That is no longer the case. Today, ASX exchange traded funds (ETFs) provide simple access to global markets, allowing investors to build international exposure with a single trade.

Here are three ETFs that make global investing straightforward.

VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF (ASX: GOAT)

The first ASX ETF to consider is the VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF.

This ETF provides exposure to a diversified portfolio of international companies that analysts believe have sustainable competitive advantages. These are often referred to as wide moats.

It also incorporates a valuation focus, targeting stocks that are considered attractively priced.

Its holdings include names such as Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY), Edenred, and Symrise AG (ETR: SY1).

Etsy is a useful example of the type of business this ETF targets. It operates a global online marketplace focused on handmade and unique goods. The platform benefits from strong network effects, connecting buyers and sellers in a way that can be difficult for competitors to replicate. This type of positioning is what underpins the idea of a moat and supports long-term earnings potential.

By combining quality and valuation, the VanEck Morningstar International Wide Moat ETF offers a structured way to access international companies with durable advantages.

Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF (ASX: VGS)

Another ASX ETF to consider is the popular Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF.

This ETF provides broad exposure to developed markets around the world, including the United States, Europe, and parts of Asia. It is designed to track a large index, giving investors access to a wide range of global companies.

Among its 1,000+ holdings are companies such as Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL), Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT), and Nestle (SWX: NESN).

Apple stands out as one of the largest and most influential companies globally. Its ecosystem of devices and services creates recurring revenue and strong customer retention. This helps illustrate the type of large, established businesses that dominate global indices.

Overall, the Vanguard MSCI Index International Shares ETF offers diversification across industries and geographies, making it a straightforward way to gain broad international exposure.

Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF (ASX: VEU)

A third ASX ETF to consider for global investing is the Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF.

This fund focuses on global markets outside the United States, providing exposure to both developed and emerging economies.

Its 3,800+ holdings include companies such as Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company (NYSE: TSM), Samsung Electronics, and ASML Holding (NASDAQ: ASML).

Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Company plays a critical role in the global technology supply chain. It manufactures advanced semiconductors used in everything from smartphones to data centres. Its scale and technical expertise have made it a key supplier to many of the world's largest technology companies.

The Vanguard All-World ex-US Shares Index ETF allows investors to complement US-heavy exposures by adding broader global diversification, including regions that are often underrepresented in traditional portfolios.

The post Global investing is easy on the ASX with these ETFs appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

I believe you should buy stocks right now, and I'll support this position with insights from people far more qualified to walk us through this than I am.

With so much uncertainty in the world and in the economy, I know that now can seem like a poor time to invest. But stock pickers could be in a more advantageous position now than they've been for over a decade.

Bull market geniuses or ducks in the rain?

From March 2009 through the end of 2021, the S&P 500 was up over 500%. The march upward only had a couple of brief interruptions, as this chart shows.

^SPX data by YCharts.

If you were buying and holding stocks during this period, it was almost difficult to lose money.

It reminds me of something Berkshire Hathaway Inc.(NYSE: BRKB) CEO Warren Buffett once said. Referencing Berkshire's 34% gain in 1997 in his letter to shareholders, Buffett wrote: "Last year's performance was no great triumph: Any investor can chalk up large returns when stocks soar, as they did in 1997. In a bull market, one must avoid the error of the preening duck that quacks boastfully after a torrential rainstorm, thinking that its paddling skills have caused it to rise in the world." 

To restate Buffett's point, almost all investors look like geniuses in a bull market because stocks are going up everywhere -- just buy something. And this is partly due to the broader economy, since there's a strong correlation between that and the market. When the economy is strong, many businesses do well and their stocks go up.

However, we are entering a whole new world in 2022. The U.S. economy has declined for two consecutive quarters. And things could slow further because of the Federal Reserve, as it raises interest rates to combat inflation. As Fed Chairman Jerome Powell recently said, "Reducing inflation is likely to require a sustained period of below-trend growth."

According to Powell, increasing interest rates will continue to slow the economy. But it's also causing the cost of capital to increase, hurting businesses that need financing. 

The clock is ticking (for some)

The situation I've described is real. Even companies that have historically burned cash, like Snap Inc.(NYSE: SNAP), are pivoting. When it comes to profits, CEO Evan Spiegel recently said, "We must adapt our strategy accordingly." For this reason, the company is making several changes, including trying to better monetize its augmented-reality (AR) technology by launching an enterprise business.

