Top 20 Large-Cap Stocks Right Now, Ranked by Marvin Scores
Marvin's rules picked 20 large companies, each above about ten billion dollars in size, that score highest overall against industry peers, with at most three per sector. The scores describe today, not the future.
Large-cap stocks are the biggest companies on the market. This list shows the 20 that Marvin's scores rate highest right now among companies above roughly ten billion dollars in size. It covers many sectors, from technology and energy to healthcare, utilities and real estate.
A high score is not a promise about the future. Marvin's scores only show how a company compares with other companies in its own industry today. Two stocks with the same score can look very different on growth, margins or debt, so read the figures behind each pick.
Some numbers are missing for certain companies, and a few picks carry real weaknesses such as heavy debt, shrinking revenue or current losses. Each short profile below points out one caution to keep in mind.
The list
How Marvin ranked these stocks
Marvin started with companies above roughly ten billion dollars in size and ranked them by Overall score, highest first, allowing at most three stocks per sector. Overall, Quality and Opportunity scores run out of one hundred and are measured against each company's own industry, so a score reflects standing among industry peers, not against every stock on the market.
Companies above about $300 million in size, ranked by Marvin scores (0-100, relative to each company's own industry). Companies above about $10 billion in size, highest Overall first; at most 3 per sector.
The stocks, one by one
AngloGold Ashanti Plc AU
AngloGold Ashanti, a gold company, scores 97 overall. Revenue grew 70.8% last year and return on equity is 39.2%, while debt-to-equity of 0.28 points to modest borrowing. Caution: operating and free cash flow margins are not available, so profit conversion is only partly visible.
Expand Energy Corporation EXE
Expand Energy scores 97 overall. It shows an operating margin of 26.9%, a free cash flow margin of 19.7% and low debt-to-equity of 0.19. Caution: revenue growth of 186.3% in one year is unusually large and is a thin basis for judging the business over time.
Gen Digital Inc. GEN
Gen Digital, a software company, has strong margins: 41.7% operating and 78.0% gross. Revenue grew 27.1% and return on equity is 39.6%. Caution: debt-to-equity of 3.08 is high, meaning the company leans heavily on borrowed money.
NVIDIA Corporation NVDA
NVIDIA, a semiconductor company, pairs 65.5% revenue growth with a 65.2% operating margin and a 41.9% free cash flow margin. Debt-to-equity is low at 0.17. Caution: the growth figure covers only the last fiscal year and may not describe future years.
Sandisk Corporation SNDK
Sandisk shows revenue growth of 175.3%, an operating margin of 61.2% and a free cash flow margin of 56.8%, with almost no debt at 0.01 debt-to-equity. Caution: one year of very fast growth does not mean results will stay steady.
Barrick Mining Corporation B
Barrick Mining, a gold company, scores 96 overall, with revenue growth of 31.2%, a free cash flow margin of 22.8% and return on equity of 18.8%. Debt-to-equity is low at 0.18. Caution: operating margin is not available, so the profit picture is incomplete.
Darden Restaurants, Inc. DRI
Darden Restaurants grew revenue a steady 9.4% with an operating margin of 11.7% and a free cash flow margin of 7.9%. Return on equity is high at 57.2%. Caution: debt-to-equity of 4.15 is high, and heavy borrowing can inflate return on equity.
Five Below, Inc. FIVE
Five Below grew revenue 22.9% last year, with a gross margin of 40.3%, an operating margin of 14.7% and return on equity of 25.0%. Those are healthy figures for a retailer. Caution: its debt-to-equity ratio is not available, so debt levels cannot be checked here.
General Dynamics Corporation GD
General Dynamics grew revenue 10.1% with an operating margin of 10.2% and a free cash flow margin of 11.5%, and debt-to-equity is a modest 0.38. Caution: margins are fairly thin, and its Opportunity score of 80 trails its Quality score of 95.
