'Nobody gives a damn': Home Depot's co-founder says the rise of 'socialism' is making people too lazy, fat and stupid to work — here are 4 stocks to capitalize on that trend

Zoom Video Communications

When meetings and classes moved online due to the pandemic, business at Zoom Video Communications (ZM) flourished.

But as the economy reopened and employees started going back to the office, there have been concerns about the growth potential of this video communications company.

Over the past 12 months, Zoom shares have fallen a staggering 48%.

But many people — even some who are not “too lazy” — would prefer to have the option to work from home. And it might not be that detrimental: a Harris Poll survey in May 2022 found that 59% of hiring managers said remote work positively impacted their companies.

The survey also found that 82% of hiring managers at businesses that worked remotely during the COVID-19 pandemic said they planned to continue allowing employees to work offsite.

If the hybrid work environment is here to stay, it would be good news for Zoom.

RBC Capital Markets analyst Rishi Jaluria has a ‘outperform’ rating on Zoom and a price target of $95 — roughly 26% above the current levels.

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Fiverr and Upwork

One of the reasons for the perceived laziness in society is that some people simply don’t want to endure the 9-to-5 grind anymore. It’s not that they don’t want to work — they just don’t want that traditional full-time job where all they can look forward to is two weeks of vacation every year.

People want to be their own boss. And companies like Fiverr International (FVRR) and Upwork (UPWK) help make it happen. Their platforms connect freelancers with employers to find work that fits their schedules.

If the gig economy — defined as having a labor market that relies heavily on temporary positions filled by freelancers and independent contractors — is the future, these platforms could thrive.

In fact, they are already churning out impressive growth numbers. In Q3 of 2022, Fiverr’s revenue improved by 11% year-over-year while Upwork’s revenue increased 24%.

Citi analyst Ronald Josey initiated coverage of this group in December. Josey has a ‘buy’ rating on Fiverr with a $45 price target — implying a potential upside of 14%.

For Upwork, Josey has given a ‘neutral’ rating. But the price target of $14 is still 9% above where the stock sits today.

Uber Technologies

You can call them lazy, but some people no longer want to drive. It’s not a surprise: cities are way more congested than before, and it’s no fun sitting in traffic.

In fact, even high schoolers — who used to look forward to turning 16 so they can get their driver’s license — aren’t so excited about getting behind the wheel anymore. A survey in 2014 found that only a quarter of 16-year-olds had a driver’s license, a substantial drop from nearly half in 1983.

But these days, you don’t need to drive a car to get around. Companies like Uber Technologies (UBER) make ride-hailing super convenient.

Uber is not a hot stock — shares are about 21% lower compared to its IPO price of $45. But people are still using its service.

In Q4 of 2022, Uber’s gross bookings grew 19% year over year to $30.7 billion. The platform facilitated 2.1 billion trips during the quarter, or approximately 23 million trips per day on average.

Needham analyst Bernie McTernan has a ‘buy’ rating on Uber and a price target of $54. Since Uber shares trade at around $35 today, the price target implies a potential upside of 54%.