There's no question the bull market is alive and well. The S&P 500 jumped more than 50% over the two-year period of 2023-24, the first time it's done that since the dot-com era, and stocks are off to a hot start in 2025 as well. Through Jan. 22, the broad-market index is up 3%, and it just hit another all-time high.
While pretty much any investor should be happy with the kind of returns the S&P 500 has delivered over the last two years, there are opportunities for more growth. Keep reading to see two stocks that look like good candidates to double this year.
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1. Coupang
Coupang (NYSE: CPNG) may not be a household name in the U.S., but it is in South Korea, where it's the leading e-commerce platform.
In fact, Coupang is following a similar playbook to Amazon, going from a direct online seller and then layering on more profitable, complementary businesses like a third-party marketplace, food delivery, and video streaming. It's also launched a similar service to Amazon Prime called Rocket Wow, helping to lock in customers.
Thus far, Coupang has delivered solid growth, but it's yet to earn much credit from the market. That could change soon, though.
First, the company is delivering solid growth on the top and bottom lines. Revenue in the third quarter was up 27%, or 32% on a currency-neutral basis, to $7.9 billion, and gross margin improved by 350 basis points to 28.8% thanks to improvements in both its core e-commerce business and newer offerings.
Management touted increased efficiencies, greater utilization of technology and automation, supply chain improvements, and the scaling of its higher-margin businesses. Adjusted earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortization (EBITDA) in the quarter rose 44% to $343 million.
Coupang also trades at a reasonable valuation at a price-to-sales ratio of 1.4, and the South Korean market is a good fit for its business, as its high density and fast internet speed make delivery easy and help services like video streaming. If it maintains its strong revenue growth and its margins continue to expand, the stock will be rewarded by investors. It could see a point of inflection in 2025.
2. Upstart
Another candidate for a doubling this year is Upstart Holdings (NASDAQ: UPST), the artificial intelligence (AI)-based lender that soared during the pandemic but is still down sharply. However, Upstart has gained traction since bottoming out, and the stock is up significantly since then, stabilizing even as interest rates have remained elevated and loan demand has been weak.
That could start to change this year. First, the Federal Reserve is still forecasting two rate cuts, and Treasury yields have been elevated since Trump was elected due to investor nervousness about policies that could be inflationary, like tariffs and mass deportation. If inflation continues to come down, interest rates are likely to fall, benefiting Upstart.
Upstart has also made internal improvements that set the company up for a new round of growth, as it's secured funding for its loans, which are typically funded through partners; has strengthened its balance sheet; and has streamlined its cost basis after a series of layoffs.
The lending platform showed some signs of recovery in its third-quarter earnings report, with revenue up 20% to $162 million. Its volume of loans originated rose 30% year over year to 188,149, or $1.6 billion, and conversion improved dramatically, up from 9.5% to 16.3%. The company credited a new model, Model 18, with improving its conversion rate by making its forecasts more accurate, a key step to driving revenue growth.
Upstart also sees continued revenue growth in the fourth quarter, and it could accelerate in 2025 and turn the company profitable, especially if interest rates come down. Upstart is a volatile stock, but it has the components to soar this year as it builds on the improvements in its model and benefits from an improving macro environment.
Should you invest $1,000 in Coupang right now?
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John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Jeremy Bowman has positions in Amazon and Upstart. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Amazon and Upstart. The Motley Fool recommends Coupang. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
The views and opinions expressed herein are the views and opinions of the author and do not necessarily reflect those of Nasdaq, Inc.
