Small Change, Big Futures: A Gardener and a Game Maker

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The market, as it often does, has decided that the future is terrifying. Artificial intelligence, you see, is the new dragon, and everyone’s busy polishing their metaphorical armour instead of, well, actually doing anything. This, naturally, creates opportunities. Opportunities for those of us who remember that dragons are usually more interested in a nice pile of gold than the complete dismantling of the economic order. Panic selling is a bit like a magical sale – everything must go, and quickly. The trick is to distinguish between a genuine bargain and a slightly tarnished goblin’s curse. With a bit of luck, and a longer view than the average mayfly, one can find rather splendid investments amidst the general chaos.

Two such possibilities, currently available for the price of a decent lunch, are Nintendo and Sprouts Farmers Market. Don’t dismiss them because they don’t involve glowing wires or promises of singularity. Sometimes, the most reliable magic is the kind that puts food on the table and a smile on a child’s face.

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The Unexpected Resilience of Root Vegetables

Sprouts Farmers Market is, at present, suffering from a condition best described as ‘temporary unpopularity’. The market, in its infinite wisdom, has decided that a 62% dip in value is a perfectly reasonable response to… well, to being a perfectly good grocery store. The accusation? That selling healthy food is somehow a risky proposition. The sheer unfairness of it all! It’s like punishing a blacksmith for making sturdy horseshoes.

The recent slowdown in same-store sales growth – a mere 0%-2% predicted for Q4 2025, a shocking decline from the previous 6% – is being presented as a catastrophe. But consider this: Sprouts enjoyed a rather spectacular 11.5% jump in sales during Q4 2024. Comparing anything to that is a bit like trying to outrun a griffin after it’s had a good breakfast. It was always going to be difficult.

The bigger picture, however, is considerably more encouraging. Sprouts managed a respectable 7.6% increase in same-store sales in 2024 and is forecasting 7% for 2025. These figures, my friends, are not merely numbers; they represent actual people choosing actual vegetables. And the company isn’t just relying on existing customers; it’s expanding, adding locations at a steady pace (464 at the end of Q3 2025). Management believes they can more than double that number, spreading the gospel of healthy eating across the land.1

Currently, Sprouts trades at a price-to-earnings ratio of 13.3. For a company poised for double-digit revenue growth over the next five years, with profit margins that don’t require sacrificing small woodland creatures, a price below $70 looks suspiciously like a steal.

1 The expansion plans are, naturally, subject to the whims of local zoning boards and the occasional territorial dispute with the Guild of Magical Produce. One must always factor in the possibility of enchanted turnips.

The Kingdom of Nintendo: A New Reign

Nintendo, on the surface, doesn’t look like a growth stock. It’s a venerable institution, a maker of family-friendly entertainment, a purveyor of brightly coloured plastic and digital delights. It’s the sort of company your grandmother might approve of, provided you don’t mention the more… energetic aspects of some of its games. But appearances, as any seasoned wizard will tell you, can be deceiving.

With the launch of the Switch 2, Nintendo is entering a growth supercycle. The original Switch was a modest success, but the Switch 2… well, it’s selling faster, and at a higher price point ($450 versus $300). This isn’t just about moving boxes; it’s about a surge in revenue, a near-100% increase year-over-year in local Japanese Yen terms. It’s the sort of growth that makes accountants weep with joy.

As more Switch 2 devices find their way into the hands of eager players, demand for games will naturally increase, leading to healthy profit growth. And Nintendo isn’t content with just dominating the gaming world; it’s expanding into theme parks and movies. It’s a coiled spring, ready to unleash a torrent of revenue and stock price gains. Currently trading at $14, it looks like a remarkably sensible investment.

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2026-02-17 23:03