1 Cash-Producing Stock to Own for Decades and 2 That Underwhelm

Barchart·03/31/2026 03:42:30

Generating cash is essential for any business, but not all cash-rich companies are great investments. Some produce plenty of cash but fail to allocate it effectively, leading to missed opportunities.

Luckily for you, we built StockStory to help you separate the good from the bad. Keeping that in mind, here is one cash-producing company that reinvests wisely to drive long-term success and two that may face some trouble.

Two Stocks to Sell:

DocuSign (DOCU)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 32.9%

Creating the digital equivalent of "sign on the dotted line" for over a billion users worldwide, DocuSign (NASDAQ:DOCU) provides an agreement management platform that enables businesses to electronically prepare, sign, and manage documents and contracts.

Why Are We Cautious About DOCU?

1. Average ARR growth of 8.7% over the last year has disappointed, suggesting it’s had a hard time winning long-term deals and renewals
2. Estimated sales growth of 8.4% for the next 12 months is soft and implies weaker demand
3. Operating profits increased over the last year as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient

At $46.92 per share, DocuSign trades at 2.7x forward price-to-sales. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including DOCU in your portfolio.

Royalty Pharma (RPRX)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 21.9%

Pioneering a unique business model in the pharmaceutical industry since 1996, Royalty Pharma (NASDAQ:RPRX) acquires rights to receive portions of sales from successful biopharmaceutical products, providing funding to drug developers without conducting research itself.

Why Does RPRX Worry Us?

1. Sales were flat over the last two years, indicating it’s failed to expand this cycle
2. Subscale operations are evident in its revenue base of $2.38 billion, meaning it has fewer distribution channels than its larger rivals

Royalty Pharma’s stock price of $46.38 implies a valuation ratio of 8.9x forward P/E. If you’re considering RPRX for your portfolio, see our FREE research report to learn more.

One Stock to Buy:

Chord Energy (CHRD)

Trailing 12-Month Free Cash Flow Margin: 14.2%

Holding the largest acreage position in the Williston Basin, Chord Energy (NASDAQ:CHRD) drills for and produces crude oil, natural gas liquids, and natural gas in North Dakota's Williston Basin.

Why Are We Bullish on CHRD?

1. Impressive 20% annual revenue growth over the last ten years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
2. Economies of scale give it some operating leverage when demand rises
3. Robust free cash flow margin of 24% gives it many options for capital deployment

Chord Energy is trading at $148.12 per share, or 17.6x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

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