15 Best Ecommerce Stocks to Buy Now

Published on October 21, 2022 at 9:43 am by Usman Kabir in Hedge Funds, News

In this article, we discuss 15 best ecommerce stocks to buy now. If you want to read about some more ecommerce stocks, go directly to 5 Best Ecommerce Stocks to Buy Now.

The global ecommerce marketplace was one of the biggest winners of the coronavirus pandemic at the stock market. However, as the pandemic has waned, so have sales for online shopping stocks. This slowdown has coincided with a macro environment in which soaring inflation, rising interest rates, and bloated inventories are exacerbating the slump in the ecommerce world. However, top economic experts remain bullish on the industry. According to a report by Morgan Stanley, the global ecommerce market will be worth $5.4 trillion in 2026.

For context, presently, the global ecommerce marketplace is worth around $3.3 trillion. Per the analysts at Morgan Stanley, this growth will be driven by logistics, mobile device ownership, and marketplace expansion. Brian Nowak, an equity analyst covering the US internet industry, believes that across the world, economic models are yet to predict a ceiling for e-commerce penetration. Some of the top stocks in the sector include Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL).

Our Methodology

The companies that operate in the ecommerce sector were selected for the list. The analyst ratings of these firms and the latest updates related to them are also discussed to provide some additional context. Data from around 900 elite hedge funds tracked by Insider Monkey in the second quarter of 2022 was used to identify the number of hedge funds that hold stakes in each firm.

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Best Ecommerce Stocks to Buy Now

15. Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE:WDH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 1

Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE:WDH) provides online insurance brokerage services to match and connect users with related insurance products underwritten by insurance companies in China. It is one of the best ecommerce stocks to invest in. On July 21, Waterdrop declared a partnership with China United Insurance Company Limited and Young an Insurance for the launch of the Waterdrop Blue Ocean. This is a series of cost-effective critical illness products with a waiver on health declarations.

On September 16, Morgan Stanley analyst Jenny Jiang upgraded Waterdrop (NYSE:WDH) stock to Overweight from Equal Weight with a price target of $2.10, up from $2, noting that the company’s revenue continued to recover sequentially and earnings have been positive for the past three quarters.

At the end of the second quarter of 2022, 1 hedge fund in the database of Insider Monkey held a position worth $95,000 in Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE:WDH), compared to 4 in the previous quarter worth $165,000.

Just like Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL), Waterdrop Inc. (NYSE:WDH) is one of the best ways to play the boom in the ecommerce sector.

14. FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 21

FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) operates as a direct-to-consumer healthcare apparel and lifestyle company in the United States. On August 25, the stock jumped after billionaire Ron Baron said that he has been purchasing shares of the company. He also called the firm “the Lululemon of healthcare”. Baron Capital owns 2.4 million shares of FIGS as of the end of June.

On August 5, Barclays analyst Adrienne Yih maintained an Overweight rating on FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) stock and raised the price target to $15 from $13, noting that the company’s Q2 earnings were better than expected.

At the end of the second quarter of 2022, 21 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $111.6 million in FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS), compared to 18 the preceding quarter worth $126.8 million.

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and FIGS, Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“Figs Inc. (NYSE:FIGS) is a direct-to-consumer health care apparel brand. The stock price fell in the earlier part of the quarter due to a combination of poor market conditions for newly public companies and a reduction in guidance given the volatile backdrop for consumer spending. Shares contributed during the period owned after we took advantage of the weakness to initiate a position. We like Figs’ long-term growth prospects as the company disrupts the commoditized and unbranded scrubs industry with its superior, premium product offering.”

13. Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 25

Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) engages in the pure play e-commerce business in the United States. It is one of the top ecommerce stocks to invest in. On September 21, Chewy announced that it has launched a new 795,000 square feet fulfillment center in North Reno which allows the company to better serve customers across the West and pet owners living in the Pacific Northwest. This is the 13th fulfillment center of Chewy.

On October 6, Oppenheimer analyst Rupesh Parikh initiated coverage of Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) stock with an Outperform rating and a $42 price target, noting that the company’s shares were down 70% from all-time highs.

At the end of the second quarter of 2022, 25 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $288.5 million in Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY), compared to 21 the preceding quarter worth $175.4 million.

