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2 Overvalued Consumer Stocks Investors Should Buy if a Massive Pullback Occurs

newsfeedback@fool.com (Will Healy)
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⚡ Quantum Brief
Two overvalued consumer stocks—Costco and Dutch Bros—could become attractive buys if geopolitical tensions or a bear market trigger significant price pullbacks, offering investors discounted entry points. Costco’s 9% revenue growth and 13% profit surge in early 2026 highlight resilience, but its 53 P/E ratio remains unjustified, suggesting a sub-30 multiple could signal a buying opportunity. Dutch Bros’ 28% revenue growth and 2,029-store expansion plan mirror Starbucks’ early trajectory, yet its 84 P/E and 4.3 P/S ratios reflect overvaluation despite strong brand momentum. Middle East conflicts and market volatility may prompt investor caution, making now an ideal time to build a watchlist for potential discounts in high-quality consumer stocks. Historical trends show both stocks have rewarded buyers during past pullbacks, with Dutch Bros’ P/S dips often preceding rallies, while Costco’s valuation has occasionally fallen below 30.
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By Will Healy – Apr 11, 2026 at 9:25AM ESTKey PointsCostco could become a buy if it pulls back from its stubbornly high valuation. Like Starbucks before it, Dutch Bros is on the path to a rapid regional to national expansion, but the stock sells at a considerable premium.Amid conflict in the Middle East, investors see geopolitical tensions rising. That can often prompt shareholders to reduce stock holdings or at least hold off on buying shares. Restraint could be a wise move, as it is too early to tell if or how much the events abroad will affect the market. Amid a possible bear market, now is a good time to compile a wish list of stocks to buy should prices fall. These names could serve investors well if they can buy at a considerable discount. Image source: Getty Images. Costco One cannot blame investors for looking at Costco (COST 3.25%) stock and wondering, "is the opportunity over?" The company has built a consistent track record of rising sales and profits and has also steadily expanded, both domestically and abroad. Its members pay annual membership fees that allow them to buy high-quality, bulk goods at competitive prices. Since it also sells groceries and other necessities, the company is recession-resistant, and annual sales declines are rare. In the first six months of fiscal 2026 (ended Feb. 15), its $137 billion in revenue grew 9% compared to year-ago levels. That was above the 6% increase in fiscal 2025. With that, the $4 billion in profit in the first half of fiscal 2026 surged 13% higher, surpassing the 10% yearly growth in fiscal 2025. ExpandNASDAQ: COSTCostco WholesaleToday's Change(-3.25%) $-33.56Current Price$998.47Key Data PointsMarket Cap$443BDay's Range$995.50 - $1029.0052wk Range$844.06 - $1067.08Volume2.3MAvg Vol2.1MGross Margin12.93%Dividend Yield0.52% While growth has remained relatively steady, the growth rates arguably do not justify its 53 P/E ratio. The earnings multiple has rarely fallen below 40 over the last five years. Still, in the previous decade, the P/E ratio sometimes dropped below 30. That history indicates that if investors buy Costco stock for under 30 times earnings, they could earn market-beating returns with minimal risk.

Dutch Bros Dutch Bros (BROS +0.27%) is a coffee chain that has expanded rapidly and steadily risen in popularity. Customers have taken to its "broista" culture, which it created to improve the customer experience. Also, they can choose from a variety of coffees and other beverages, all of which help it to stand out in a competitive market. Additionally, it is in the middle of the same kind of regional to national expansion that caffeinated Starbucks' growth in past years. Dutch Bros' 1,136 locations at the end of 2025 were up from 982 in the previous year. From there, it intends to open 2,029 locations by 2029 and grow beyond that point. In 2025, revenue of more than $1.6 billion surged 28%, including a 5.6% rise in same-shop sales. That more than doubled its net income over the same period to nearly $80 million. ExpandNYSE: BROSDutch BrosToday's Change(0.27%) $0.15Current Price$56.00Key Data PointsMarket Cap$9.2BDay's Range$54.90 - $56.7252wk Range$44.58 - $77.88Volume64KAvg Vol5MGross Margin25.68% Such growth has helped boost the consumer discretionary stock to a P/E ratio of 84. Still, investors have a glimmer of hope as its 4.3 price-to-sales (P/S) ratio has fallen in recent months. BROS PS Ratio data by YCharts That is above the Starbucks P/S ratio of 2.9. However, when Dutch Bros' sales multiple has fallen below Starbucks' in the past, a surge in the stock price has followed. If that inversion happens again, past stock behavior suggests that Dutch Bros investors could earn market-beating returns.Read NextApr 11, 2026 •By Neil PatelCostco Stock Is a Screaming Buy in April, but Only if This 1 Thing HappensApr 10, 2026 •By Parkev Tatevosian, CFAWith Oil Prices Soaring, Is it an Excellent Time to Buy Costco Stock?Apr 10, 2026 •By Jack Delaney1 Reason to Buy and Hold Costco Stock for the Next 10 YearsApr 7, 2026 •By Lyle DalyThe Largest Consumer Staple Companies by Market Cap in April 2026Apr 7, 2026 •By Jack DelaneyCelsius Stumbles as Costco Flexes Its Branding Power With a New Energy DrinkApr 7, 2026 •By Kevin JacksonCostco: The Surprising Winner of Rising Gas PricesAbout the AuthorWill Healy is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering technology and consumer goods industries.

Before The Motley Fool, Will was a freelance writer covering stocks and personal finance for MSN Money, Yahoo! Finance, and Nasdaq. Earlier in his career, he was an expert in geographic information systems, applying spatial and IT skills to perform RF and demographic analysis in the telecom industry. He holds a bachelor’s degree in journalism from Texas A&M University and an MBA in finance and strategy from the University of Texas at Dallas.TMFWillHealyX@HealyWritingStocks MentionedCostco WholesaleNASDAQ: COST$998.47(-3.25%)-$33.56StarbucksNASDAQ: SBUX$96.64(-0.29%)-$0.28Dutch BrosNYSE: BROS$56.00(+0.27%)+$0.15*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.

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