3 Quality Growth Stocks to Watch for in the Coming Months

High-growth stocks can do wonders for your portfolio if you have a long-term investment horizon. Start by buying Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX:ATD.B) and two other top companies today.

| More on:
The Motley Fool

High-growth stocks can do wonders for your portfolio if you have a long-term investment horizon. Three companies, including Hormel Foods Corp. (NYSE:HRL), Nike Inc. (NYSE:NKE), and Alimentation Couche-Tard Inc. (TSX:ATD.B) pay a tiny dividend of less than 2%, but they also provide exceptional capital appreciation.

Hormel Foods was founded in 1891, and today it manufactures and markets food and meat products, primarily selling in the U.S. Some of its most popular brands include Spam and Jennie-O-Turkey.

Nike designs, develops, and sells athletic footwear, apparel, equipment, and accessories. Its products can be found in 170 countries.

Couche-Tard is known for its ability to run its chain of convenience stores and to integrate new ones. At the end of January, it had more than 7,900 convenience stores in North America. It also operated over 2,200 stores in Europe and had 1,500 stores run by independent operators in other countries or regions in the rest of the world.

Exceptional gains with a rapidly growing dividend

Just buying these companies five years ago would have provided extraordinary price appreciation.

Hormel has appreciated 146% and has hiked its dividend by 127%. And its payout ratio is only about 37%. Its payout ratio has ranged from 27% to 38% in the past decade. So, its payout ratio sits at the high end.

Nike has risen 173% and has hiked its dividend by 105%. Its payout ratio is only about 30%. Its payout ratio has ranged from 25% to 31% in the past decade. So, its payout ratio sits at the high end.

Couche-Tard has experienced a whopping gain of 530% and has increased its dividend by 229%!  Its payout ratio is only about 9%. Its payout ratio has ranged from 8% to 15% in the past decade.

Let’s compare the above performance with a high-yield dividend-growth company such as TransCanada Corporation (TSX:TRP)(NYSE:TRP). I don’t intend to single it out; I’m just using it as an example here. In the past five years, TransCanada has appreciated almost 28% and has hiked its dividend by 35%.

Now, the high-growth companies and high-yield companies like TransCanada play a different role in a portfolio. Investors are either trading yield for high growth or trading growth for high yield.

The good thing is that investors don’t necessarily have to choose between income and growth. They can buy all of the above companies when they are priced at proper valuations.

Are good buying opportunities coming up?

The high-growth companies have corrected somewhat. Year to date, Hormel and Nike have declined almost 12%, and Couche-Tard has declined almost 10%.

These corrections might go on for a while, but that’s when investors should buy on dips for exceptional capital appreciation in the long term.

Some investors who like to average into their positions may even be willing to take a small bite out of these companies based on their inexpensive valuations today. After all, a bird in the hand is worth two in the bush.

At about $35, Hormel trades at a multiple of 23.3, and its earnings per share (EPS) are expected to grow about 14% in the medium term.

At about $55, Nike trades at a multiple of over 25, and its EPS are expected to grow 15% in the medium term.

At under $56, Couche-Tard trades at a multiple of 20.3, and its EPS are expected to grow about 13% per year in the medium term.

This article represents the opinion of the writer, who may disagree with the “official” recommendation position of a Motley Fool premium service or advisor. We’re Motley! Questioning an investing thesis — even one of our own — helps us all think critically about investing and make decisions that help us become smarter, happier, and richer, so we sometimes publish articles that may not be in line with recommendations, rankings or other content.

Fool contributor Kay Ng owns shares of ALIMENTATION COUCHE-TARD INC and TransCanada. The Motley Fool owns shares of Nike.  Alimentation Couche-Tard is a recommendation is Stock Advisor Canada.

More on Dividend Stocks

ways to boost income
Dividend Stocks

1 Excellent TSX Dividend Stock, Down 25%, to Buy and Hold for the Long Term

Down 25% from all-time highs, Tourmaline Oil is a TSX dividend stock that offers you a tasty yield of 5%…

Read more »

Start line on the highway
Dividend Stocks

1 Incredibly Cheap Canadian Dividend-Growth Stock to Buy Now and Hold for Decades

CN Rail (TSX:CNR) stock is incredibly cheap, but should investors join insiders by buying the dip?

Read more »

bulb idea thinking
Dividend Stocks

Down 13%, This Magnificent Dividend Stock Is a Screaming Buy

Sometimes, a moderately discounted, safe dividend stock is better than heavily discounted stock, offering an unsustainably high yield.

Read more »

Canadian Dollars bills
Dividend Stocks

Invest $15,000 in This Dividend Stock, Create $5,710.08 in Passive Income

This dividend stock is the perfect option if you're an investor looking for growth, as well as passive income through…

Read more »

A Canada Pension Plan Statement of Contributions with a 100 dollar banknote and dollar coins.
Dividend Stocks

3 Compelling Reasons to Delay Taking CPP Benefits Until Age 70

You don't need to take CPP early if you are receiving large dividend payments from Fortis Inc (TSX:FTS) stock.

Read more »

A worker overlooks an oil refinery plant.
Dividend Stocks

Better Dividend Stock: TC Energy vs. Enbridge

TC Energy and Enbridge have enjoyed big rallies in 2024. Is one stock still cheap?

Read more »

Concept of multiple streams of income
Dividend Stocks

Got $10,000? Buy This Dividend Stock for $4,992.40 in Total Passive Income

Want almost $5,000 in annual passive income? Then you need a company bound for even more growth, with a dividend…

Read more »

Investor reading the newspaper
Dividend Stocks

Emerging Investment Trends to Watch for in 2025

Canadians must watch out for and be guided by emerging investment trends to ensure financial success in 2025.

Read more »