To identify monster stocks before they take off, investors should first focus on underlying business momentum. Stocks can be volatile in the near term, but they ultimately track the business’s long-term growth. Investing in businesses with attractive growth prospects when they trade at attractive valuations relative to earnings can help you succeed in finding tomorrow’s winners.
Here’s why DoorDash (NASDAQ: DASH) and Viking Holdings (NYSE: VIK) are great candidates right now.
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1. DoorDash
DoorDash is a fast-growing logistics platform that makes it easy for customers to get orders from local merchants delivered to their door. The company earns money through merchant commissions, delivery fees, subscriptions, and advertising, and it’s expanding rapidly. Revenue has climbed from $4.9 billion in 2021 to $13.7 billion in 2025, indicating its long-term potential.
It is emerging as the leader in grocery delivery and has also recently gained momentum in restaurant and retail orders. The stock’s performance reflects this trajectory, rising 141% over the past three years. Revenue grew 36% year over year in the second quarter, driven by strength in deliveries and continued growth in DashPass subscribers.
DoorDash benefits from a reinforcing growth flywheel. Revenue growth funds product improvements, which drive higher order frequency and more DashPass sign-ups. Once customers join DashPass, DoorDash usage can become habitual. In the second quarter, DashPass customers generated 75% of U.S. grocery and retail orders.
There’s room to expand internationally, although DoorDash faces stiffer competition abroad. It is currently No. 2 in the U.K., Italy, Germany, and Canada, but management indicated on the second-quarter earnings call that it’s growing faster than the competition in those markets.
Delivery is a low-margin business, reflecting fierce competition from Uber Eats and Instacart. Even so, DoorDash’s operating profit has improved from -$579 million in 2023 to $723 million in 2025. This shows it can price its service to earn a profit, indicating capital efficiency and a solid competitive position.
The stock trades at a forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 34. If DoorDash meets analysts’ expectations for 44% annualized earnings growth, that valuation relative to the growth rate could set up market-beating returns over the next five years.
2. Viking Holdings
Cruise demand remains strong, and it’s driving growth for Viking Holdings, one of the industry’s leading brands. The company operates both ocean and river cruises, including itineraries on the Mississippi.
Viking benefits from a scalable, profitable model: Each new vessel is built to be nearly identical to existing ships, which supports operating efficiency and consistency. Shares have climbed 253% since the company’s May 2024 IPO, and continued demand could power further gains.
In the second quarter of 2026, revenue grew 16% year over year, with operating profit up 18%. That profitable growth reflects two key advantages: a younger-than-average industry fleet that helps keep maintenance costs down and simplified ship designs that support efficiency.
The biggest risk with buying a cruise stock during a strong travel cycle is getting in just ahead of the next downturn. Spending on travel and tourism can soften with the economy or from an unpredictable crisis that pauses demand.
Still, demand visibility suggests more growth ahead. As of Aug. 9, 2026, 2027 bookings were pacing 21% ahead of the prior season. Booking further in advance also helps management plan capacity, investments, and pricing to support profitability.
At 26 times forward earnings, the stock isn’t cheap and looks pricey relative to peers like Carnival and Royal Caribbean, which trade at under 15 times forward estimates. But much of that premium reflects Viking’s stronger growth profile and higher returns on invested capital.
If the company delivers the 26% annualized earnings growth expected by analysts, Viking could continue to outperform the market over the next five years.
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John Ballard has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends DoorDash and Viking. The Motley Fool recommends Carnival Corp., Instacart, and Uber Technologies. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