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, ClearBridge Investments, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“We exited our position in Chewy, Inc. (NYSE:CHWY), in the consumer discretionary sector. While we continue to have a favourable opinion of the online pet products retailer, we decided to consolidate our exposure to the pet industry.”

12. Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 29

Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY) operates two-sided online marketplaces that connect buyers and sellers. On October 17, Etsy announced that it is running tests with Printify and Shutterfly to promote printing and framing for people who buy digital products. Etsy will only show buyers what is in ad for those services by just selling digital items in its marketplace.

On October 10, BTIG analyst Marvin Fong maintained a Buy rating on Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY) stock and lowered the price target on Etsy to $119 from $122, noting that the company’s Q3 results show sequential growth.

At the end of the second quarter of 2022, 29 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $595.9 million in Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY), compared to 43 in the preceding quarter worth $668.5 million.

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Oakmark Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Etsy, Inc. (NASDAQ:ETSY) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“We became interested in Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) when Josh Silverman took over as CEO in 2017. The company had long been recognized as a great marketplace, but prior management was not focused on maximizing shareholder value. In short order, Silverman transformed Etsy from a borderline non-profit into a higher-margin, faster-growing enterprise. The pandemic helped accelerate already strong fundamental business results as millions of new customers were introduced to the platform while stuck at home. But like so many other Covid-19 “winners,” Etsy has since fallen deeply out of favor with investors, which prompted us to take a closer look. Following a 75% decline in its stock price, the company now trades for 3.5x next year’s revenue or just a low double-digit multiple of operating profit using our estimate of normalized margins. We believe this is an attractive price to pay for a unique digital marketplace with a long runway for future growth. Note that our exposure to Etsy is currently established via options.”

11. DoorDash, Inc. (NYSE:DASH)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 31

DoorDash, Inc. (NYSE:DASH) operates a logistics platform that connects merchants, consumers, and dashers in the United States and internationally. It is one of the elite ecommerce stocks to invest in. On August 29, DoorDash stated that it has partnered with RELEX, a supply chain and retail planning solutions firm. Under the deal, the AI-driven supply chain planning solution of RELEX will be implemented to service DoorDash’s DashMart locations.

On August 23, Wolfe Research analyst Deepak Mathivanan reiterated an Outperform rating on DoorDash, Inc. (NYSE:DASH) stock with a $110 price target, highlighting that the company’s underlying fundamentals were solid with significant profitability growth at the core of the US restaurant business.

Among the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Beijing-based investment firm Hillhouse Capital Management is a leading shareholder in DoorDash, Inc. (NYSE:DASH), with 4.7 million shares worth more than $301 million.

10. Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 37

Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) owns and operates an e-commerce business through its mobile applications and Internet websites primarily in South Korea. On September 22, Coupang partnered up with ShipStation, a cloud-based ecommerce shipping solution. Shipstation is the first US shipping partner to integrate with Coupang. This partnership will enable US-based merchants to efficiently ship and sell products in the Coupang marketplace.

On October 7, investment advisory HSBC initiated coverage of Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) stock with a Buy rating and a $27.80 price target. Analyst Junhyun Kim issued the ratings update.

Among the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Dallas-based investment firm Maverick Capital is a leading shareholder in Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG), with 84.5 million shares worth more than $1 billion.

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“During the quarter, we also added to our position in the leading Korean e-commerce player, Coupang, Inc. (NYSE:CPNG), taking advantage of the stock’s volatility. While the stock sold off, the business remains robust, growing revenues by 32% in the most recent quarter (year-over-year in constant currency) while gaining market share (the industry grew 8%) and reaching profitability in its product commerce segment three quarters ahead of plan.”

9. eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 43

eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) operates marketplace platforms that connect buyers and sellers in the United States and internationally. It is one of the major ecommerce stocks to invest in. On October 18, eBay revealed that it has partnered up with the British Fashion Council for the launch of Circular Fashion Innovators Fund that is offering $113,000 in funding for small businesses in circular fashion solutions.

On October 6, Jefferies analyst John Colantuoni maintained a Hold rating on eBay (NASDAQ:EBAY) stock and lowered price target to $42 from $52, noting that the company is leaning on a new risk/reward strategy to achieve long term profit.

Among the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Chicago-based investment firm Harris Associates is a leading shareholder in eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY), with 4.89 million shares worth more than $203.8 million.

