4 Soaring Stocks I'd Buy Now With No Hesitation

Source The Motley Fool

While technology stocks get a lot of attention from the media, there are a lot of attractive options in the consumer goods space as well. Here are four stocks in that sector that I'd buy without any hesitation.

Amazon

While often classified as a consumer goods stock, Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN) is really a combination of a consumer goods company and a technology company. It operates the largest e-commerce and logistics company in the world, where it sells both its own goods and those of third parties. This continues to be a steadily growing business, with its North American sales rising 9% last quarter and international sales up 12%.

Where to invest $1,000 right now? Our analyst team just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks to buy right now. See the 10 stocks »

Operating income for its retail businesses has been growing even more quickly, as the company has been using artificial intelligence (AI) to help improve efficiency both within its warehouses and on its delivery routes. It has also continued to see strong growth in higher-margin sponsored ads, off an already pretty large base.

Its largest business by profitability, though, is Amazon Web Services (AWS), its cloud computing business. It's growing quickly, with revenue up 19% last quarter, as the company provides foundation models for AI and helps customers build out their own AI models and applications through its BedRock and SageMaker solutions. It is currently the largest cloud infrastructure company in the world, holding a 31% share of that market.

Amazon has a long history of innovation and investing to win, and this ethos should help it continue to be a long-term winner.

Delivery man with package.

Image source: Getty Images.

Philip Morris International

Philip Morris International (NYSE: PM) is something rare -- a growth stock in a defensive industry. Though it has no U.S. exposure when it comes to traditional cigarettes, this part of the company's business is still growing through a combination of price increases and modest volume growth. However, Philip Morris' big growth driver has been its smokeless portfolio.

The company has seen huge growth from Zyn, a nicotine pouch made with nicotine powder and flavoring instead of tobacco. Last quarter, sales for the product continued to surge, with volumes jumping nearly 44%. Meanwhile, its also seeing solid sales growth for its heated tobacco Iqos system, with volumes rising nearly 9% last quarter. Philip Morris bought back the Iqos license for the U.S. from Altria, and could look to introduce the product on a wider scale here next year. It is currently looking to get the latest version of the product approved by the FDA, while testing an older version in a few select U.S. cities.

One big positive for Philip Morris is that both Zyn and Iqos have considerably better unit economics than traditional cigarettes. Management has said that in the U.S., Zyn's product contribution level is 6 times greater than cigarettes, while the product contribution level for Iqos is least 2 times better.

With strong volumes and better unit economics for its smokeless products, Philip Morris is in a strong position.

e.l.f. Beauty

While its stock had a down year in 2024, e.l.f. Beauty (NYSE: ELF) has been a huge winner the past five years -- the stock is up more than 650% over that stretch as of this writing. The company has taken tremendous market share in the mass cosmetics space in the U.S. the past few years. That could be seen in its 40% year-over-year revenue growth last quarter.

E.l.f. has a strong following among younger consumers. It has successfully used a fast-follower product strategy of replicating popular prestige brand items at much cheaper prices while using social media influencers to market its products. This has led to store shelf gains and better product placements, all of which have fed into its gains.

Meanwhile, the company still has large opportunities in the skincare category, where is has a smaller presence, and in international markets. Thus far, its moves in these areas have been successful.

Trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio (P/E) of 27.7 times based on estimates for its fiscal 2026 (which ends March 2026) and a price/earnings-to-growth ratio (PEG ratio) of 0.52, e.l.f is a cheap growth stock.

JAKKS Pacific

JAKKS Pacific (NASDAQ: JAKK) made a big upgrade in its executive suite a few years ago when it hired John L. Kimble as CFO following his stints at Walt Disney and Mattel. Meanwhile, over the past five years, the stock is up about 165% as of this writing.

Kimble has helped turn the toy company around and laid the groundwork for further solid performances. Nonetheless, the stock is one of the cheapest around, trading at a forward P/E of 6.5 and a PEG of under 0.3. Notably, it's also debt free.

