Global beauty leader and home to some of the most popular cosmetic, skincare and fragrance brands (think Cover Girl, Boss, Calvin Klein and Gucci), Coty was one of the big winners in 2019 – achieving a 70 per cent gain in share price in Feb that year.

While share prices fell in 2020 due to Covid-19, the stock looks set to bounce back in 2021. Already, the company has achieved an earnings-per-share (EPS) growth of 249per cent year-on-year, quickly putting it on the watchlist of many investment houses.

Owner of some of the largest skincare and cosmetics brands like La Mer, MAC, Aveda, Clinique and Jo Malone London, Estée Lauder Companies held steady throughout 2020 to emerge with an EPS decline of just 11.8 per cent.

This admirable performance makes it one of the top stocks in the sector with the least profit decline, and certainly one to watch.

Another reason to keep tabs on this one is its momentum. The stock registered a 12-month trailing total return of 25 per cent, making it one of the cosmetic stocks offering the highest total returns over the last 12 chaotic months.

Many cosmetics brands claim to provide quality cosmetics at affordable prices, but few get it right the way e.l.f Beauty Inc does.

The cosmetics, skincare and bath products purveyor got its start when founders Joseph Shamah and Scott Vincent Borba observed how women driving expensive cars still bought their cosmetics from dollar stores.

Today, the thriving brand enjoys a global presence spanning 18 countries, and has built a reputation for excellent products at budget-friendly prices. It has recently signed a partnership with a popular female gamer Loserfruit (Kathleen Belsten), with a following of over eight million worldwide.

The company’s strategies are clearly working – it reports a 12-month trailing total return of 45.9 per cent this month.

Cosmetics, skincare, health and home care titan, Kao is the owner of many enduring everyday brands. There’s a good chance you have a tube of Bioré cleanser in your bathroom, clean your home with Magiclean, or apply make-up with Kanebo cosmetics.

This Japan-headquartered company makes our list for its 12-month trailing P/E ratio of 29.7. With one of the lowest P/E ratios, investors holding this stock pay less for each dollar of profit generated, compared to other cosmetics stocks.

2020’s tumultuous market conditions gave investors little reason to cheer. But Nike’s continued strong performance helped lift the gloom somewhat.

In December 2020, the sportswear giant reported a healthy nine per cent increase in revenue year-on-year for the quarter ending 30 November, partly fuelled by strong demand from Chinese buyers. Another bright spot was how its online sales saw triple-digit growth back home in America.

On the back of such solid performance during a time when so many others are floundering, multiple investment analysts have put forth strong buy, and hold recommendations on the stock. So, if you’ve been wondering whether you should invest, well, just do it.

American casual footwear clothing retailer is set for a takeoff in 2021, on the back of a strong 2020 performance that saw about 60 per cent of its revenue coming from overseas markets, signalling that the company has sorted out the problems previously plaguing its global expansion efforts.

More reasons to keep your eye on this stock include the impressive gross margin of 64.5 per cent for global direct-to-consumer sales, as well as the consensus Buy rating it received for the year.

Posting an eye-popping EPS growth of 1,090 per cent year-on-year, New York-based modern luxury house Tapestry has emerged as one of the fastest growing fashion retailers of 2021. So if you’re looking to boost your portfolio with some high-growth stock, be sure to grab this one.

The company owns just three brands – Kate Spade, Coach and Stuart Weitzman – but has already achieved a market capitalisation of USD 9.3 billion, proving that its quality, not quantity, that counts.

Remember those abominable rubber shoes that have inspired countless worldwide warnings not to jam your foot into the sides of the escalator (come on people, that’s common sense)? Well, it turns out they’re making a comeback.

And an unexpectedly robust one at that. The company’s share prices have spiked 370 per cent over the last five years. (For context, the S&P 500 only managed growth of 70 per cent in the same period.) Most recently, in November, the stock recorded a 24 per cent rise year-to-date.

Other signs the croc is alive and thrashing: a projected 15 per cent revenue growth this year and a partnership with Justin Bieber launching later this year.

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This article was first published in SingSaver.com.sg. SingSaver is a personal finance comparison platform that allows users to easily compare credit cards, personal loans, and insurance for free while helping empower people to lead healthier financial lives through increased financial literacy.

*Disclaimer: While all care has been taken to ensure the accuracy of information, opinions expressed in this article should not be taken as investment advice. Always consult a licensed professional before buying any stocks or shares. Last updated on 25 January 2021.