The cryptocurrency market has received a ton of attention recently. Since these assets don't produce any cash like regular businesses aim to, speculators can't value them in any traditional sense. But the power of social media can send some digital currencies, like Dogecoin, soaring astronomically for no real reason at all.
It's not surprising that younger people in particular are attracted to cryptocurrencies. They view the digital assets as a way to get rich quickly, which is really nothing more than gambling. This could end badly for these folks.
Over the long term, however, the stock market has been shown to be an excellent tool for building sustainable wealth. So forget the useless meme cryptocurrency that is Dogecoin and focus instead on these two high-potential, high-growth companies that can make you rich over time.
1. Etsy
Etsy (NASDAQ:ETSY) is an e-commerce platform where shoppers go to find unique, handcrafted items they can't find anywhere else. With operations now in seven different countries, the company empowers entrepreneurs to follow their passions by helping them grow their small businesses.
The success of Etsy‘s 4.4 million sellers is noteworthy. In the U.S., for example, these domestic sellers added $13 billion of GDP to the economy and created 2.6 million jobs. But the value proposition is also significant for Etsy's 81.9 million buyers. In a company survey conducted last year, an eye-popping 88% of buyers agreed that Etsy had goods they couldn't find anywhere else.
Although Etsy's marketplace has been expanding rapidly for many years, the onset of the pandemic led sales to skyrocket 111% in 2020 compared to 2019. Consumers flocked to the website last spring to purchase masks, but the company's largest product categories during the year were home furnishings, personal accessories, and craft supplies.
Etsy truly does offer a differentiated service and experience for both its sellers and buyers. Both groups understand the value they receive, which should support the company's growth for many years to come.
Because Etsy is a marketplace business (it simply connects buyers and sellers and owns no inventory itself), profits can soar even faster than the top line. In 2020, net income increased 264% from the prior year, something shareholders can appreciate.
Management believes the market for “special” goods (what Etsy is known for) is roughly $100 billion in its six core markets (not including India). Based on $10.3 billion in gross merchandise sales (GMS) last year, that's 10% of the total market. If we include the massive opportunity in India, it's easy to see how much room Etsy still has to grow.
Full story on Fool.com
