Stocks Decline as Oil Prices Surge Following Iran's Attack
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Mar 19 2026
0mins
Should l Buy FIVE?
Source: CNBC
- Oil Price Surge Impact: Stocks fell as Brent crude briefly hit $119 per barrel following Iran's attack on a key LNG facility in Qatar, causing the S&P 500 to slip below its 200-day moving average for the first time since last May, raising concerns among long-term investors.
- Eli Lilly Drug Study Update: Eli Lilly reported that its Phase 3 study of retatrutide for type 2 diabetes showed superior weight loss compared to Mounjaro over 40 weeks, yet the stock remained stagnant as investors are more focused on the anticipated approval of its new GLP-1 pill next month.
- Nvidia Stock Analysis: Jim Cramer reiterated his
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Analyst Views on FIVE
Wall Street analysts forecast FIVE stock price to fall
19 Analyst Rating
11 Buy
7 Hold
1 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 221.720
Low
132.00
Averages
193.47
High
242.00
Current: 221.720
Low
132.00
Averages
193.47
High
242.00
About FIVE
Five Below, Inc. is a specialty value retailer offering merchandise targeted at the tween and teen demographics. Its assortment of products, including select brands and licensed merchandise. It is engaged in offering a group of products, including leisure, fashion and home, and snacks and seasonal. Leisure includes items such as sporting goods, games, toys, tech, books, electronic accessories, arts and crafts, and party. Fashion and home include items, such as personal accessories, attitude t-shirts, beauty offerings, home goods and storage options. Snack and seasonal include items, such as seasonal goods, greeting cards, candy and other snacks, and beverages. It also offers its merchandise on the Internet, through its fivebelow.com e-commerce Website, offering home delivery and the option to buy online and pick up in store. It also sells its merchandise through on-demand third-party delivery services to enable its customers to shop online and receive convenient delivery.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Allstate Earnings Outlook: Allstate's expected EPS growth rate for the next three to five years is 19%, significantly higher than the industry average of 7.7%, with a 7.5% upward revision in earnings estimates over the past 60 days, indicating strong financial performance potential.
- Five Below Growth Momentum: Five Below's stock surged 200.1% over the past year, with a projected earnings growth rate of 17.5% for fiscal 2027, and a 16.2% increase in earnings estimates over the past 60 days, reflecting robust performance in the retail sector.
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- Increased Market Attention: Google Trends data indicates a 100% year-over-year increase in searches for Five Below, suggesting accelerating consumer interest in the brand and the new toy, enhancing market awareness.
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- Strong Performance of Ross Stores: Ross Stores reported a 9% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter ending January 31, with management projecting a 3% to 4% increase in same-store sales and a 6% to 11% growth in earnings per share this year, demonstrating robust execution and market appeal amid economic challenges.
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- Ongoing Expansion Plans: The company ended the year with 1,904 stores across 44 states, an increase of 73 stores from the previous year, while also adding 8 dd's stores, indicating its potential for market expansion and confidence in future growth.
- Strong Performance for Five Below: Five Below achieved a remarkable 15.4% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter, with guidance for 3% to 5% growth in 2026, reflecting its appeal in the teen market and sustained consumer demand.
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Relative Price Strength Picks Amid Market Volatility
- Market Volatility Context: The market experienced fluctuations this week due to rising oil prices amid escalating uncertainty in the Middle East, causing investor concerns about the potential impact of high oil prices on economic growth; however, signs of market resilience are emerging as stocks begin to rebound.
- Allstate Earnings Outlook: Allstate's expected EPS growth rate for the next three to five years is 19%, significantly higher than the industry average of 7.7%, with a 7.5% upward revision in earnings estimates over the past 60 days, indicating strong financial performance potential.
- Five Below Growth Momentum: Five Below's stock surged 200.1% over the past year, with a projected earnings growth rate of 17.5% for fiscal 2027, and a 16.2% increase in earnings estimates over the past 60 days, reflecting robust performance in the retail sector.
- BrightSpring Health Services: BrightSpring's earnings growth estimate for 2026 stands at an impressive 61%, with a market capitalization of $8.4 billion and a 15% upward revision in earnings estimates over the past 60 days, showcasing significant growth potential in the healthcare services sector.
See More
Five Below Capitalizes on New Viral Toy Trend for Success
- Toy Trend Capitalization: Five Below successfully leverages the mystery squishy dumpling toy from RMS USA to attract consumers, driving increased store traffic and sales, which is expected to positively impact company performance.
