Large-cap stocks have the power to shape entire industries thanks to their size and widespread influence. With such vast footprints, however, finding new areas for growth is much harder than for smaller, more agile players.
This dynamic can trouble even the most skilled investors, but luckily for you, we started StockStory to help you navigate these trade-offs and uncover exceptional companies that break the mold. That said, here are three large-cap stocks whose competitive advantages create flywheel effects.
Shopify (SHOP)
Market Cap: $158.1 billion
Starting with just three people selling snowboards online in 2004, Shopify (NASDAQ: SHOP) provides a comprehensive platform that enables merchants of all sizes to create, manage and grow their businesses across multiple sales channels.
Why Do We Love SHOP?
- Billings growth has averaged 30.7% over the last year, indicating a healthy pipeline of new contracts that should drive future revenue increases
- Revenue outlook for the upcoming 12 months is outstanding and shows it’s on track to gain market share
- User-friendly software enables clients to ramp up spending quickly, leading to the speedy recovery of customer acquisition costs
Shopify’s stock price of $121.45 implies a valuation ratio of 10.8x forward price-to-sales. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
HEICO (HEI)
Market Cap: $31.38 billion
Founded in 1957, HEICO (NYSE: HEI) manufactures and services aerospace and electronic components for commercial aviation, defense, space, and other industries.
Why Are We Bullish on HEI?
- Impressive 19.5% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it’s winning market share this cycle
- Earnings growth has massively outpaced its peers over the last two years as its EPS has compounded at 28.6% annually
- HEI is a free cash flow machine with the flexibility to invest in growth initiatives or return capital to shareholders
HEICO is trading at $260.72 per share, or 45.4x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Howmet (HWM)
Market Cap: $94.78 billion
Inventing the first forged aluminum truck wheel, Howmet (NYSE: HWM) specializes in lightweight metals engineering and manufacturing multi-material components used in vehicles.
Why Should You Buy HWM?
- Annual revenue growth of 11.5% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Performance over the past two years was turbocharged by share buybacks, which enabled its earnings per share to grow faster than its revenue
- Free cash flow margin expanded by 12.3 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
At $236.99 per share, Howmet trades at 51x forward P/E. 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
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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-micro-cap company Tecnoglass (+1,754% five-year return). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
