Mid-cap stocks have the best odds of scaling into $100 billion corporations thanks to their tested business models and large addressable markets.
But the many opportunities in front of them attract significant competition, spanning from industry behemoths with seemingly infinite resources to small, nimble players with chips on their shoulders.
Shares of rural goods retailer Tractor Supply (NASDAQ:TSCO)
jumped 3.1% in the morning session after an analyst at Mizuho Securities added the company to a 'Top Picks' list for 2026.
In a definitive signal that the "growth at all costs" era has been replaced by a mandate for lean, profitable expansion, Wayfair Inc. (NYSE: W) delivered a blockbuster third-quarter 2025 earnings report that has sent shockwaves through the retail sector. Defying a broader housing market that has remained sluggish due
The stocks in this article have caught Wall Street’s attention in a big way, with price targets implying returns above 20%.
But investors should take these forecasts with a grain of salt because analysts typically say nice things about companies so their firms can win business in other product lines like M&A advisory.
A company that generates cash isn’t automatically a winner.
Some businesses stockpile cash but fail to reinvest wisely, limiting their ability to expand.
Not all profitable companies are built to last - some rely on outdated models or unsustainable advantages.
Just because a business is in the green today doesn’t mean it will thrive tomorrow.
A stock with low volatility can be reassuring, but it doesn’t always mean strong long-term performance.
Investors who prioritize stability may miss out on higher-reward opportunities elsewhere.
Retailers are evolving to meet the expectations of modern, tech-savvy shoppers. Still, secular trends are working against their favor as e-commerce continues to take share from brick and mortars.
This puts retail stocks in a tough spot, and over the past six months, the industry has pulled back by 1.4%. This drop is a far cry from the S&P 500’s 13% ascent.
While Tractor Supply has lagged behind the broader market over the past year, Wall Street analysts maintain a moderately optimistic outlook about the stock’s prospects.
Wayfair (NYSE: W), the online home goods retailer, has been a name synonymous with market volatility, experiencing a rollercoaster of performance over the past year. While it languished as a "bottom performer" for much of 2024 and early 2025, recent strong third-quarter results and a wave of analyst upgrades have
Tractor Supply trades at $57.26 per share and has stayed right on track with the overall market, gaining 11.4% over the last six months. At the same time, the S&P 500 has returned 16.3%.
Shares of online home goods retailer Wayfair (NYSE:W)
jumped 6.6% in the afternoon session after the company reported strong third-quarter results and received multiple analyst upgrades, fueling continued positive momentum. The stock's rise extended a surge from previous trading sessions after Wayfair's third-quarter financial results surpassed expectations, with revenue hitting $3.117 billion and adjusted earnings per share reaching $0.70. This performance prompted positive reactions from analysts. Bank of America shifted its outlook from Neutral to Buy and increased its price target to $130. In addition, RBC Capital raised its price target to $86. Adding to the good news, the company appointed Hal Lawton, the CEO of Tractor Supply Company, to its board of directors, a move that signaled strong leadership to investors.
Shares of online home goods retailer Wayfair (NYSE:W)
jumped 8.8% in the afternoon session after the company appointed Hal Lawton, president and CEO of Tractor Supply Company, to its board of directors and RBC Capital raised its price target.
