We recently published a list of the 10 Best Low Priced Stocks to Invest in Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) stands against the other best low priced stocks to invest in now.
According to a report by Charles Schwab published on December 9, the U.S. economy and stock market are entering 2025 from a position of relative strength, but the risks of volatility, particularly those related to policy, are significantly higher compared to the previous year. This uncertainty is largely driven by the policy proposals of President-elect Donald Trump, whose unconventional governing style and fluid policy positions have made forecasting their impact on domestic and global conditions extremely challenging. The report highlights that Trump's policy proposals, which include lower taxes and reduced regulations, are generally seen as growth-positive. However, these are offset by proposals for higher tariffs on imported goods and mass deportations of illegal immigrants, which are generally considered stagflationary, at least in the short term.
In terms of the stock market, the report suggests that while equities can perform well from the beginning to the end of the year, the volatility is likely to be higher in 2025 compared to 2024. The S&P 500 is currently above its 50 and 200-day moving averages, which historically has been a positive indicator for future performance. However, the report cautions that after a year with 57 record highs, the median gain in the following year has historically been around 5.8%, suggesting a potential for a step back in performance. The report also notes that the S&P 500's 5-year normalized P/E ratio is quite stretched, indicating a product of market enthusiasm but not necessarily a near-term risk.
For small caps, the report notes that the Russell 2000 has struggled in the current bull market due to higher interest rates and weaker profit profiles. The report suggests that profitable small caps could perform well if economic growth holds and the Fed takes a gradual approach to rate cuts, but the index as a whole might continue to face challenges if earnings growth does not improve.
U.S. Stocks in 2025: Growth, Risks, and Opportunities
In an interview with Bloomberg on December 24, Jonathan D. Corpina, Senior Managing Partner at Meridian Equity Partners, discussed his outlook for U.S. stocks in 2025. Corpina noted that the market is finishing the year strong, supported by a resilient economy and key events such as the election and rate cuts being out of the way. He believes that the market will continue to move higher in 2025, though it will take a few quarters for the new administration to implement new policies and procedures.
Corpina also addressed investor expectations for strong double-digit earnings growth for S&P 500 companies, suggesting that while the bar is set high, it's important to manage expectations. He emphasized that the economy remains fragile, and companies are still adjusting to the new environment and administration. He advised a cautious approach, noting that there are many uncertainties that could impact the market in the coming year. On the U.S. financial sector, Corpina is optimistic. He anticipates a lot of M&A activity and IPOs in 2025, driven by a pro-business administration.
While the U.S. economy and stock market are entering 2025 with a foundation of relative strength, the landscape remains fraught with uncertainty.
A pharmacist discussing the health benefits of a prescription medication with a customer.
Our Methodology
To compile our list of the 10 best low priced stocks to invest in now, we used Finviz and Yahoo stock screeners to find the 50 largest companies trading below the price of $10 as of December 24. We then used Insider Monkey’s Hedge Fund database to rank 10 stocks according to the largest number of hedge fund holders, as of Q3 2024. The list is sorted in ascending order of hedge fund sentiment.
Why do we care about what hedge funds do? The reason is simple: our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) is a leading global pharmacy-led health and wellbeing company, with a presence in over 11 countries including the United States, Europe, and Latin America. The company serves millions of customers through retail pharmacies, healthcare services, and pharmaceutical wholesale operations.
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) is reorienting its business to focus on its core strength as a retail pharmacy-led company. Management believes that the company’s trust is built on millions of daily face-to-face interactions with pharmacy personnel, and aims to maintain this trust by being the first choice for retail pharmacy and health services. To ensure this, Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) is investing in its approximately 6,000 profitable stores. The company is also accelerating the closure of underperforming stores, with plans to close approximately 1,200 stores over the next three years and reduce the fixed costs associated with them.
Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) is focusing on a selective merchandising strategy, with categories such as health and wellness and women's health. The company has already launched over 300 new owned brand SKUs this year and plans to launch more in the coming year. Walgreens Boots Alliance, Inc. (NASDAQ:WBA) is also focusing on improving operating cash flows through cost and working capital management, with a goal of $500 million in working capital initiatives and $150 million in further CapEx Reduction in fiscal 2025. Additionally, the company is exploring opportunities to monetize non-core assets, such as VillageMD, to generate cash and reduce net debt.
Overall, WBA ranks 8th on our list of best low priced stocks to invest in now. While we acknowledge the potential of WBA to grow, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than WBA but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.
