2 Services Stocks to Target This Week and 1 We Avoid Petr Huřťák Tue, October 13, 2026 at 6:03 AM EDT 3 min read VRSK -0.08% ^GSPC -0.06% IONQ -9.07% MSI +0.48% Explore stocks on Coinbase Trading disclosure Trading disclosure The above button links to Coinbase. Yahoo Finance is not a broker-dealer or investment adviser and does not offer securities or cryptocurrencies for sale or facilitate trading. Coinbase pays us for certain activity generated through this link. Prices displayed are informational.
Business services providers play a critical role for enterprises, assisting them with everything from new hardware integrations to consulting and marketing. Market leaders have certainly capitalized on outsourcing trends and digital transformation initiatives to boost sales, helping fuel a 19.6% gain for the industry over the past six months - 6.1 percentage points higher than the S&P 500.
Regardless of these results, investors must exercise caution as many companies in this space are sensitive to the ebbs and flows of the broader economy. Keeping that in mind, here are two resilient services stocks at the top of our wish list and one we would avoid.
Processing over 2.8 billion insurance transaction records annually through one of the world's largest private databases, Verisk Analytics (NASDAQ:VRSK) provides data, analytics, and technology solutions that help insurance companies assess risk, detect fraud, and make better business decisions.
Annual revenue growth of 1.7% over the last five years was below our standards for the business services sector
Earnings per share lagged its peers over the last two years as they only grew by 8% annually
Verisk is trading at $177.28 per share, or 21.7x forward P/E. Dive into our free research report to see why there are better opportunities than VRSK.
Founded by quantum physics pioneers from the University of Maryland and Duke University in 2015, IonQ (NYSE:IONQ) develops quantum computers that process information using trapped ions to solve complex computational problems beyond the capabilities of traditional computers.
Impressive 181% annual revenue growth over the last two years indicates it's winning market share this cycle
Notable projected revenue growth of 166% for the next 12 months hints at market share gains
Adjusted operating profits increased over the last five years as the company gained some leverage on its fixed costs and became more efficient
At $36.28 per share, IonQ trades at 22.4x forward price-to-sales. Is now the time to initiate a position? Find out in our full research report, it's free.
Born from the company that invented the first portable handheld police radio in 1940, Motorola Solutions (NYSE:MSI) provides mission-critical communications, video security, and command center software solutions for public safety agencies and enterprise customers.
Annual revenue growth of 9.2% over the last five years was superb and indicates its market share increased during this cycle
Adjusted operating profits and efficiency rose over the last five years as it benefited from some fixed cost leverage
Strong free cash flow margin of 18.9% enables it to reinvest or return capital consistently, and its recently improved profitability means it has even more resources to invest or distribute
Motorola Solutions's stock price of $447.72 implies a valuation ratio of 24.5x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it's free.
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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 Tecnoglass (+1,552% between June 2020 and June 2025). Find your next big winner with StockStory today.
