Executive Summary
The Story So Far
Why This Matters
Who Thinks What?
Financial analyst Jennifer Saibil, writing on October 23, 2025, identified Shopify, Dutch Bros, and Carnival as three companies presenting significant long-term growth opportunities for investors. The analysis suggests that consistent, long-term investment is key to wealth building, regardless of current market conditions, highlighting these three stocks as strong candidates for purchase.
Shopify’s E-commerce Position
Shopify, an e-commerce platform, has demonstrated resilience and a return to growth, with revenue increasing 31% year-over-year in the second quarter of 2025. The company reported an operating income rise from $241 million to $291 million and free cash flow growth from $333 million to $422 million during the same period.
The company commands over 12% of total U.S. e-commerce sales and is expanding its platform to offer omnichannel services, appealing to a broader range of enterprise clients including Nestle and Starbucks. Its strategic shift from a pure e-commerce focus to a total commerce solution is cited as a key growth driver.
Dutch Bros’ Aggressive Expansion
Dutch Bros, a coffee chain known for its custom cold beverages and drive-thru model, is pursuing an aggressive expansion strategy. The company aims to increase its store count to 2,029 by 2029, which would involve opening approximately 250 new locations annually over the next four years, a significant acceleration from its current rate of about 160 new stores in 2025.
Management has indicated a long-term goal of 7,000 stores, up from just over 1,000 currently. This expansion, alongside robust sales growth of 28% year-over-year in Q2 2025 and a 6.1% increase in same-store sales (7.8% for company-operated shops), underpins its growth trajectory.
Carnival’s Record Demand and Valuation
Carnival, the world’s largest cruise company, is experiencing record demand, reporting its tenth consecutive quarter of record revenue in the fiscal third quarter of 2025. Customer deposits reached a third-quarter high of $7.1 billion, a $2.2 billion increase from the previous year, with half of 2026 bookings already secured at elevated prices.
Despite its $26.5 billion debt, which contributes to a low valuation of under 12 times forward one-year earnings, management is actively reducing debt and refinancing at lower interest rates. The company continues to acquire new ships and expand destinations to maintain its market dominance in the luxury cruise segment.
Investment Outlook
The analysis highlights Shopify’s strong performance in a growing e-commerce market, Dutch Bros’ ambitious store expansion plans, and Carnival’s record-setting demand coupled with efforts to manage its debt. Each company is presented as having substantial long-term growth potential based on their respective market positions and strategic initiatives.