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Smead Capital Management, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“We believe you need to avoid these formerly glamorous stock groups for many years. We loved to use eBay Inc. (NASDAQ:EBAY) as a poster child back in 1999 for the dotcom bubble. We bought it eight years later and have done very well on it. We wouldn’t have done well if we bought it in the early years of that bear market, or even five years later. If you think this bear will be shorter and or less damaging than the dotcom bear market of 2000-2003, you could be showing your inexperience!”

8. Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 60

Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP) is a commerce company that provides an e-commerce platform and services. On October 19, Shopify stated that it is in partnership with Novel, a no code Web3 commerce platform, to make Web3 technologies accessible and approachable for all merchants. Novel launched an app on Shopify which enables the merchants to experience Web3 innovation without any technical knowledge.

On September 20, Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss maintained an Equal Weight rating on Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP) stock and lowered the price target to $40 from $44, noting that there was a difficult path to significant operating profitability rather than an accretive contributor to earnings power for the firm.

Among the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, Florida-based investment firm ARK Investment Management is a leading shareholder in Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP), with 14.5 million shares worth more than $391.5 million.

In its Q2 2022 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“Shopify Inc. (NYSE:SHOP) is a cloud-based software provider offering an operating system for multi-channel commerce. Shares fell due to continued post-pandemic e-commerce normalization as economies reopen, concerns about competition following Amazon’s announcement of Buy with Prime, as well as the broader sell-off in growth stocks. We remain shareholders due to Shopify’s strong competitive positioning, innovative culture, and long runway for growth as it currently addresses less than 1% of global commerce spend.”

7. JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 62

JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) provides supply chain-based technologies and services in China. It is one of the prominent ecommerce stocks to invest in. On October 11, Citi analyst Alicia Yap maintained a Buy rating on JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) stock and lowered the price target to $85 from $91, highlighting that China’s underlying economic activities and consumption willingness remain weak and the soft sentiment had led to decreasing Q4 earnings of the firm.

At the end of the second quarter of 2022, 62 hedge funds in the database of Insider Monkey held stakes worth $5.5 billion in JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD), compared to 59 in the previous quarter worth $5.4 billion.

In its Q3 2021 investor letter, Argosy Investors, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“We sold JD.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:JD) as a result of the furor over Chinese stocks during the quarter. We had been concerned about China’s lack of respect for investor rights for some time, and Beijing has become significantly more aggressive in asserting itself of late. In addition, the legal structure Chinese companies use to come public in the U.S., a Cayman Islands shell corporation leaves American investors with an unsure path to recovering value should these companies cease to trade on U.S. exchanges. Because of the uncertainty, we exited our position in JD completely. We still love JD’s long-term prospects, but we cannot estimate the legal/regulatory risk associated with these companies anymore. More broadly, we are freeing up cash for some other positions we already own which have declined in this market, and after additional review, remain attractive.”

6. Sea Limited (NYSE:SE)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 65

Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) engages in the digital entertainment, e-commerce, and digital financial services businesses. On August 18, Barclays analyst Jiong Shao maintained an Overweight rating on Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) stock and lowered the price target to $114 from $125, noting that many macro factors, currency headwinds, and inflation had led the firm to withdraw fiscal 2022 revenue guidance.

Among the hedge funds being tracked by Insider Monkey, New York-based investment firm Tiger Global Management is a leading shareholder in Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), with 8.2 million shares worth more than $548 million.

In addition to Amazon.com, Inc. (NASDAQ:AMZN), Alibaba Group Holding Limited (NYSE:BABA), and PayPal Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:PYPL), Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) is one of the best ways to play the boom in the ecommerce sector.

In its Q1 2022 investor letter, Baron Funds, an asset management firm, highlighted a few stocks and Sea Limited (NYSE:SE) was one of them. Here is what the fund said:

“Sea Limited (NYSE:SE), a global digital gaming and e-commerce company, detracted from performance for the period held. Similar to other online consumer businesses, Sea faced significant multiple compression in the quarter, exacerbated by a slowdown in user growth at its key Free Fire digital game and mounting investments in its e-commerce operation, particularly in new markets like Brazil. We exited our position as we lost confidence in the long- term unit economics in some of Sea’s new markets and were concerned by the simultaneous slowdown in revenue growth and increase in underlying cash burn.”

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