ETFOptimize | High-performance ETF-based Investment Strategies

Quantitative strategies, Wall Street-caliber research, and insightful market analysis since 1998.


ETFOptimize | HOME
Close Window

2 Consumer Stocks with Exciting Potential and 1 to Be Wary Of

FIVE Cover Image

Retailers are overhauling their operations as technology redefines the shopping experience. Still, secular trends are working against their favor as e-commerce continues to take share from brick and mortars. This puts retail stocks in a tough spot, and over the past six months, the industry has pulled back by 13.7%. This performance was worse than the S&P 500’s 5.5% decline.

Despite the lackluster result, a few diamonds in the rough can produce earnings growth no matter what, and we started StockStory to help you find them. With that said, here are two resilient consumer stocks at the top of our shopping list and one we’re swiping left on.

One Consumer Retail Stock to Sell:

Five Below (FIVE)

Market Cap: $4.69 billion

Often facilitating a treasure hunt shopping experience, Five Below (NASDAQ: FIVE) is an American discount retailer that sells a variety of products from mobile phone cases to candy to sports equipment for largely $5 or less.

Why Does FIVE Worry Us?

  1. Lagging same-store sales over the past two years suggest it might have to change its pricing and marketing strategy to stimulate demand
  2. Smaller revenue base of $3.88 billion means it hasn’t achieved the economies of scale that some industry juggernauts enjoy
  3. ROIC of 10.4% reflects management’s challenges in identifying attractive investment opportunities, and its decreasing returns suggest its historical profit centers are aging

Five Below’s stock price of $85.25 implies a valuation ratio of 16.8x forward P/E. Read our free research report to see why you should think twice about including FIVE in your portfolio.

Two Consumer Retail Stocks to Watch:

Sprouts (SFM)

Market Cap: $15.83 billion

Playing on the secular trend of healthier living, Sprouts Farmers Market (NASDAQ: SFM) is a grocery store chain emphasizing natural and organic products.

Why Is SFM Interesting?

  1. Offensive push to build new stores and attack its untapped market opportunities is backed by its same-store sales growth
  2. Comparable store sales rose by 6.6% on average over the past two years, demonstrating its ability to drive increased spending at existing locations
  3. Free cash flow margin grew by 2.1 percentage points over the last year, giving the company more chips to play with

At $162 per share, Sprouts trades at 33.3x forward P/E. Is now the right time to buy? Find out in our full research report, it’s free.

Warby Parker (WRBY)

Market Cap: $1.91 billion

Founded in 2010, Warby Parker (NYSE: WRBY) designs, manufactures, and sells eyewear, including prescription glasses, sunglasses, and contact lenses, through its e-commerce platform and physical retail locations.

Why Are We Fans of WRBY?

  1. Fast expansion of new stores indicates an aggressive approach to attacking untapped market opportunities
  2. Differentiated product assortment leads to a best-in-class gross margin of 55.1%
  3. Free cash flow margin grew by 3.4 percentage points over the last year, giving the company more chips to play with

Warby Parker is trading at $16.53 per share, or 42.1x forward P/E. Is now a good time to buy? See for yourself in our full research report, it’s free.

Stocks We Like Even More

Donald Trump’s victory in the 2024 U.S. Presidential Election sent major indices to all-time highs, but stocks have retraced as investors debate the health of the economy and the potential impact of tariffs.

While this leaves much uncertainty around 2025, a few companies are poised for long-term gains regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate, like our Top 5 Growth Stocks for this month. This is a curated list of our High Quality stocks that have generated a market-beating return of 176% over the last five years.

Stocks that made our list in 2020 include now familiar names such as Nvidia (+1,545% between March 2020 and March 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 for free.

Recent Quotes

View More
Symbol Price Change (%)
AMZN  229.11
-3.27 (-1.41%)
AAPL  280.70
-3.45 (-1.21%)
AMD  215.98
-1.62 (-0.74%)
BAC  54.16
+0.07 (0.13%)
GOOG  318.39
-2.23 (-0.70%)
META  661.53
+21.93 (3.43%)
MSFT  480.84
+3.11 (0.65%)
NVDA  183.38
+3.79 (2.11%)
ORCL  214.33
+6.60 (3.18%)
TSLA  454.53
+7.79 (1.74%)
Stock Quote API & Stock News API supplied by www.cloudquote.io
Quotes delayed at least 20 minutes.
By accessing this page, you agree to the Privacy Policy and Terms Of Service.


 

IntelligentValue Home
Close Window

DISCLAIMER

All content herein is issued solely for informational purposes and is not to be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to buy, nor should it be interpreted as a recommendation to buy, hold or sell (short or otherwise) any security.  All opinions, analyses, and information included herein are based on sources believed to be reliable, but no representation or warranty of any kind, expressed or implied, is made including but not limited to any representation or warranty concerning accuracy, completeness, correctness, timeliness or appropriateness. We undertake no obligation to update such opinions, analysis or information. You should independently verify all information contained on this website. Some information is based on analysis of past performance or hypothetical performance results, which have inherent limitations. We make no representation that any particular equity or strategy will or is likely to achieve profits or losses similar to those shown. Shareholders, employees, writers, contractors, and affiliates associated with ETFOptimize.com may have ownership positions in the securities that are mentioned. If you are not sure if ETFs, algorithmic investing, or a particular investment is right for you, you are urged to consult with a Registered Investment Advisor (RIA). Neither this website nor anyone associated with producing its content are Registered Investment Advisors, and no attempt is made herein to substitute for personalized, professional investment advice. Neither ETFOptimize.com, Global Alpha Investments, Inc., nor its employees, service providers, associates, or affiliates are responsible for any investment losses you may incur as a result of using the information provided herein. Remember that past investment returns may not be indicative of future returns.

Copyright © 1998-2017 ETFOptimize.com, a publication of Optimized Investments, Inc. All rights reserved.