But many unprofitable companies won't be able to adapt. The dot-com bubble more than two decades ago was a similar situation. The market hit its high in early 2000, but the writing was already on the wall. Talking to Forbes at the time, Ron Sege, then the Lycos CEO, said, "There is a certain sense of desperation and anxiety." Specifically, Sege was talking about insiders' desire to cash out and leave their companies in light of market conditions.

Insiders want out when their ability to generate shareholder value goes down. I believe that's the case right now for structurally unprofitable companies in light of changing economic conditions. As Etsy, Inc.(NASDAQ: ETSY) CEO Josh Silverman recently said, "I think we're going to see a reckoning." The torrential rain for Buffett's ducks is over.

However, if you're thinking about waiting to buy stocks until the shakeout is over, that might not be the best idea. The stock market looks ahead, and it sometimes starts recovering from rock bottom before the economy improves. So unless you know exactly when the economy will recover (you don't), you risk missing the stock market bottom.

^SPX data by YCharts.

To summarize up to this point, bull markets produce stock winners everywhere. Bearish market conditions like right now prioritize profits and disproportionately hurt weaker companies. And finally, timing the market bottom isn't easy. Now, here's what to do with this information.

The strong will get stronger

Sequoia Capital's Alfred Lin recently wrote in a presentation, "The slower growing companies that were doing it profitably now have the financial flexibility to take advantage of the pullback from cash burning companies." 

It's like what Motley Fool contributor Brian Stoffel says with his Antifragile Framework for investing: Stocks that are antifragile "get stronger when stress is applied." In other words, the present situation is going to be a long-term benefit for a handful of companies. And if you can identify these opportunities while the market is down, it can lead to some market-crushing results, which is why I believe now is a great time to still be buying stocks.

For instance, investors might take a look at PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ: PYPL) stock. With so many unprofitable financial-technology companies out there, PayPal could be in a position of strength. The company has already curtailed spending to boost profits. And at a conference on Sept. 12, CEO Dan Schulman said that earnings per share (EPS) for the current quarter were "coming in a bit stronger than expected." And it's pivoting to greater profitability while still maintaining revenue growth north of 10%. 

Image-browsing app Pinterest (NYSE: PINS) and advertising-technology company PubMatic, Inc. (NASDAQ: PUBM) are two more businesses that can still thrive in the current market. Both companies are debt-free, are in cash-rich positions, and generate positive cash from operations, as this chart shows.

PINS total long-term debt (quarterly). Data by YCharts.

Granted, both Pinterest and PubMatic generate revenue from ads. And the advertising industry will likely struggle in a slowing economy. But that's kind of the point. As Lin said, these two have the financial flexibility to grab market share from cash-burning rivals.

In conclusion, investors will need to be more discerning than ever when picking stocks in 2022 and beyond. There are lots of problems, and many businesses will consequently be permanently impaired.

However, this will create amazing long-term opportunities for a select group of companies that I believe will result in life-changing gains over the years to come. I might not accurately identify all of these stocks. But it's why I want to be picking stocks now more than ever.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Should you really buy stocks now or wait a while longer? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

During the peak pandemic years, e-commerce stocks could do no wrong. Now, they are entirely out of favor with the market. However, does this weakness present a buying opportunity?

Some of the top e-commerce stocks on my checklist are Amazon (NASDAQ: AMZN), MercadoLibre (NASDAQ: MELI), Shopify (NYSE: SHOP), and Etsy (NASDAQ: ETSY). Each is down significantly from their record highs. While all might be solid companies, are their stocks a buy? Let's find out.

The businesses

Each company operates in its own market niche:

• Amazon is the world's largest e-retailer and sells practically anything you could ever want. It also has a growing cloud computing business that diversifies the company.
• MercadoLibre is focused on Latin America and has an e-commerce platform, digital payments business, shipping logistics division, and consumer credit arm.
• Shopify isn't a direct e-commerce play, but it provides the software necessary for businesses to launch their e-commerce store.
• Etsy's site offers products that are often customizable and typically sold by individuals with a relatively small operation.   

All four companies saw massive sales growth during the pandemic, but only one has maintained its growth rate through 2022.

