Two No-Brainer Growth Stocks Worth Your Attention in 2026

The stock market’s resilience over the past five years tells an important story. Despite significant volatility and economic headwinds, the S&P 500 has delivered an impressive 80% return. This performance underscores a fundamental principle of wealth building: when you identify truly strong businesses and allow them time to compound, the results speak for themselves. The most no-brainer investment opportunities typically share two characteristics — they possess a meaningful competitive advantage and offer substantial room for expansion. With that framework in mind, here are two growth stocks that deserve serious consideration right now.

Why These No-Brainer Picks Stand Out

The best no-brainer investment candidates aren’t flashy or complicated. They’re businesses solving real problems for millions of people. They combine recurring revenue streams with customer loyalty, creating a self-reinforcing cycle. The two stocks highlighted here embody these qualities while operating in massive, growing markets with room for meaningful expansion.

Chewy: Pet Industry Loyalty Powerhouse

Chewy (NYSE: CHWY) has established itself as the undisputed leader in online pet supplies, a position it continues to strengthen. The company’s brand is built on a simple but powerful foundation: thousands of products spanning pet food, supplies, and veterinary care delivered with convenience and reliability.

The underlying market opportunity is substantial and growing. Pet owners spent $90 billion on their pets in 2018, with projections reaching $157 billion by 2025. Yet Chewy’s revenue growth far outpaces industry expansion. The company has grown from $2.1 billion in annual revenue in 2018 to over $12 billion on a trailing-12-month basis—a transformation powered by 21 million active customers.

What makes Chewy a particularly compelling no-brainer is its Autoship program. About 84% of sales flow through this subscription-based delivery system, where customers schedule regular shipments of pet food and supplies. This recurring revenue model creates two critical advantages for investors. First, it fosters genuine customer loyalty through convenience—customers naturally stay with Chewy because switching is frictionless but inertia-laden. Second, it provides earnings visibility. Public markets consistently reward companies with predictable, recurring revenue with higher valuations.

At 25 times 2026 earnings estimates, Chewy’s valuation appears reasonable given its growth trajectory. Analysts expect the company to expand earnings at an annualized rate of 24% over the coming years. This growth will likely be fueled by management’s initiatives to expand margins through enhanced pet health services, sponsored advertising revenue, and Chewy Plus premium memberships. Here’s a business clearly on offense, gaining market share in a massive industry while delivering shareholder value.

Dutch Bros: The Emerging Coffee Challenger

Dutch Bros (NYSE: BROS) operates an entirely different playbook but pursues a similarly compelling thesis. This drive-thru beverage chain is positioned to potentially rival Starbucks in brand strength over the long term, though it remains in its early growth phases with just 1,081 locations as of late September 2025. Management’s ambition is clear: expand to 7,000 shops.

The company differentiates through deliberate brand-building tactics. It emphasizes personalization, rapid service, limited-time promotions, and memorable menu items with names like Cotton Candy Shake and Dragon Slayer Rebel. This strategy works—same-store sales grew 5.7% year-over-year, consistent with Dutch Bros’ historical trends, indicating that mature locations continue attracting customers.

The momentum picture has shifted favorably. After transaction volumes declined through 2023 and 2024, Dutch Bros has rebounded. Recent quarter transactions accelerated 4.7% year-over-year, signaling renewed customer engagement. Combined with new unit growth, total revenue expanded 25% year-over-year last quarter.

The profitability opportunity becomes more compelling as Dutch Bros scales. Analysts forecast 32% annual earnings growth over the next several years. Perhaps most intriguingly, Dutch Bros trades at a 5X price-to-sales multiple—precisely the valuation range Starbucks commanded during its own early growth phase. This no-brainer positioning suggests substantial long-term return potential.

The Case for No-Brainer Long-Term Investing

Both companies represent the type of no-brainer opportunities that reward patient capital. Chewy operates a durable competitive advantage through customer loyalty and recurring revenue in a massive market still in its infancy relative to potential. Dutch Bros is building a differentiated brand with meaningful expansion runway and improving unit economics.

The S&P 500’s recent performance reminds us that buying quality businesses and allowing time for growth compounds wealth reliably. These two stocks exemplify that principle. Neither requires complex analysis or market timing—just recognition that strong businesses in growing industries, purchased at reasonable valuations, have historically generated exceptional returns for long-term investors.

Ultimately, identifying no-brainer growth stocks comes down to finding businesses with sustainable advantages, large addressable markets, and management teams executing effectively. By that measure, both Chewy and Dutch Bros merit serious consideration for growth-focused portfolios in 2026.