2 under-the-radar growth stocks to consider for a Stocks and Shares ISA

Ben McPoland highlights a pair of lesser-known growth stocks from the restaurant industry that might be worth considering for a Stocks and Shares ISA.

| 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.

BUY AND HOLD spelled in letters on top of a pile of books. Alongside is a piggy bank in glasses. Buy and hold is a popular long term stock and shares strategy.

Image source: Getty Images

When investing, your capital is at risk. The value of your investments can go down as well as up and you may get back less than you put in.

Read More

The content of this article is provided for information purposes only and is not intended to be, nor does it constitute, any form of personal advice. Investments in a currency other than sterling are exposed to currency exchange risk. Currency exchange rates are constantly changing, which may affect the value of the investment in sterling terms. You could lose money in sterling even if the stock price rises in the currency of origin. Stocks listed on overseas exchanges may be subject to additional dealing and exchange rate charges, and may have other tax implications, and may not provide the same, or any, regulatory protection as in the UK.

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.

We’ve all probably heard of the ‘Magnificent Seven’ group of stocks — Apple, Microsoft, Alphabet, Amazon, Nvidia, Meta Platforms, and Tesla. Many investors have at least one of these tech names in their Stocks and Shares ISA portfolios.

However, there are loads of smaller growth stocks that are largely flying under the radar. Here are two that I think are worth considering.

Sweetgreen

First up is Sweetgreen (NYSE: SG), which is a restaurant chain that serves salads. The stock’s up 111% since the start of 2024, but has fallen 46% from a high reached back in November.

Passive income stocks: our picks

Do you like the idea of dividend income?

The prospect of investing in a company just once, then sitting back and watching as it potentially pays a dividend out over and over?

If you’re excited by the thought of regular passive income payments, as well as the potential for significant growth on your initial investment…

Then we think you’ll want to see this report inside Motley Fool Share Advisor — ‘5 Essential Stocks For Passive Income Seekers’.

What’s more, today we’re giving away one of these stock picks, absolutely free!

Get your free passive income stock pick

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Sweetgreen PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL18 Nov 202111 Mar 2025Zoom ▾Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '23Jan '24Jul '24Jan '2520222022202320232024202420252025www.fool.co.uk

Last year, Sweetgreen’s revenue increased 16% to $676.8m, with comparable store sales up 6%. It opened 25 net new restaurants, bringing the total to over 230 locations across America.

CEO Jonathan Neman said: “In 2025, we’re rolling out a new and improved loyalty program, introducing exciting new menu items, and strategically investing more in marketing to bring more people into our restaurants. By staying focused on delivering an exceptional experience, we’re setting Sweetgreen up to lead — and redefine — fast food for the future.”

One thing worth highlighting is the firm’s Infinite Kitchen automation technology. This robotic assembly line replaces human workers for key tasks like portioning, mixing, and plating ingredients. It produces salads 50% faster than humans can!

The main risk here is that the company isn’t yet profitable and reported a net loss of $90.4m last year. So that’s worth bearing in mind, as is the ever-present possibility of a food safety incident.

Looking ahead though, the company’s healthy meals and local sourcing of ingredients plays into a wellness trend that’s likely to grow stronger over the next decade and beyond.

Last year, Sweetgreen’s average sales per location were around $2.9m, in line with industry giants like Chipotle Mexican Grill. I think its investments in automation could give it a competitive advantage.

The stock’s trading at a reasonable 4x sales. With a small market-cap of $2.7bn and an untapped international opportunity, I think Sweetgreen has all the ingredients (pun intended) to be winning restaurant stock.

Toast

Sticking with the food theme, I’m going to highlight Toast (NYSE: TOST). I like to think of the company as the Shopify of restaurants, as it provides an all-in-one digital platform for managing orders, payments and inventory.

The stock’s up 36% over the past year, but remains around 39% below its 2021 IPO price.

Created with Highcharts 11.4.3Toast PriceZoom1M3M6MYTD1Y5Y10YALL22 Sep 202111 Mar 2025Zoom ▾Jan '22Jul '22Jan '23Jul '23Jan '24Jul '24Jan '2520222022202320232024202420252025www.fool.co.uk

In 2024, Toast’s revenue grew 28% to nearly $5bn and it recorded its first full year of profitability — a net profit of $19m versus a net loss of $246m in 2023. Its recurring gross profit stream jumped by 34%.