AMZN Revenue (Quarterly YoY Growth) data by YCharts

When the other businesses' sales growth fell dramatically, MercadoLibre's stayed steady at 63%. This was primarily due to 113% year-over-year (YOY) growth of its fintech revenue during the first quarter. However, its commerce revenue still grew a respectable 44% (which was higher than any of the other companies).

Both Amazon and Etsy had abysmal first quarters, and it won't get better for Etsy. Management projects Q2 sales to rise 7% at the midpoint, a metric that a weakening consumer could impact. Most of Etsy's goods are discretionary and nonessential during tough times. But this sentiment may be baked into the stock, which trades for 20 times free cash flow.

Amazon was propped up by its Amazon Web Services (AWS) cloud computing division in the first quarter as its sales rose 37% over the year-ago period. However, North American commerce sales only rose 8%, while international sales fell 6%. Additionally, Amazon's free cash flow slid further into negative territory, with Amazon burning an astounding $29 billion during the quarter.

Etsy and Amazon both had horrendous quarters, and besides AWS, there doesn't seem to be a light at the end of the tunnel. But what about Shopify?

Those who may not have checked on Shopify's stock lately may be wondering, "Why is this stock priced so low?"

As of June 28, Shopify split its stock 10-for-1, which means each share is now worth a tenth of what it used to, but investors who held the stock received nine additional shares to make up for the split.

As for the business, Shopify's sales grew a steady 22%. This rise was driven by a 29% increase in its merchant solutions segment, which takes a cut of each item sold through Shopify's platform. Because Shopify merchants have to pay a monthly fee to use its software, the company should be able to maintain a solid chunk of its business regardless of how the consumer is doing. However, it could see a material slowdown due to the weakening consumer because its merchant solutions made up 72% of Q1 revenue. 

Business outlook

Looking forward, it's hard to get excited about Etsy's growth prospects. It operates in a niche that thrives when the consumer is flush with cash -- something we are not experiencing currently. Amazon's only bright spot is AWS, which has massive tailwinds behind it. As for the e-commerce business, it's almost too big to grow rapidly anymore.

Shopify has a long way to go before fully deploying its vision for a complete e-commerce solution, but many stores have already taken the leap from brick-and-mortar to online with Shopify. Now, Shopify's growth will be driven by the growth of its clients, which could still be significant.

MercadoLibre has by far the best outlook. With its fintech divisions, there seems to be no sign of slowing down. Additionally, only about 4.9% of total retail sales occur online in Latin America versus 16.1% in the U.S. Latin America is home to more than 650 million people, giving MercadoLibre a vast growth runway.

Stock valuations

Comparing each stock directly from a price-to-sales ratio standpoint is dangerous as each has a different margin profile. However, examining where the stocks have traded historically can give investors insight into how cheap they are.

AMZN PS Ratio data by YCharts

From this chart, Amazon is returning to valuation levels last seen in 2016. On the flip side, MercadoLibre is valued the same as it was at the depths of the Great Recession. MercadoLibre isn't nearly as in trouble as it was in 2009 when the financial system was on the brink of collapsing. However, that is how the market values it. 

Both Shopify and Etsy are much younger, so investors don't have as much of a historical record on which to base their analysis.

SHOP PS Ratio data by YCharts

These two are returning to lows reached in 2016. However, growth prospects were greater back then because e-commerce wasn't as developed. Now that the largest e-commerce catalyst that will likely ever occur has subsided, the future growth story isn't as bright for Shopify or Etsy, leading to a lower valuation.

It's hard to ignore how superior MercadoLibre appears to be as an investment. It's growing the fastest, has a sizable market available, and is valued cheaply. That's not to say it is risk-free since operating in Latin America can be tumultuous with governments and economies.

However, with its wide footprint, it should be able to weather almost any storm it experiences. So of the four, MercadoLibre is my top e-commerce stock to buy, and it really isn't close.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post Which e-commerce company is the best buy during this bear market? appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Investors ran for the exit back in April when the ecommerce company unveiled plans to sacrifice profit margins to deliver its 'aspirational' $1.25 billion revenue vision.

Such an increase in revenue would represent a doubling in Redbubble's current annual revenue.

However, since June the company has been crawling its way out of what appears to be a bottoming in the Redbubble share price, with one fund manager seeing the company as a significant opportunity.

