9 Companies That Are Gratefully Winning Thanksgiving

A recent survey suggested that overall inflation, including high turkey prices, will cause one in four Americans to skip Thanksgiving this year.

That seems hyperbolic, but we get it.

Households are financially stressed. Smaller gatherings and smaller portions may make it tougher to get that second helping of mashed potatoes this year.

But we wanted to dig into things a little further.

So, we decided to take a survey of our own. We asked LikeFolio team members what they are most grateful for this Thanksgiving.

The top three responses were family, health, and freedom. Football and weekend leftovers received honorable mention.

And since we’re obsessed with providing actionable insight from our proprietary consumer sentiment data, we thought about the top companies that embody the spirit of family, health, and freedom.

Better yet, which ones have been experiencing the strongest social media buzz?

We came up with a full list for your consideration…

Family — 23andMe, Hasbro, Tripadvisor

A lot of priceless traits get passed down from generation to generation.

Grandpa’s sense of humor. Mom’s nurturing compassion.

Unfortunately, so do genetic diseases and disorders.

That’s where 23andMe Holding Co. (ME) comes in.

The company is a leading provider of health reports based on an individual’s DNA. Its research platform is used to develop drugs for cancer and cardiovascular and respiratory diseases.

Just as people are becoming more curious about their ancestry, interest in genetics is growing rapidly; often the two are linked.

23andMe’s database increased to 13.4 million customers last quarter. New reports were launched for anxiety, fibromyalgia, and seasonal allergies.

Overall, personalized data obtained from 23andMe is helping consumers take action — to eat healthier, exercise more, and sleep better.

LikeFolio data supports that learning about the family tree is about more than discovering what countries we’re from. Total mentions of 23andMe are up 56% year-over-year (YoY) on a 30-day average.

And if you’re anything like our families, you spoil the kids. That’s why we have our eye on Hasbro Inc. (HAS) heading into the holiday shopping season.

Demand for Hasbro toys and games typically perks up in Q4, but it has been especially strong of late. Hasbro Purchase Intent (PI) mentions are up 27% compared to this time last year.

Hasbro is also a major player when it comes to family game night. Its lineup of board games includes classics like Clue, Monopoly, and Scattergories.

Then there’s the wildly popular Magic: The Gathering card game. PI mentions of the brand are up 81% YoY.

Last month, Hasbro’s Wizards of the Coast unit teamed up with Grammy-nominated artist Post Malone to launch a set of Magic: The Gathering Secret Lair cards. This is a good example of how Hasbro is winning over younger consumers by tagging in pop culture icons.

And what would Thanksgiving be without a good old family trip?

With the travel industry rebounding and experiences commanding a greater part of household spending, many are turning to Tripadvisor Inc. (TRIP) to plan their next getaway.

Consumer buzz around the world’s largest travel guidance site has trended higher since the year began, so while the stock price is down 30% for the year as of this writing, we believe this is a disconnect that could correct itself over time.

Revenue for the company climbed 51% in Q3, and monthly unique users across all of Tripadvisor’s sites climbed 8%.

This, along with LikeFolio trend data, points to a healthy rebound underway in the consumer travel space.

Health – Elevance, CVS Health, GoodRx

A focus on health and wellness continues to be one of the hottest trends coming out of the pandemic. We’ve seen a wide range of companies benefit from consumers’ increased attention to personal and family health.

One of them is Elevance Health Inc. (ELV), a business that offers insurance plans and services encompassing both physical and mental health.

Demand for the company’s Anthem Blue Cross and Blue Shield and Wellpoint health plans is on the rise.

Meanwhile, the lesser-known Carelon tech solutions side of the business is serving one in three Americans through various partnerships.

Elevance Health has 29% higher mentions YoY on a 30-day average. As whole health becomes a bigger deal to consumers, we expect the recent buzz around the company to continue.

CVS Health Corp. (CVS) is also all about comprehensive care.

Total mentions of CVS Health increased 8% quarter-over-quarter (QoQ) in Q3 and are on pace to increase again in Q4.

What’s driving this? Nowadays, there’s more to CVS than retail and traditional pharmacy services.

A significant amount of the buzz is around CVS Specialty. This is the company’s new prescription management and personalized care brand.

Consumers are discussing the convenience and reliability of the offering, which includes online refills, home delivery, and one-on-one support from the CVS Specialty CareTeam.

CVS Health grew revenues 10.7% for the three months ended Sept. 30, 2022. It once again beat estimates in Q3 and raised its full-year outlook.

Pending the approval of the Signify Health Inc. (SGFY) acquisition, CVS will soon have another growth catalyst in the mix. Signify’s tech-enabled complete care platform could help bring CVS customer engagement to another level.

GoodRx Holdings Inc. (GDRX) is also generating a good amount of buzz. GoodRx gives folks price transparency when it comes to the foggy world of prescription medications.

The company’s Q3 report showed a YoY decline in subscription plans, which is consistent with what we are seeing in other areas, most notably streaming TV.

However, we think demand for services that are health-related and that save people money point to a longer-term uptrend.

In other words, digital health care tools are less likely to get wiped from the budget than digital entertainment.

Freedom — Norwegian Cruise Line, LiveWire, Sportsman’s Warehouse

Speaking of entertainment, Americans’ ability to pursue a wide range of leisure activities is certainly something to be thankful for this Thanksgiving.

Whether it be for sailing the high seas, hitting the country roads, or exploring the great outdoors, demand for adventure is climbing fast.

Consumer mentions of “Booking a Cruise” are up 85% YoY. Cruises have been one of the most resilient discretionary categories in our universe.

Norwegian Cruise Line Holdings (NCLH) is seeing some of the strongest demand. While Royal Caribbean Cruises Ltd. (RCL) and Carnival Corp. (CCL) PI mentions have slowed in Q4, NCLH PI mentions are on pace to exceed Q3 demand and are up 152% on a 30-day average.

Norwegian’s Q3 report had a trio of bullish consumer metrics:

1. The occupancy rate improved to 82%.
2. Revenue per passenger was up 14% compared to Q3 2019.
3. 2023 bookings match the record levels observed in 2019 — despite prices being significantly higher.

Given the trends we are seeing, it’s no surprise that cruise line stocks are on cruise control.

Another name we’re watching closely is LiveWire Group Inc. (LVWR), Harley-Davidson’s electric motorcycle spin-off company that started trading on the New York Stock Exchange (NYSE) in September. The stock has skidded to a new low, but based on the favorable social media chatter, LVWR looks likely to rev higher over time.

While its stock is relatively unknown, LiveWire’s motorcycles are quickly gaining traction among consumers. Much of the discussion is around the new low-cost S2 Del Mar model, which sold out in May in 18 minutes. Deliveries will start in the spring of 2023.

Another leisure stock that is starting to reflect strong LikeFolio data is Sportsman’s Warehouse Holdings Inc. (SPWH).

Since trading at $7.91 on Sept. 1, SPWH has rallied almost 20% to $9.42 as of this writing.

Comprehensive Demand for SPWH hunting, camping, and fishing gear looks like it is headed for a fourth-consecutive quarterly increase. Yes, there is a seasonality effect here, but the level of buzz is trending back toward the post-pandemic peak of Q2 2020.

This tells us that Americans’ interest in the great outdoors was not just a pandemic fad. People still want to get outside and enjoy nature. In turn, they are enjoying the one-stop shopping experience across Sportsman’s Warehouse’s expanding store footprint.

Now that’s a breath of fresh air!

Family. Health. Freedom.

From our team to yours, we wish you a very happy Thanksgiving weekend.

Take care,

Andy Swan
Founder, LikeFolio