, and over the past six months, the industry has pulled back by 6.3%. This performance is a noticeable divergence from the S&P 500’s 5.1% return.

While some businesses have durable competitive advantages that enable them to grow consistently, the odds aren’t great for the ones we’re analyzing today. Taking that into account, here are three healthcare stocks we’re steering clear of.

Omnicell (OMCL)

Market Cap: $1.78 billion

Founded in 1992, Omnicell (NASDAQ:OMCL) provides automation solutions for pharmacies and healthcare providers, with a focus on improving medication management, operational efficiency, and patient safety.

Why Do We Think OMCL Will Underperform?

1. Customers postponed purchases of its products and services this cycle as its revenue declined by 7.4% annually over the last two years
2. Incremental sales over the last five years were much less profitable as its earnings per share fell by 9.6% annually while its revenue grew
3. Diminishing returns on capital from an already low starting point show that neither management’s prior nor current bets are going as planned

Omnicell is trading at $39.87 per share, or 21.4x forward price-to-earnings. If you’re considering OMCL for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

NeoGenomics (NEO)

Market Cap: $1.26 billion

Founded in 2001, NeoGenomics (NASDAQ:NEO) provides genetic and molecular testing services to support cancer diagnosis and treatment decisions, specializing in clinical testing, molecular oncology, and pharmacogenomics (impact of genes on drugs and vice versa).

Why Should You Sell NEO?

1. Issuance of new shares over the last five years caused its earnings per share to fall by 20.3% annually while its revenue grew
2. Negative returns on capital show management lost money while trying to expand the business, and its falling returns suggest its earlier profit pools are drying up
3. Short cash runway increases the probability of a capital raise that dilutes existing shareholders

NeoGenomics’s stock price of $9.82 implies a valuation ratio of 48.8x forward price-to-earnings. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why NEO doesn’t pass our bar.

Select Medical (SEM)

Market Cap: $2.38 billion

Founded in 1996, Select Medical (NYSE:SEM) operates critical illness recovery hospitals, rehabilitation hospitals, outpatient rehabilitation clinics, and occupational health centers across the US.

Why Does SEM Fall Short?

1. Declining admissions over the past two years imply it may need to invest in improvements to get back on track
2. Estimated sales decline of 17.4% for the next 12 months implies a challenging demand environment
3. Free cash flow margin dropped by 11.5 percentage points over the last five years, implying the company became more capital intensive as competition picked up

At $18.65 per share, Select Medical trades at 16x forward price-to-earnings. To fully understand why you should be careful with SEM, check out our full research report (it’s free).

Stocks We Like More

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