Let's take a look…

Fund manager sees opportunity

EGP Capital is a Sydney-based fund manager that invests in Australian-listed companies with smaller market capitalisations. Typically, the fund holds 25 to 35 stocks, usually with the 5 largest holdings making up 50% of the portfolio.

Redbubble is hovering around the sixth largest position in the EGP Capital Concentrated Value Fund.

According to EGP's May report, the fund took advantage of the negative sentiment towards the Redbubble share price and added to their position.

Explaining the rationale behind the optimism to investors, EGP said in its report:

RBL is an incredible marketplace, the likes of which are seldom created and even more rarely available at the type of value investors pricing the market is currently ascribing to the business. ETSY has just acquired a business which appears to be meaningfully inferior to RBL for more than twice RBL's current market capitalisation. If the market does not soon wake up to the opportunity RBL currently presents, it may suffer a similar fate.

EGP appears to be referring to the peer-to-peer social shopping app, Depop.

Depop recorded $650 million in gross merchandise sales and $70 million in revenue in 2020, with a 10% take rate. Etsy Inc (NASDAQ: ETSY) is acquiring Depop for US$1.625 billion.

By comparison, in its Q3 FY21 update, Redbubble reported $577 million in gross transaction value year-to-date. Additionally, the company pulled $456 million in revenue.

Redbubble has a market capitalisation of $1.026 billion based on today's closing price.

The Redbubble share price is down 34% year-to-date but is up 65% over the past 12 months.

Other Redbubble share price news

The Redbubble share price looks unfazed by the recently announced inquiry launched by the Australian Competition and Consumer Commission (ACCC).

The inquiry will examine the practices of online marketplaces such as eBay Australia, Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN), and others. It will particularly focus on the relationships with third-party sellers and consumers and how they affect competition.

Lastly, Redbubble will report its FY21 full year results on 19 August.

Investors will keep their eyes peeled for that one!

The post Redbubble (ASX:RBL) share price climbs 4% today appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What's driving the Redbubble share price lower? 

It seems the Redbubble share price is caught between a significant weakness today across tech, retail and e-commerce sectors. 

The S&P/ASX200 Info Tech (INDEXASX: XIJ) is one of the worst-performing sectors, falling 2.32%. This could be a follow on from the weakness in the tech-heavy  Nasdaq Composite (NASDAQ: .IXIC) overnight, which fell 2.55%. 

ASX retail shares were a standout performer towards the end of April with the likes of Accent Group Ltd (ASX: AX1), Adairs Ltd (ASX: ADH) and Premier Investments Ltd (ASX: PMV) all soaring into record territory. However, these shares have all topped out and slipped between 5% to 15% in recent weeks. 

Similarly, ASX e-commerce shares are cycling through a period of tough comparables against 'supercharged' FY20 earnings. Redbubble peers including Kogan.com Ltd (ASX: KGN) and Temple & Webster Group Ltd (ASX: TPW) have struggled to make headway in recent months.

Redbubble competitor flags slow growth ahead 

Etsy Inc (NASDAQ: ETSY) functions a similar business model as Redbubble, providing an online marketplace for unique items from independent sellers. 

The Etsy share price was met with a similar selloff as Redbubble following its quarterly results on 6 May. Esty CFO Rachel Glaser commented on the sector's growth, saying: 

Q1 2021 growth will be approximately in line with Q4 2020 and that the industry will start to more rapidly decelerate starting in Q2 with the majority of incremental growth for the year realised in the first quarter.

This could spell bad news for the Redbubble share price as the company had already flagged a decrease in earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation, and amortisation (EBITDA) margins in its third quarter update.

The post Down 9% today, why the Redbubble (ASX:RBL) share price continues to tumble appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

What happened overnight? 

Benchmark US government yields inched higher overnight to close at 1.47%. To add some perspective, yields have been continuously falling from 3% in late-2018 to as low as 0.50% in mid-2020. Record low-interest rates have aided in propping up equity markets globally. Near-zero interest rates have helped buoy the economy and business activity. However, the recent resurgence in bond yields has raised concerns over higher interest rates in the near-term. 

Rising yields could translate into higher interest rates which, in turn, lead to higher borrowing costs. This could also result in a shift away from higher-risk investments such as shares and back to low-risk investments such as government bonds. 

