Expensive stocks typically earn their valuations through superior growth rates that other companies simply can’t match. The flip side though is that these lofty expectations make them particularly susceptible to drawdowns when market sentiment shifts.
Determining whether a company’s quality justifies its price causes headaches for nearly all investors, which is why we started StockStory - to help you separate the real opportunities from the speculative ones. Keeping that in mind, here are three high-flying stocks to hold for the long term.
Clean Harbors (CLH)
Forward P/E Ratio: 31.5x
Established in 1980, Clean Harbors (NYSE:CLH) provides environmental and industrial services like hazardous and non-hazardous waste disposal and emergency spill cleanups.
Why Do We Like CLH?
- Annual revenue growth of 13.5% over the past five years was outstanding, reflecting market share gains this cycle
- Share repurchases over the last five years enabled its annual earnings per share growth of 21.6% to outpace its revenue gains
- Free cash flow margin expanded by 5.9 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
Clean Harbors is trading at $313.74 per share, or 31.5x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.
Rocket Lab (RKLB)
Forward P/E Ratio: 3,225.3x
Becoming the first private company in the Southern Hemisphere to reach space, Rocket Lab (NASDAQ:RKLB) offers rockets designed for launching small satellites.
Why Do We Love RKLB?
- Annual revenue growth of 53.4% over the last two years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
- Cash burn has decreased over the last five years, showing the company is becoming a more self-sustaining business
- Historical investments are beginning to pay off as its returns on capital are growing
At $68.24 per share, Rocket Lab trades at 3,225.3x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.
Curtiss-Wright (CW)
Forward P/E Ratio: 39.4x
Formed from a merger of 12 companies, Curtiss-Wright (NYSE:CW) provides a range of products and services to the aerospace, industrial, electronic, and maritime industries.
Why Is CW a Top Pick?
- Annual revenue growth of 10.2% over the last two years beat the sector average and underscores the unique value of its offerings
- Share buybacks catapulted its annual earnings per share growth to 17.9%, which outperformed its revenue gains over the last two years
- Free cash flow margin expanded by 9 percentage points over the last five years, providing additional flexibility for investments and share buybacks/dividends
Curtiss-Wright’s stock price of $614.79 implies a valuation ratio of 39.4x forward P/E. Is now the time to initiate a position? See for yourself in our comprehensive research report, it’s free.
High-Quality Stocks for All Market Conditions
ALSO WORTH WATCHING: Top 5 Momentum Stocks. The best time to own a great stock is when the market is finally noticing it. These aren’t just high-quality businesses. Something is happening with them right now. Elite fundamentals meet near-term momentum — both boxes checked at the same time.
Find out which stocks our AI platform is flagging this week. See this week’s Strong Momentum stocks — FREE. Get Our Strong Momentum Stocks for Free HERE.
Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,460% between June 2020 and June 2025) as well as under-the-radar businesses like the once-micro-cap company Kadant (+214% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.