We recently published a list of 8 High Growth High Margin Stocks to Invest In Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE) stands against other high growth high market stocks to invest in.

How Market Trends Shape Opportunities

When investor confidence is high, capital tends to flow into growth sectors, driving up stock prices and valuations. This is particularly relevant for companies with strong growth prospects and high margins, as they are often seen as more resilient in a recovering economy. Current market dynamics indicate that much of the upward movement may be attributed to multiple expansions rather than just earnings growth. High-growth stocks typically trade at higher price-to-earnings ratios, so if the market continues to expand, these stocks could benefit significantly as investors are willing to pay a premium for growth potential.

Jason Trennert, Strategas Research Partners chairman and CEO, joined CNBC’s ‘Squawk Box’ on October 3 to discuss the latest market trends and the state of the economy, highlighting that the bar is high to get bearish now.

Jason Trennert revealed that he turned bullish at the end of 2023 after initially predicting a recession. Despite the challenges of 2022 and early 2023, which made it difficult to envision a market recovery, he noted that the market has defied expectations and continued to rise. Trennert attributed a significant portion of this upward movement to multiple expansions rather than just earnings growth. He marked a pivotal moment in 2023 as the failure of Silicon Valley Bank, which led to increased liquidity in the market and a subsequent rally. He recalled that around eleven months ago, the S&P 500 briefly hit 4,100 when ten-year yields reached 5%, suggesting that market dynamics have shifted considerably since then.

When discussing current valuations, Trennert pointed out that the market is trading at approximately 22 times earnings during an easing cycle. He expressed skepticism about future earnings growth, as expectations for a 14% increase in S&P earnings next year seem inconsistent with the anticipated six rate cuts from the Fed. He emphasized that if the market is expecting such significant easing while also projecting strong earnings growth, there may be a disconnect.

Trennert also addressed concerns regarding government spending and deficits, noting that the federal deficit has reached 7% of GDP and expressing a desire for more free-market-oriented policies rather than gridlock in Washington. He criticized both parties for their lack of commitment to reducing deficits and highlighted the moral hazard created by prolonged quantitative easing over the past 12 years. He believes that this situation has led to irresponsible spending practices that will eventually necessitate accountability. Despite these concerns, Trennert acknowledged that it is challenging to adopt a bearish outlook given current market conditions. He noted that ten-year treasury yields above 4.5% typically lead to market indigestion, while yields below this threshold make it hard to remain pessimistic.

As for small-cap stocks, Trennert pointed out that they have historically been underrepresented in portfolios and may offer opportunities for future growth. He highlighted that many venture capital-backed firms are looking to go public, with approximately 45% of them potentially tapping into the IPO market at some point. However, he cautioned that if the economy continues to slow down and earnings growth expectations are not met, small caps may struggle.

Skepticism about the projected earnings growth for the S&P 500 could also apply to high-growth stocks. If expectations for earnings growth are too optimistic relative to economic conditions, such as anticipated rate cuts, it may lead to volatility in high-growth stocks, especially if actual earnings do not meet these elevated expectations. Companies with high-profit margins are generally better positioned to weather economic downturns. As Trennert noted concerns regarding government spending and deficits, firms that maintain or improve their profit margins may be more attractive to investors seeking stability amidst economic uncertainty.

Trennert’s overall analysis underscores the importance of monitoring government policies and economic indicators as they influence investor sentiment and market performance moving forward. Still, his predominantly bullish sentiment lays the groundwork for a lot of investors, and to make the portfolio expansion process even easier for them, we’re here with a list of the 8 high growth high margin stocks to invest in now.

Methodology

We sifted through Finviz to compile an initial list of the top stocks. From that list, we narrowed our choices to 15 companies with TTM net profit margin above 20% and 5-year net income compound annual growth rates above 25%. We then selected the 8 stocks that were the most popular among elite hedge funds and that analysts were bullish on. The stocks are ranked in ascending order of the number of hedge funds that have stakes in them, as of Q2 2024.

Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE)

5-Year Net Income CAGR: 44.06%

TTM Net Profit Margin: 26.86%

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 35  

StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE) is a Brazilian financial technology company that provides payment solutions and financial services to small and medium-sized businesses, offering products like point-of-sale systems, payment gateways, and credit card machines. It differentiates itself with superior client service, tech-enabled distribution, and a comprehensive merchant platform.

The company has experienced significant growth in the micro and small business (MSMB) market. Financial services revenue has increased by 10.6% due to a 30% growth in MSMB payment customers and higher revenue per customer. The company’s overall customer base has grown by 30%, and total payment volume (TPV) has increased by 25%.

Its banking division has seen even more impressive growth, with a 62% increase in clients and a 65% rise in client deposits, driven by investments in sales and the opportunities presented by Brazil’s PIX NFC and open banking initiatives.

Total revenue in Q2 was down 1.06% year-over-year, due to the rising popularity of PIX QR Code payments, which has reduced card transactions. Despite this, the company has made progress in credit and banking and remains well-positioned to capitalize on Brazil’s growing fintech market, where it currently holds a market share of ~11%. Vertical software revenue increased 3% year-over-year due to higher recurring revenue, though non-recurring revenue declined in priority sectors.

StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE) is well-positioned for continued growth. Its focus on empowering clients, combined with its strong competitive advantages, has driven impressive revenue growth and profitability. The company’s recent financial results demonstrate its strength in payments, banking, and software solutions, making it a promising investment opportunity.

Based on the strong trajectory of results demonstrated through the year’s first half, StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE) is set to achieve its long-term goals.

Ave Maria World Equity Fund stated the following regarding StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE) in its fourth quarter 2023 investor letter:

“StoneCo Ltd. (NASDAQ:STNE) provides solutions that enable merchants and integrated partners to conduct electronic commerce seamlessly across in-store, online, and mobile channels in Brazil. StoneCo has faced near-term operational challenges because of the pandemic and high levels of inflation in Brazil. The company appears to be moving past these challenges and it appears that the successful integration of the newly acquired software business with its payments business will drive substantial shareholder value longer term.”

Overall, STNE ranks 7th on our list of high growth high market stocks to invest in. While we acknowledge the growth potential of STNE as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold great promise for delivering high returns and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than STNE but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.