Nasdaq continues to underperform 

Rising yields tend to stir up more trouble for richly valued shares. Meanwhile, value sectors including financials, real estate and commodities tend to perform better under a higher interest rate environment. 

The tech-heavy index slumped 2.70% overnight, while the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) fell 1.31% and the Dow Jones Industrial Average Index (DJX: .DJI) fell only 0.39%. 

A similar narrative played out last week when yields briefly touched 1.60% on Thursday. The Nasdaq finished last week down 4%, compared to the 1.70% and 1.85% respective falls from the S&P 500 and Dow Jones. 

Tech shares experienced heavy selling across the board in the US overnight with big names such as Facebook Inc (NASDAQ: FB), Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL), Amazon.com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), Netflix Inc (NASDAQ: NFLX), Microsoft Corporation (NASDAQ: MSFT) and Alphabet Inc (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) all falling between 1.40% and 5%.

Other notable losers included a 12.50% fall from e-commerce marketplace Etsy Inc (NASDAQ: ETSY), a direct competitor of Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL), and a 6% decline from US-based buy now pay later provider Affirm Holdings Inc. 

The ASX 200 is set to open lower on Thursday, but tech shares could be under even greater pressure given the falls in the Nasdaq overnight. 

The post Nasdaq slumps overnight, ASX 200 shares to open weaker appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

Sure enough, the candid image was translated to a meme phenomenon – with Bernie finding himself photoshopped into an endless number of locations, historical events, and just plain odd places – all for a bit of a well-needed laugh.

Where the memes flow, the money goes

It's no surprise that the Bernie meme and his mittens have become merchandisable. The original mittens worn by Mr Sanders were made and gifted by a Vermont teacher, Jen Ellis, to the Senator. As reported in the New York Daily News, the gifted pair made from repurposed wool sweaters and recycled plastic bottles were one-of-a-kind.

A classic case of supply and demand ensued, and the market has delivered. Now there are plenty of options for various Bernie mitten merchandise available online to get your mitts on. A couple of such companies include Etsy Inc (NASDAQ: ETSY) and ASX-listed Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL).

Bernie meme merch up for grabs here

Redbubble Ltd (ASX: RBL)

Redbubble operates a handful of global online marketplaces, offering products embellished with creative designs by independent artists.

The main site, redbubble.com, ranges face masks, mugs, stationery, clothing, stickers, décor, and many other items. Consumers can search for a design they like and then select a type of medium they'd like it applied to before purchasing.

The Redbubble share price has grown a significant 591% over the last year, with the drastic increase in demand for face masks and inflated online shopping activity. For the first quarter FY21, Redbubble's revenue grew by 114% year over year to $175.8 million.

Another interesting titbit is the astronomical 562% year over year growth in the 'accessories' segment of the business – this segment includes face masks, tote bags, socks etc.

The independent artists that provide the designs to the platform often jump on hot trends, and right now, Bernie Sanders is trending on Redbubble. So you can bet your bottom dollar that both artists and Redbubble are cashing in on those iconic mittens.

Just made this cute design of @SenSanders in his iconic mittens link to my #redbubble in my bio #BernieSandersMittens pic.twitter.com/Pwh87GM3J2

— Mkm (@H_V_Hart) January 21, 2021

Etsy Inc (NASDAQ: ETSY)

Etsy is another e-commerce company that connects unique designs and creations to customers. Where Etsy differs from Redbubble however, is by solely operating the platform in which products are offered – whereas Redbubble produces the products with the artist's designs. That means that Etsy has a much more diverse offering of products, and yes… that includes mittens. 

The US-listed company has also benefitted from the uptick in face mask sales, notching up US$264 million in gross merchandise volume for face masks alone in the quarter. However, as demonstrated in Etsy's Q3 2020 results, the business has managed to outpace the e-commerce benchmark even without the inclusion of face masks by 48%. 

Following the trend, Etsy contributors have also jumped on the Bernie meme bandwagon. Everything from stickers, sweaters, and those warm mittens. Personally, my favourite is the crochet of Bernie and his mittens.

Crochet Bernie, this is not a drill pic.twitter.com/A15ByOM5l0

— Lily Bailey (@LilyBaileyUK) January 22, 2021

Much like the Redbubble share price, Etsy is no slacker either, returning 333% in the last year. 

