Bank of America this week named a number of stocks it believes are well-positioned in times of market uncertainty. The investment bank said stocks like Williams-Sonoma have the potential to rise, and there could be a myriad of positive catalysts down the road. Other stocks that Bank of America rates as buys include Jabiru, Kroger, Celsius Holdings and Victoria’s Secret. Kroger Kroger stock is down more than 7% in 2026, but analyst Robert Ormes is backing the grocery chain. He said he expects growth to accelerate and is bullish on the company’s expansion into e-commerce. “KR should also benefit from its store location and format, improved store operations through labor investment, and acceleration of e-commerce,” he said. Ohms also highlighted the company’s private brands, Our Brands, and said Kroger remains best positioned for the long term. “We think KR is well-positioned under (CEO) Greg Foran’s leadership given its strong digital and in-store execution, personalization, value, and private label, so we reaffirm our buy hold on the $85 PO based on F28E EPS of 16x,” the analyst said. Williams Sonoma analyst Christopher Nardone recently resumed coverage of the home furnishings retailer and upgraded the stock from Neutral to Buy. “WSM’s ‘affordable luxury’ positioning targets core customers with household incomes of $150,000 or less, supporting its relative resilience,” he wrote. The company said it sees upside in margins and that housing doesn’t necessarily need to recover for the stock to work. “WSM is in a demographic sweet spot, with soft demand for luxury goods, but lower income segments remain under pressure,” he said. By 2026, the stock price will rise nearly 34%. “This is a rare, high-quality formulation for consumers,” Nardone said. Victoria’s Secret The lingerie company is firing on cylinders, according to the company. “With expense leverage and fixed price sales, we believe the company can reach 10% profit margins (earnings before interest and tax) by F28, providing a runway for mid-to-high 10% EPS growth for several years,” said analyst Mary Sport. The company also said its store renovations are paying off. “Renovated stores are experiencing double-digit sales growth in lower square footage due to increased foot traffic and conversion rates,” she added. Although the stock is up about 63% this year, Sport said there is still plenty of opportunity for growth. “We believe there is still significant upside in EPS,” he said. Celsius Holdings “Our Buy rating reflects our view that both Alani Nu and Core Celsius maintain solid consumption trends, which should support upward revisions in sales and push CELH stock higher.Alani Nu continues to benefit from the transition to a PEP distribution system, while Core Celsius continues to perform solidly, with inventory-related noise expected in FY26 ” Kroger “KR should also benefit from its store location and format, improvements in store operations through workforce investment, and acceleration of e-commerce.… Given its strong digital and in-store execution, personalization, value, and private label, KR is well-positioned under Greg Foran’s leadership, with a 16x F28E. Reaffirms purchase and retention of $85 PO based on EPS.” Williams-Sonoma “A rare, high-quality formulator at consumer discretion…WSM is in a demographic sweet spot, with soft demand for luxury goods.” Meanwhile, low-income consumers remain under pressure. …WSM’s “affordable luxury” positioning, targeting core customers with household incomes below $150,000, supports its relative resilience.” “We expect meaningful catalysts going forward. We believe expense leverage and list price sales will allow us to reach 10% EBIT margins by F28, providing a runway for several years of mid-to-high-teens EPS growth.…We believe significant EPS upside remains.…Renovated stores will deliver double-digit sales in lower square feet due to improved foot traffic and conversion rates. “Our buy rating is based on investment positives, including long-term growth in automotive (EV), healthcare, and industrial (renewable energy), recovery in semiconductor capital equipment, and tailwinds from growth in cloud business, which outweigh risks from continued macro uncertainty, component shortages, supply chain challenges, and an unfavorable mix that could offset margin improvement.”
