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The 5 Best Growth Stocks to Buy Right Now for 2026
The Motley Fool· 2025-12-21 20:40
Core Insights - A group of five growth stocks is highlighted as potential multibaggers for long-term investors, despite recent declines of 22% to 55% from their 52-week highs [1][2] Group 1: Rocket Lab USA - Rocket Lab USA has seen its sales increase nearly tenfold since its IPO in 2021, positioning it as the No. 3 player in the launch services industry [4][5] - The company is expected to launch its Neutron rocket in Q1 next year, which could enhance its competitive stance against larger peers like SpaceX [4] - The space industry is projected to grow from $630 billion in 2023 to $1.8 trillion by 2035, indicating significant growth potential for Rocket Lab, which has a current market cap of $28 billion [7] - Rocket Lab's gross margin stands at 28.93%, and shares are currently 20% below their high, making it an attractive investment opportunity [9] Group 2: Kinsale Capital - Kinsale Capital Group has delivered a 39% total return since its 2016 IPO, with a combined ratio of 77%, outperforming peers with an average of 92% [10][11] - The company focuses on small, hard-to-assess risks, which has allowed it to carve out a profitable niche, although its revenue growth slowed to 19% in the latest quarter due to increased pricing competition [12] - Kinsale's stock is down 24% due to this growth slowdown, presenting a potential buying opportunity [13] Group 3: MercadoLibre - MercadoLibre has transformed from $85 million in sales at its 2007 IPO to $26 billion today, making it a 70-bagger [14] - The company operates in a market where online buying penetration in Latin America is only half that of the U.S., indicating further growth potential [15] - MercadoLibre's logistics network supports its e-commerce and fintech operations, and the stock has dipped 23% from its July 2025 highs, making it a favorable buy [16] Group 4: SPS Commerce - SPS Commerce has delivered 18% annualized returns since 2010, with sales growing 26 times in value during that period [17] - The company has achieved 99 consecutive quarters of positive sales growth, although its growth rate has decelerated, leading to a 55% drop in stock price over the last year [18] Group 5: Dutch Bros - Dutch Bros has seen a 14% annual stock price increase since 2021 and aims to expand from 1,089 locations to 2,029 by 2029 [20] - The company plans to buy back shares using at least half of its free cash flow, marking a shift from previous reliance on issuing new shares [21][22] - Despite trading at 40 times cash from operations, the growth potential could make it a multibagger if expansion goals are met [23]
Cincinnati EPS Jumps 53 Percent in Q2
The Motley Fool· 2025-07-29 04:27
Core Insights - Cincinnati Financial reported Q2 2025 earnings that significantly exceeded analysts' expectations, with non-GAAP earnings per share of $1.97 compared to a consensus of $1.41, and GAAP revenue of $3.25 billion versus an estimate of $2.53 billion [1][5][12] Financial Performance - Non-GAAP EPS increased by 52.7% year-over-year from $1.29 in Q2 2024 to $1.97 in Q2 2025 [2] - GAAP revenue rose by 28.0% year-over-year from $2.54 billion in Q2 2024 to $3.25 billion in Q2 2025 [2] - Net income (GAAP) more than doubled, increasing 119.6% year-over-year to $685 million [2][5] - Book value per share reached $91.46, an increase of 11.8% from $81.79 in Q2 2024 [2][11] Insurance Metrics - The combined ratio for property and casualty operations improved to 94.9% from 98.5% year-over-year, indicating better underwriting performance [2][6] - Despite improvements, year-to-date combined ratios remain elevated at 103.8%, reflecting ongoing challenges from weather-related events [6] - The property casualty business experienced 11% growth in net written premiums, driven by new agency appointments [6] Segment Performance - Commercial lines insurance recorded net written premiums of $1.29 billion, up 9% from Q2 2024, with a combined ratio improvement to 92.9% [7] - Personal lines business saw a 20% growth in net written premiums but faced a high combined ratio of 102.0% due to catastrophe losses [7] - Excess and surplus lines insurance achieved 12% premium growth with a combined ratio of 91.1% [9] Strategic Focus - Cincinnati Financial's strategy emphasizes strong relationships with independent agencies, diversification of product lines, careful investment management, and maintaining capital strength [3][4] - The company appointed 258 new agency relationships in the first half of 2025, contributing to premium growth [8] Investment Performance - Pre-tax investment income rose 18% year-over-year, primarily driven by a 24% increase in bond interest [11] - The investment portfolio grew to $29.57 billion, with nearly 40% allocated to stocks, contributing to unrealized gains and increased book value per share [11] Future Outlook - Management did not provide specific numeric guidance for the remainder of fiscal 2025 but emphasized a focus on disciplined pricing and underwriting profitability [12] - Investors are advised to monitor trends in catastrophe losses and their impact on personal insurance profitability [13]
Why Kinsale Capital Stock Popped, Then Dropped Today
The Motley Fool· 2025-07-25 17:32
Core Viewpoint - Kinsale Capital Group reported strong second-quarter earnings that exceeded analysts' expectations, but its share price has remained flat due to concerns over increased competition in the commercial property insurance market [2][3]. Group 1: Financial Performance - Kinsale's second-quarter earnings led to a 7% increase in share price initially, but it has since returned to flat levels [2]. - The company increased gross written premiums (GWPs) by 5% and grew earnings per share by 45% [6]. - Kinsale recorded a combined ratio of 76%, indicating profitability, and delivered a return on equity of 33% [6]. Group 2: Market Challenges - The largest insurance division, commercial property, experienced a 17% decline in GWPs compared to the previous year, attributed to heightened competition and lower pricing [3]. - Despite the decline in commercial property, the growth rates for the rest of Kinsale's business increased by 14%, showcasing the company's diversification strategy [5]. Group 3: Management Insights - Management acknowledged that GWP growth fell below the target of annualized increases between 10% and 20%, attributing this to standard cyclicality in the excess-and-surplus insurance industry [7]. - CEO Michael Kehoe emphasized that the company's loss reserves are conservatively stated, which, along with strong underwriting capabilities, positions Kinsale as a promising long-term investment [7].