Foolish takeaway

It's great to see some light-hearted fun come out of the inauguration and hopefully, the meme-inducing unity continues for Joe Biden's term as US president. The main takeaway here though is that often where there's a trend, there's someone benefitting from it and money to be made. Although one Bernie meme likely won't make or break a company, it draws focus to the new ways in which the world is monetising humour and creativity. 

But this also serves as a public service announcement for anyone still trying to find those elusive mittens. You're welcome.

The post Bernie meme, mittens and merch: 2 shares that are selling the trend appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.

2020 will be remembered as a volatile year in the stock market. After crashing in March, the broader market has seen high highs and low lows, and the S&P 500 Index (SP: .INX) is up 10% year to date through Friday's close.

Stay-at-home stocks have scored most of the high gains so far this year, and if you had invested in Etsy Inc (NASDAQ: ETSY), Square Inc (NYSE: SQ), and Peloton Interactive Inc (NASDAQ: PTON) a year ago, you would have more than doubled your money. Are further gains in store?

Exclusive products drive this e-commerce winner

Etsy's success as an online marketplace for handmade and one-of-a-kind items hasn't gone unnoticed -- certainly not by Amazon com Inc (NASDAQ: AMZN), which tried to compete with its own Handmade service. But with great management, an improved platform, and a long lead, Etsy keeps growing.

Etsy was well positioned for the pandemic, not only as a fully digital business, but with a community of makers ready to create custom masks and other pandemic paraphernalia. CEO Josh Silverman coordinated a response that spread demand among suppliers to meet increased interest in masks, resulting in millions of new customers, triple-digit sales growth for the past two quarters, and soaring earnings.

And it's far from over. Active customers are also on the increase as Etsy moves from a niche category into the mainstream and challenges the biggest names in e-commerce. The company acquired Reverb, a marketplace for musical instruments, moving into complementary businesses and adding new ways to plump the top line.

Etsy's stock has gained almost 240% over the past 12 months (based on Friday's closing price), but it fell after a great earnings report that has investors wondering about the future, and fell again on Pfizer Inc's (NYSE: PFE) promising coronavirus vaccine news. While some forward progress was definitely built into its price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio, its recent dip brings it down to a relatively reasonable P/E of 75, making now a great time to buy in.

Fueling new ways to pay

Square offers payment solutions for small and medium businesses as well as a peer-to-peer payments service called Cash App. But you probably already know that, since Cash App is the most popular peer-to-peer payments service in Alphabet Inc's (NASDAQ: GOOGL) (NASDAQ: GOOG) Google Play store.

COVID-19 wasn't kind to the company; its main business, small business payment processing, and other small business services suffered with business closures. But Cash App business, specifically bitcoin, kept revenue afloat. And now that lockdowns have for the most part been lifted, growth has resumed across the board, with a 140% sales increase and a return to positive earnings.

Square, with $3 billion in revenue, is nowhere near as big as rival PayPal Holdings Inc (NASDAQ: PYPL), which has close to $5.5 billion in revenue, and PayPal's Venmo is the most popular peer-to-peer payments service in the Apple Inc (NASDAQ: AAPL) store. But Square is growing much faster, with 140% revenue growth. PayPal's maturity means its growth, while consistent, will be less eye-popping.

Square's stock has gained about 190% over the past 12 months, but investors can expect to see a lot more upside.

Pedaling toward success

Going public in September 2019, just a few months before the pandemic struck, Peloton was just in time for a stay-at-home fitness movement that lifted its sales and catapulted it into hot stock territory. 

In the third quarter, even after fitness-minded consumers were out and about again, Peloton showed its staying power with a 92% retention rate, 137% increase in connected fitness subscriptions, 382% increase in digital subscriptions, and 232% increase in revenue.

In fact, it's growing so fast that it can't keep up with demand, and there's a longer than one-month waiting list to purchase its premium video-connected bikes. 

Peloton has had the biggest gains of the three companies listed here, more than 280% over the past 12 months, even with a recent dip as investors cash out of stay-at-home stocks. I would say it's also the riskiest of the three, since premium bikes have a lower ceiling than payments and trinkets. But the company is making strategic moves to keep growing, such as launching new products and connecting with celebrities, and it still has years of high growth ahead.

This article was originally published on Fool.com. All figures quoted in US dollars unless otherwise stated.

The post These stocks would have doubled your money last year appeared first on The Motley Fool Australia.