2 world-class growth shares to consider buying during a stock market crash

Our writer explains why he thinks these two S&P 500 growth stocks are worth considering as ISA buys during the next market meltdown.

| More on:

The content of this article was relevant at the time of publishing. Circumstances change continuously and caution should therefore be exercised when relying upon any content contained within this article.

Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer

Image source: Getty Images

You’re reading a free article with opinions that may differ from The Motley Fool’s Premium Investing Services. Become a Motley Fool member today to get instant access to our top analyst recommendations, in-depth research, investing resources, and more. Learn More.

It’s always a smart idea to have a shopping list of shares at hand. This is what I had in April when the proverbial hit the fan, saving me valuable time deciding which stocks to buy when many suddenly went on sale.

Two on my list were Shopify and Nvidia, and I took my chance when things quickly went south. Those positions are currently up 40% and 51% respectively since early April.

Here are two shares that look overvalued, but which I think investors should consider putting on a shopping list for the next bear market or crash.

Untapped opportunities

The first is Axon Enterprise (NASDAQ: AXON). As well as owning the Taser brand, the company sells body-cams, dash-cams, and various software products to law enforcement customers. It’s also innovating in drones, VR training, and powerful artificial intelligence (AI)-powered tools.

Last year, revenue jumped 33% to $2.1bn, up from $681m in 2020. Over $1bn of that is now annual recurring revenue, while total future contracted bookings rose to $10.1bn.

The company continues to scale up very impressively. This rapid progress is reflected in the share price, which has vaulted 700% in three years.

The key risk now then is valuation, with the shares trading at 27 times sales. If Axon’s growth underwhelms, the stock could sell off heavily.

But I think this is definitely one to consider picking up during any such sell-off. The enterprise growth opportunity’s very large.

Take body-cams, for example. In an attempt to reduce attacks on staff, Walmart’s piloting black-and-yellow body-cams in some stores (Axon’s signature colours).

Management points out that Walmart has 2.1m retail workers, far in excess of the 900,000 cops in the US.

What about airlines? Cabin crew are no strangers to abusive behaviour. Cameras can provide evidence, reduce false claims, and deter aggression. They would integrate with Axon’s cloud-based evidence system, adding to the recurring revenue.

Meanwhile, the company’s sitting on a library of video data that’s roughly 40 times larger than that belonging to Netflix (NASDAQ: NFLX). Axon’s using this vast data trove to train AI models and power a growing suite of tools, embedding it ever deeper into customers’ daily workflows.

Looking ahead, the international opportunity in Europe, Latin America and Asia remains largely untapped.

Still leading, still growing

Returning to Netflix, I think the global streaming leader is worthy of consideration. But perhaps not right now around $1,220.

This price puts the stock at 13 times sales and 49 times forward earnings. Again, this stretched valuation leaves very little margin for error, particularly if subscriber growth unexpectantly slows.

Long term though, I’m bullish on Netflix. The firm possesses an incredible brand and streaming still has plenty of room to grow globally.

It also offers fantastic value for money. At £12.99, my Netflix subscription’s probably one of the last discretionary things I would cut.

The new ad-supported tier is just £5.99 a month — less than the price of a pint in London nowadays! I think Netflix can keep increasing prices for years without losing too many subscribers.

The firm has set a goal of reaching a $1trn market-cap by 2030, up from $520bn today. I think that’s achievable, especially if cutting-edge generative AI helps it make content for less money.

Ben McPoland has positions in Axon Enterprise, Nvidia, and Shopify. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Axon Enterprise, Nvidia, Shopify, and Walmart. Views expressed on the companies mentioned in this article are those of the writer and therefore may differ from the official recommendations we make in our subscription services such as Share Advisor, Hidden Winners and Pro. Here at The Motley Fool we believe that considering a diverse range of insights makes us better investors.

More on Investing Articles

Content white businesswoman being congratulated by colleagues at her retirement party
Investing Articles

Is the party over for the big FTSE 100 banks?

Harvey Jones wonders if big FTSE 100 banks like Barclays have delivered all the fun they can for now, and…

Read more »

Mindful young woman breathing out with closed eyes, calming down in stressful situation, working on computer in modern kitchen.
Investing Articles

Has the 2026 stock market crash already begun?

Many predictions have been made about a stock market crash this year. But are these early warning signs pointing to…

Read more »

Mature black woman at home texting on her cell phone while sitting on the couch
Investing Articles

How much do I need in a Stocks and Shares ISA to earn a £500 monthly passive income?

Millions of Britons use the Stocks and Shares ISA as a vehicle to build a sizeable portfolio and to eventually…

Read more »

Investor looking at stock graph on a tablet with their finger hovering over the Buy button
Investing Articles

Down 50%! My once-in-a-decade opportunity to buy RELX shares?

Harvey Jones has waited for years for the chance to buy RELX shares at a decent valuation. Well now it's…

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

What next for the NatWest share price after a stunning 2025 performance?

NatWest just ramped up its 2025 dividend and announced a new buyback - but an unimpressed market pushed the share…

Read more »

Bearded man writing on notepad in front of computer
Investing Articles

Here’s how a spare £3,000 in an ISA could generate a passive income of £90, £900 or even £9,000 per year!

Could someone with a few thousands pounds in an ISA end up earning three times that much in passive income…

Read more »

Night Takeoff Of The American Space Shuttle
Growth Shares

£2k invested in this growth share at the start of the year is worth this staggering amount

Jon Smith points out a growth share that has started 2026 very strongly and explains what the outlook could be…

Read more »

Investing Articles

Attention! These are among the most popular UK passive income stocks right now

The list of popular passive income stocks is currently well diversified across stock market sectors, but here are a couple…

Read more »