- Sales Growth Expectations: Analysts predict that if demand persists through 2026, it could contribute an incremental 100-200 basis points to same-store sales, further validating the effectiveness of the company's strategy.
- Increased Market Attention: Google Trends data indicates a 100% year-over-year increase in searches for Five Below, suggesting accelerating consumer interest in the brand and the new toy, enhancing market awareness.
- Stock Price Upside Potential: Analysts raised Five Below's price target from $275 to $291, implying a 26% upside from Tuesday's close, reflecting optimistic market expectations for its future performance.
See More
Three High Momentum Stocks to Buy Now
- Momentum Stock Performance: Micron Technology (MU) has seen a 328.8% increase in stock price over the past year, indicating strong market demand and profitability, which enhances its leadership position in the memory products sector.
- Retail Sector Growth: Five Below (FIVE) has experienced a 199.7% stock price increase, reflecting the success of its value product strategy and further solidifying its competitive advantage in the U.S. retail industry.
- Mining Potential: Buenaventura (BVN) has achieved a 104.4% rise in stock price, indicating strong performance in Peru's polymetallic mining sector, which is expected to drive future profit growth for the company.
- Investment Strategy Effectiveness: The success rate of selecting momentum stocks based on the Driehaus strategy is high, with AAII research showing that strong earnings growth and beating estimates are key factors, further validating the effectiveness of this strategy.
See More
Retail Sector Faces New Challenges and Opportunities Amid Iran War
- Inflation and Job Market: The retail sector is grappling with short-term concerns due to persistent inflation impacting consumer spending and a weakening job market, particularly exacerbated by the onset of the Iran war, which has led to a spike in energy prices and rapid increases in gasoline costs, further straining consumer finances.
- Strong Performance of Ross Stores: Ross Stores reported a 9% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter ending January 31, with management projecting a 3% to 4% increase in same-store sales and a 6% to 11% growth in earnings per share this year, demonstrating robust execution and market appeal amid economic challenges.
- Five Below's Continued Expansion: Five Below achieved a remarkable 15.4% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter ending January 31, with expectations for 3% to 5% growth in 2026, while planning to add 227 and 150 stores in 2024 and 2025 respectively, indicating strong market demand and expansion potential.
- Investment Opportunities Arise: Despite facing short-term challenges, Ross Stores and Five Below's stock prices are currently 4.9% and 8.2% below their 52-week highs, respectively, presenting potential buying opportunities for long-term investors and encouraging patient growth investors to take a closer look at these stocks.
See More
Retail Sector Challenges Amid Growth for Ross Stores and Five Below
- Significant Sales Growth: Ross Stores reported a 9% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter, with expectations of 3% to 4% growth this year, demonstrating strong performance amid economic challenges and reinforcing its market position.
- Ongoing Expansion Plans: The company ended the year with 1,904 stores across 44 states, an increase of 73 stores from the previous year, while also adding 8 dd's stores, indicating its potential for market expansion and confidence in future growth.
- Strong Performance for Five Below: Five Below achieved a remarkable 15.4% increase in same-store sales for the fiscal fourth quarter, with guidance for 3% to 5% growth in 2026, reflecting its appeal in the teen market and sustained consumer demand.
- Store Expansion Strategy: Five Below plans to open 227 and 150 new stores in 2024 and 2025 respectively, aiming for a total of 3,500 stores, showcasing its proactive response to market demand and long-term growth strategy.
See More
Micron Technology and FedEx Report Strong Quarterly Results Amid Market Turbulence
- Micron's Earnings Surge: Micron Technology's Q2 sales nearly tripled year-over-year to $23.86 billion, primarily driven by explosive demand for high-bandwidth memory products, showcasing the company's strong execution and profitability in the AI-related market.
- Earnings Beat Expectations: Micron reported an EPS of $12.20, exceeding expectations of $8.80 by 38.64%, and significantly up from $1.56 a year ago, reflecting the company's robust performance in the memory cycle and sustained market demand.
- FedEx's Strong Results: FedEx's Q3 EPS of $5.25 surpassed expectations of $4.14 by 26.81%, while raising its full-year EPS outlook to $19.30-$20.10, indicating ongoing improvements in operational efficiency and package demand.
- Optimistic Market Outlook: Micron expects Q3 sales to reach $33.5 billion, well above the market's forecast of $22.79 billion, highlighting the company's strong growth potential in the memory market, while FedEx is also on track to approach $100 billion in annual sales.
See More
