Aritzia Earnings: Is This 1 of the Best Growth Stocks to Buy Now?

With Aritzia down roughly 40% from its high yet continuing to perform well, it’s easily one of the best growth stocks to buy now.

| More on:
growing plant shoots on stacked coins

Image source: Getty Images

Aritzia (TSX:ATZ), the highly popular and vertically integrated women’s fashion company, has been one of the best growth stocks you can buy for years now.

It consistently is growing sales and increasing its store count and now has a tonne of potential, as it grows both its e-commerce and expands across the U.S.

Despite its impressive performance the last few years, though, and all the growth potential it has, the stock has suffered throughout this year, almost completely due to the market conditions.

First, its valuation metrics have come down. That means that the multiples that investors are willing to pay for Aritzia’s future earnings potential are lower due to the risk and uncertainty in markets. For example, in January, Aritzia traded for roughly 40 times its forward earnings. Today, the stock is trading at just 20 times its forward earnings.

However, there’s also concern from the market that the economic environment — specifically, inflation and a potential recession next year — could impact demand for sales or Aritzia’s expenses and ultimately impact its ability to generate earnings.

For this reason, as of Thursday’s close, Aritzia was down approximately 40% from the high it reached back in January.

But as the company continues to show each time it reports earnings, the market is underestimating its potential as it continues to beat expectations. Therefore, after another quarter of impressive earnings, Aritzia has to be considered one of the best growth stocks to buy now.

Aritzia starts off its fiscal 2023 with a strong performance

On Thursday, Aritzia reported earnings for its first quarter of fiscal 2023, and there were a ton of positive takeaways.

First off, the company achieved net sales growth of 65%, which was well ahead of the consensus expectations of 50%. Furthermore, the stock also beat on the bottom line, reporting earnings per share (EPS) of $0.35, compared to the consensus estimate of $0.31 and the $0.19 EPS it earned in the same quarter last year.

Both of these are positive for several reasons and show why Aritzia is one of the best growth stocks to buy in this environment.

The strong sales growth shows that despite surging inflation, demand for Aritzia’s products continues to show no signs of slowing. This is in large part due to Aritzia’s incredible merchandising and its ability to continue offering products that resonate with consumers.

Furthermore, its beat on the bottom line shows that despite inflationary pressures impacting costs, its superior economics, which continue to improve with scale, is crucial to helping the company offset the temporary impact on its margins.

There were other impressive takeaways from these first-quarter results as well, which show why Aritzia is one of the best growth stocks to buy. For example, although store closures from the pandemic impacted sales last year, Aritzia’s e-commerce revenue this year actually grew by another 15%.

In addition, sales in the United States were up a whopping 81% compared to the same quarter last year. And considering the fact that more than half of Aritzia’s stores are located in Canada, while the U.S. has nine times the population, Aritzia has a significant long-term opportunity to expand its operations.

At Aritzia’s current valuation, it’s one of the best growth stocks to buy now

Aritzia is firing on all cylinders, and even if its margins are pressured by rising costs in the near term, it continues to execute its growth strategy well and gain additional market share.

Therefore, while the stock is trading undervalued, it’s easily one of the best growth stocks to buy.

As I mentioned above, Aritzia is trading at just 20 times its expected EPS over the next year, down from 40 times back at the start of the year.

So, thanks to its future earnings expectations continuing to grow, despite the fact that its stock is only down 40%, the valuation for Aritzia is down by 50%. In addition, at 20 times its forward earnings, Aritzia is the cheapest it has traded since the start of the pandemic.

Therefore, while one of the best Canadian stocks continues to perform well yet is significantly undervalued, it’s undoubtedly one of the best growth stocks to buy now.

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 positions in ARITZIA INC. The Motley Fool recommends ARITZIA INC.

More on Investing

A cannabis plant grows.
Cannabis Stocks

Canopy Growth Stock Is Rising But I’m Worried About This One Thing

Canopy Growth stock is soaring as the legalization effort makes real progress in both Germany and the United States.

Read more »

young woman celebrating a victory while working with mobile phone in the office
Investing

3 Roaring Stocks to Hold for the Next 20 Years

These top TSX stocks are excellent long-term buys, given their multi-year growth potential and solid underlying businesses.

Read more »

Two seniors float in a pool.
Dividend Stocks

TFSA: How to Earn $1,890 in Annual Tax-Free Income

Plunk these investments into your TFSA to earn passive income and avoid the taxman.

Read more »

grow dividends
Investing

Here’s My Top 3 TSX Stocks to Buy Right Now

Even though the TSX has been rising, there are still some good bargains out there. Here are three top compounding…

Read more »

Target. Stand out from the crowd
Investing

Prediction: This Canadian Growth Stock Could Double by 2030

Alimentation Couche-Tard (TSX:ATD) is a top growth stock that could do well over the next six or so years.

Read more »

Businessman holding AI cloud
Tech Stocks

Could Investing $20,000 in Nvidia Make You a Millionaire?

Nvidia stock has made investors millionaires in the last 10 years. Is it too late to invest to become a…

Read more »

Engineers walk through a facility.
Dividend Stocks

1 TSX Stock I Wouldn’t Touch With a 10-Foot Pole

AtkinsRéalis (TSX:ATRL) is one TSX stock I'd never invest in.

Read more »

money cash dividends
Stocks for Beginners

Have $500? 3 Absurdly Cheap Stocks Long-Term Investors Should Buy Right Now

If you're looking for cheap stocks, these three have a huge future ahead of them, all while costing far less…

Read more »