Meanwhile, it added a record 28,000 net locations, bringing the year-end total to around 134,000. And Toast is now partnered with over half of the Michelin-rated restaurants in the US!

One risk here is that the firm faces a fair bit of competition, especially on the hardware side from payments firms like Block-owned Square. The stock’s forward price-to-earnings ratio also looks quite high at 40.

Looking ahead to the next few years though, analysts have revenue and earnings growing by double digits. And Toast is confident that over the next decade it can serve “many multiples” of its current locations.

But this isn’t the only opportunity that’s caught my attention this week. Here are:

5 Shares for the Future of Energy

Investors who don’t own energy shares need to see this now.

Because Mark Rogers — The Motley Fool UK’s Director of Investing — sees 2 key reasons why energy is set to soar.

While sanctions slam Russian supplies, nations are also racing to achieve net zero emissions, he says. Mark believes 5 companies in particular are poised for spectacular profits.

Open this new report5 Shares for the Future of Energy — and discover:

  • Britain’s Energy Fort Knox, now controlling 30% of UK energy storage
  • How to potentially get paid by the weather
  • Electric Vehicles’ secret backdoor opportunity
  • One dead simple stock for the new nuclear boom

Click the button below to find out how you can get your hands on the full report now, and as a thank you for your interest, we’ll send you one of the five picks — absolutely free!

Grab your FREE Energy recommendation now

Should you invest, the value of your investment may rise or fall and your capital is at risk. Before investing, your individual circumstances should be assessed. Consider taking independent financial advice.

Randi Zuckerberg, a former director of market development and spokeswoman for Facebook and sister to Meta Platforms CEO Mark Zuckerberg, is a member of The Motley Fool's board of directors. John Mackey, former CEO of Whole Foods Market, an Amazon subsidiary, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Suzanne Frey, an executive at Alphabet, is a member of The Motley Fool’s board of directors. Ben McPoland has positions in Shopify and Toast. The Motley Fool UK has recommended Alphabet, Amazon, Apple, Block, Meta Platforms, Microsoft, Nvidia, Shopify, Tesla, and Toast. 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

Businessman hand flipping wooden block cube from 2024 to 2025 on coins
Investing Articles

How much could £20k in a Stocks and Shares ISA be worth in 2030?

UK investors have enjoyed spectacular returns in their Stocks and Shares ISA's over the past five years. Would could the…

Read more »

Passive and Active: text from letters of the wooden alphabet on a green chalk board
Investing Articles

Is the FTSE 100 good for passive income?

Our writer considers whether investing in the UK’s largest listed companies could help generate generous levels of passive income.

Read more »

piggy bank, searching with binoculars
Investing Articles

Here’s the growth forecasts for International Consolidated Airlines (IAG) shares through to 2028!

Shares of International Consolidated Airlines (LSE: IAG) have risen following a strong set of first-quarter financials last week. Is the…

Read more »

DIVIDEND YIELD text written on a notebook with chart
Investing Articles

These 10 FTSE income stocks could generate £33,137 a year in dividends

Our writer looks at the highest-yielding income stocks on the FTSE 350 and considers what level of return they might…

Read more »

Mature Caucasian woman sat at a table with coffee and laptop while making notes on paper
Investing Articles

What to do now before the next stock market crash

The recent stock market volatility seems to have subsided… for now. But that gives investors a chance to get ready…

Read more »

British Isles on nautical map
Investing Articles

Lower tariffs could be a game-changer for this FTSE 100 stock

Diageo shares have lagged the FTSE 100 badly over the last five years. But could lower tariffs on exports to…

Read more »

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

Smart investors are using a SIPP to become retirement millionaires! Here’s how to aim high

Investing in a SIPP can supercharge retirement savings and even lead to a million-pound nest egg by sparing just £500…

Read more »

Woman riding her old fashioned bicycle along the Beach Esplanade at Aberdeen, Scotland.
Investing Articles

2 world-class dividend stocks to consider for a retirement portfolio

These dividend stocks are relatively defensive in nature, meaning they could be well-suited to those seeking capital preservation.

Read more »