A weak slate of kids movies hurt the stock in early 2024, but it could see a nice boost now that Moana 2 and Sonic 3 have landed at the box office. Both franchises have helped JAKKS toy sales in the past, and both had very strong showings in theaters. Sonic 3 was the best performing movie of the franchise, while Moana 2 has grossed over $1 billion globally.

JAKKS has also been focused on making its non-licensed business bigger, with a focus on evergreen content. It also previously signed a deal with Authentic Brands, owner of Roxy, Juicy Couture, Quiksilver, and other brands, to make items such as beach accessories, skateboards, roller skates and other items that it began to roll out in the fall of 2024.

With an improved box office slate, the Authentic Brands deals, and a cheap stock price, JAKKS Pacific in an under-the-radar stock to consider buying.

Should you invest $1,000 in Amazon right now?

Before you buy stock in Amazon, consider this:

The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now… and Amazon wasn’t one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years.

Consider when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of our recommendation, you’d have $874,051!*

Stock Advisor provides investors with an easy-to-follow blueprint for success, including guidance on building a portfolio, regular updates from analysts, and two new stock picks each month. The Stock Advisor service has more than quadrupled the return of S&P 500 since 2002*.

Learn more »

*Stock Advisor returns as of January 21, 2025

John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. Geoffrey Seiler has positions in JAKKS Pacific, Philip Morris International, and e.l.f. Beauty. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon, Walt Disney, and e.l.f. Beauty. The Motley Fool recommends Philip Morris International. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.

Disclaimer: For information purposes only. Past performance is not indicative of future results.
placeholder
Financial Markets 2026: Volatility Catalysts in Gold, Silver, Oil, and Blue-Chip Stocks—A CFD Trader's OutlookGet a comprehensive financial market 2026 outlook exploring key economic drivers, volatility catalysts in gold, oil and stocks, and what the evolving economic outlook means for cfd trading strategies and risk management on global markets.
Author  Rachel Weiss
May 15, Fri
Get a comprehensive financial market 2026 outlook exploring key economic drivers, volatility catalysts in gold, oil and stocks, and what the evolving economic outlook means for cfd trading strategies and risk management on global markets.
placeholder
Gold Price Forecast: Cooling Rate Hike Expectations Push Gold Above $4,400, Eyeing $4,500 Next As of the European session on August 11, gold prices (XAUUSD) briefly topped $4,400 intraday, reaching a high of $4,435.2, its highest level since June 5. However, gains subsequently narr
Author  TradingKey
Aug 11, Tue
As of the European session on August 11, gold prices (XAUUSD) briefly topped $4,400 intraday, reaching a high of $4,435.2, its highest level since June 5. However, gains subsequently narr
placeholder
WTI declines below $82.50 as oil inventories rise far more than expectedWest Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $82.45 during the early Asian trading hours on Thursday. WTI declines on a larger-than-expected build in US crude oil inventories. Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding US-Iran talks for fresh impetus. 
Author  FXStreet
Yesterday 01: 24
West Texas Intermediate (WTI), the US crude oil benchmark, is trading around $82.45 during the early Asian trading hours on Thursday. WTI declines on a larger-than-expected build in US crude oil inventories. Traders will closely monitor the developments surrounding US-Iran talks for fresh impetus. 
placeholder
Forex Today: US Dollar stabilizes ahead of next batch of US dataHere is what you need to know on Thursday, August 13:
Author  FXStreet
23 hours ago
Here is what you need to know on Thursday, August 13:
placeholder
WTI remains below $80.50 as traders monitor diplomatic efforts to reopen HormuzWest Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price remains subdued for the third successive day, trading around $80.30 per barrel during the Asian hours on Friday. Crude oil prices edge lower as investors adopt a wait-and-see approach, closely monitoring diplomatic attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
Author  FXStreet
8 hours ago
West Texas Intermediate (WTI) oil price remains subdued for the third successive day, trading around $80.30 per barrel during the Asian hours on Friday. Crude oil prices edge lower as investors adopt a wait-and-see approach, closely monitoring diplomatic attempts to reopen the Strait of Hormuz.
goTop
quote