This Time Last Year, Shopify (TSX:SHOP) Stock Was Worth Just $400

If you bought Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) stock this time last year, you would have seen a 244% return on your investment already.

| More on:

Finding growth stocks like Shopify (TSX:SHOP)(NYSE:SHOP) is one of the biggest factors in the long-term performance of a portfolio. These once-in-a-lifetime stocks bring huge growth and can lead to massive gains for investors.

You can’t have your whole portfolio invested in them, because these stocks are a lot riskier. However, having some exposure is important, especially for investors who are a little more risk-averse.

Once you’ve done your research and understand how a company makes money, you’ll be able to make educated investment decisions.

Investors who knew Shopify was a main player in the growing e-commerce trend and were quick to buy the stock back in March have already made huge returns.

Shopify stock performance this year

This time last year, Shopify was worth just over $400. That means if you decided to buy shares at the end of October, you would have made more than 230% on your investment already.

 

shopify stock

As you can see, the company has had impressive growth this year. This is just more of the same from the last five years, as Shopify stock has returned nearly 1,000% over that period. However, this time around, the growth has been aided due to the situation caused by the pandemic.

shopify stock

It’s clear from the graph how much of a boost the pandemic has had on Shopify’s long-term performance.

Obviously, nobody last October could have predicted that a pandemic would sweep across the globe or that Shopify would gain because of it. However, once it was clear that’s what was happening, investors who were quick to react would have been rewarded.

If you’d bought Shopify stock at the end of last October, you would have already made more than 3.4 times your investment.

Reasons why Shopify investors were more than just lucky

It may seem like investors got lucky buying a stock right before another major catalyst sends its shares soaring. However, investors who’d researched Shopify would have known all its qualities and that a performance like this is not surprising.

The tech stock has been growing its revenue massively as well as consistently. This is extremely important, and one of the major reasons why Shopify stock is growing so fast.

It also has an extremely impressive business model — one that is set up to earn recurring revenue. So, as Shopify continues to grow its sales rapidly, investors know a lot of that revenue will continue for years.

Shopify is also extremely attractive, because it is as much a part of driving the e-commerce trend with its impressive platform as it is benefitting from the e-commerce trend.

Shopify continues to be one of the top long-term growth stocks in Canada. The company is reporting earnings this Thursday, so that will be something to watch. However, even if the numbers are down, I would consider using that as a buying opportunity.

One bad quarter doesn’t make a trend, and with the second wave of coronavirus looking worse than the first, a big wave of business could be coming for Shopify over the winter.

Bottom line

Finding high-potential stocks like Shopify can make a massive difference in your long-term performance. It’s not just about finding companies with a business model like Shopify. Instead investors should be focused on businesses that are dominant, disrupting major industries, and are opportunistic.

Shopify could still be worth an investment today for long-term investors. However, if you’re looking for the type of stock to deliver the returns Shopify has in the past, you may have to look elsewhere.

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 Daniel Da Costa has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. Tom Gardner owns shares of Shopify. The Motley Fool owns shares of and recommends Shopify and Shopify.

More on Tech Stocks

Rocket lift off through the clouds
Tech Stocks

1 AI Stock Up 11% to Own in a TFSA for Long-Term Growth

Never mind chasing flashy AI start-ups with soaring valuations. Check out this profitable Canadian tech powerhouse that has stood the…

Read more »

Bitcoin
Tech Stocks

2 Top Crypto Stocks for the Blockchain Boom

Here's why investing in crypto stocks such as Coinbase can help you deliver outsized gains over the next 12 months.

Read more »

four people hold happy emoji masks
Tech Stocks

This Stock Down 14% Is My Hold-Forever Investment

The pullback in this high-growth Canadian stock is a buying opportunity for investors seeking outsized returns in the long term.

Read more »

A microchip in a circuit board powers artificial intelligence.
Tech Stocks

This Tech Stock Could Dominate the Future of AI and Cybersecurity in Canada

OpenText may come to dominate the cybersecurity arena in Canada.

Read more »

Data center servers IT workers
Tech Stocks

Best Stock to Buy Right Now: Open Text vs CGI?

Both companies are dealing with information technology and harnessing the power of AI. Only one has an unmatched history and…

Read more »

Concept of big data flow, analysis, and visualizing complex information for artificial intelligence
Tech Stocks

A Tech Stock to Buy Now in the AI Bull Market

Alphabet (NASDAQ:GOOG) stock may be the cheapest American AI tech stock to pick up as markets near new highs.

Read more »

Digital background depicting innovative technologies in (AI) artificial systems, neural interfaces and internet machine learning technologies
Tech Stocks

Is This Canadian Tech Stock the Next Big AI Winner?

This Canadian tech stock is one of the biggest names out there still, and it's one to keep an eye…

Read more »

Person uses a tablet in a blurred warehouse as background
Tech Stocks

This AI Stock Down 12% Is My Moonshot Investment

This AI-powered supply chain management and operation planning software company is my top pick to leverage AI tech for years…

Read more »