The Russell 2000 is packed with potential breakout stocks, thanks to its focus on smaller companies with high growth potential. However, smaller size also means these businesses often lack the resilience and financial flexibility of large-cap firms, making careful selection crucial.

Navigating this part of the market can be tricky, which is why we built StockStory to help you separate the winners from the laggards. Keeping that in mind, here are three Russell 2000 stocks to steer clear of and some alternatives to watch instead.

Q2 Holdings (QTWO)

Market Cap: $4.59 billion

Founded in 2004 by Hank Seale, Q2 (NYSE:QTWO) offers software-as-a-service that enables small banks to provide online banking and consumer lending services to their clients.

Why Are We Hesitant About QTWO?

1. 11.7% annual revenue growth over the last three years was slower than its software peers
2. Bad unit economics and steep infrastructure costs are reflected in its gross margin of 50.9%, one of the worst among software companies
3. Suboptimal cost structure is highlighted by its history of operating losses

At $70.01 per share, Q2 Holdings trades at 6.3x forward price-to-sales. If you’re considering QTWO for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

Laureate Education (LAUR)

Market Cap: $3.06 billion

Founded in 1998 by Douglas L. Becker and based in Miami, Laureate Education (NASDAQ:LAUR) is a global network of higher education institutions.

Why Does LAUR Fall Short?

1. Demand for its offerings was relatively low as its number of enrolled students has underwhelmed
2. Demand is forecasted to shrink as its estimated sales for the next 12 months are flat
3. Low returns on capital reflect management’s struggle to allocate funds effectively

Laureate Education is trading at $19.50 per share, or 14.5x forward price-to-earnings. Check out our free in-depth research report to learn more about why LAUR doesn’t pass our bar.

Sphere Entertainment (SPHR)

Market Cap: $1.03 billion

Famous for its viral Las Vegas Sphere venue, Sphere Entertainment (NYSE:SPHR) hosts live entertainment events and distributes content across various media platforms.

Why Are We Out on SPHR?

1. Annual revenue growth of 1.7% over the last five years was below our standards for the consumer discretionary sector
2. Cash-burning tendencies make us wonder if it can sustainably generate shareholder value
3. Unfavorable liquidity position could lead to additional equity financing that dilutes shareholders

Sphere Entertainment’s stock price of $27.40 implies a valuation ratio of 22.1x forward EV-to-EBITDA. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including SPHR in your portfolio, it’s free.

Stocks We Like More

Market indices reached historic highs following Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November 2024, but the outlook for 2025 is clouded by new trade policies that could impact business confidence and growth.

While this has caused many investors to adopt a "fearful" wait-and-see approach, we’re leaning into our best ideas that can grow regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate. Take advantage of Mr. Market by checking out our Top 6 Stocks for this week. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 175% over the last five years.

Stocks that made our list in 2019 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+2,183% between December 2019 and December 2024) as well as under-the-radar businesses like Axon (+711% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today for free.