Globus Medical, Inc. GMED
Globus Medical, a medical device company, has a gross margin of 68.5% and a free cash flow margin of 24.0%, with revenue growth of 16.7%. Caution: return on equity of 11.2% is modest, its Opportunity score is 82, and debt-to-equity is not available.
Alphabet Inc. GOOGL
Alphabet has a strong operating margin of 33.1%, a gross margin of 60.9% and return on equity of 38.1%, with debt-to-equity low at 0.19. Caution: its free cash flow margin of 11.9% is much lower than its operating margin, and revenue growth was 15.1%.
TKO Group Holdings, Inc. TKO
TKO Group, an entertainment company, has an operating margin of 18.8% and a Quality score of 96. Return on equity is 6.8% and debt-to-equity is 1.46. Caution: revenue growth was negative at -3.1%, and free cash flow margin is not available.
American Electric Power Company, Inc. AEP
American Electric Power, a regulated electric utility, has an operating margin of 24.0%, revenue growth of 10.9% and a Quality score of 94. Caution: its Opportunity score of 59 is far lower than its overall score, and debt-to-equity of 1.65 is on the high side.
Quest Diagnostics Incorporated DGX
Quest Diagnostics grew revenue 11.8% with an operating margin of 14.1% and a free cash flow margin of 11.7%. Debt-to-equity is moderate at 0.85. Caution: margins and return on equity of 14.1% are solid but not exceptional.
Comfort Systems USA, Inc. FIX
Comfort Systems USA grew revenue 29.5% and earns return on equity of 44.6%, with a free cash flow margin of 19.2% and very low debt-to-equity of 0.11. Caution: its gross margin of 25.7% is lower than many other picks.
Hasbro, Inc. HAS
Hasbro has a gross margin of 75.6%, an operating margin of 20.6% and a free cash flow margin of 21.6%. Caution: debt-to-equity of 5.31 is very high, which likely helps push return on equity up to 108.7%.
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, Inc. MDGL
Madrigal Pharmaceuticals, a biotechnology company, grew revenue 432.1% from a small base and scores 95 overall. Caution: it is not yet profitable, with an operating margin of -25.1%, a free cash flow margin of -16.1% and return on equity of -62.1%.
Altria Group, Inc. MO
Altria, a tobacco company, shows a high operating margin of 46.8%, a free cash flow margin of 38.8% and a gross margin of 63.0%. Caution: revenue growth was negative at -3.1%, and return on equity and debt-to-equity are not available.
Verizon Communications Inc. VZ
Verizon, a telecommunications company, has an operating margin of 20.5% and return on equity of 15.4%. Caution: revenue growth was only 2.5%, debt-to-equity of 1.79 is fairly high, and free cash flow margin is not available.
American Homes 4 Rent AMH
American Homes 4 Rent, a residential REIT, has a Quality score of 89, return on equity of 8.0% and debt-to-equity of 0.76, which is moderate. Caution: growth and margin figures are not available, and return on equity is modest.
Common questions
What does large-cap mean?
Large-cap refers to companies with a large total stock market value. Marvin's list uses companies above roughly ten billion dollars in size. Large companies are often more established, but size does not guarantee good results.
Why are Marvin's scores relative to each industry?
Normal margins and debt levels differ a lot between industries. A utility and a software company, for example, run very different businesses. Scoring each company against its own industry gives a fairer comparison, but it means scores from different industries are not directly comparable.
Does a high Marvin score mean a stock is a good purchase?
No. The scores describe how a company compares with industry peers today and are not predictions or advice. Check the underlying figures such as growth, margins and debt, and consider your own goals and risk tolerance before making any decision.
Keep reading
- Top 20 Stocks for Beginners: Large, Profitable, Low-Debt
- Top 20 Top-Rated Stocks Right Now: Marvin's Favorites
- Top 20 Stocks to Hold for the Long Term, Ranked by Marvin
- Top 20 Growth Stocks Right Now
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Marvin's scores (0-100) compare each company with others in its industry today. Growth and margin figures come from SEC filings. This is general information, not personal investment advice or a recommendation to buy or sell anything. Do your own research.