The tech sell-off, especially in small-cap stocks, is rippling through markets. Yet because these companies don't make up a large share of indices like the S&P 500 and the Nasdaq, the market looks stronger than how many individual stocks are performing.
However, there are several blue chip stocks that have fallen over 20% from their highs. Walt Disney (DIS -0.83%), PayPal (PYPL -0.27%), and Kinder Morgan (KMI 0.40%) are all down big. Here's what makes each of these industry leaders a great buy now.
Image source: Getty Images.
Disney
Shares prices of Disney stock are off nearly 35% from their all-time high as the company struggles to revitalize its movie and park businesses in an economy that hasn't fully recovered.
Disney+ subscribers now exceed 118 million. But that wasn't enough to please Wall Street, which expected over 125 million subscribers by now. Disney may be an international conglomerate with a lot of moving parts. But at its core, its business isn't all that hard to understand. Disney offers family-focused experiences, on screen and at its parks, that often foster lasting memories that spark repeat business.
As an entertainment company that depends on people traveling from around the world to its parks and showing up in theatres, it isn't all that surprising that the pandemic and threats of the omicron COVID-19 variant are taking a toll on its bottom line. Disney should thrive in a post-pandemic world that doesn't hinder its business. Until that happens, short-term struggles are inevitable. Investors can take solace knowing that Disney could emerge as a stronger company than when it entered the pandemic thanks to the massive success of Disney+. That prospect alone makes the value stock a great buy now.
PayPal
Like Disney, PayPal is down over a third from its all-time high as the fintech industry comes under fire for what appears to be slowing growth. Heightened competition for a slice of the payment processing and e-commerce pie surely affects an industry leader like PayPal. But make no mistake -- PayPal's development of its peer-to-peer payment solution Venmo, acquisition of browser plug-in service Honey, and recent partnership with Amazon are all efforts to retain traction in its platform.
The big reason why PayPal stock has sold off is due to fears of slowing growth. PayPal expects to finish the year with revenue growth of 18% compared to last year and over 430 million active accounts.
PayPal isn't growing as quickly as it did in years past because it's a completely different company. PayPal has transformed itself from a payment solution tethered to eBay to one of the largest U.S. financial institutions. It's incredibly profitable and generates a ton of free cash flow (FCF) that it can use to grow its business. Investors looking for high-growth fintech names could be better off with a company like Square. PayPal is the balanced option in the industry, offering modest growth, a reasonable valuation, and a secure moat around its dominant market position.
Kinder Morgan
While you've probably heard of Disney and PayPal, there's a chance you haven't heard of one of the largest U.S. energy transportation and storage companies -- Kinder Morgan. Kinder Morgan's business is heavily insulated from economic ebbs and flows, and even oil and gas prices because of its long-term take-or-pay and fee-based contracts. The oil and gas downturn of 2015 brought Kinder Morgan to its knees and pressured the company to cut its dividend by 75%. Since then, management has transformed the company from a high-spending organization to a low growth, high-FCF business that rewards shareholders with the fourth-highest dividend yield in the S&P 500. At 6.8%, Kinder Morgan's dividend alone provides an enviable annual return.
To keep itself relevant for years to come, Kinder Morgan has selectively acquired more infrastructure assets and even invested in alternative energy like renewable natural gas (RNG). RNG comes from organic waste, like methane emitted from landfills, that would otherwise be wasted. RNG can be used interchangeably with conventional natural gas. Given the likelihood that natural gas will pair nicely with renewables in the energy transition, it's safe to say Kinder Morgan is set up to pay and grow its dividend over the long term.
A basket of three industry-leading companies
Disney, PayPal, and Kinder Morgan all have the potential to round out a portfolio in different ways. Disney provides exposure to the entertainment industry through one of the most beloved international brands. PayPal is the safest way to invest in the transition away from cash. Kinder Morgan is a simple bet that existing energy infrastructure will remain relevant or can even slightly decrease in value over time. Each stock is likely to appeal to different investors. But if you're looking for industry-leading business, buying a basket of all three isn't a bad idea, either.
