3 Leisure & Recreation Products Stocks to Boost Your Portfolio

The Zacks Leisure and Recreation Products industry continues to benefit from strong demand for recreational products and the golf business. The industry participants, which design, market, retail, and distribute products for the outdoor and recreation market, are witnessing robust demand. Golf manufacturers and boating suppliers are witnessing robust demand. The rise in fitness products sales owing to increasing awareness about health and fitness among people is favoring the industry. This, in turn, has been driving demand consistently. Stocks including Malibu Boats, Inc. MBUU, Callaway Golf Company ELY and Vista Outdoor Inc. VSTO are likely to gain from the abovementioned industry trends.

Industry Description

The Zacks Leisure and Recreation Products industry comprises companies that provide amusement and recreational products, comprising swimming pools, marine products, golf courses, boat repair and maintenance services and other ancillary services, including indoor and outdoor storage and marine, as well as rental of boats and personal watercraft. Some of the industry participants manufacture outdoor equipment and apparel for climbing, mountaineering, backpacking and skiing. Some companies provide connected fitness products and subscriptions for multiple household users. The industry players primarily thrive on overall economic growth, which fuels consumer demand for products. In fact, demand, which is highly dependent on business cycles, is driven by a healthy labor market, rising wages and growing disposable income.

3 Trends Shaping the Future of Leisure and Recreation Products Industry

Boating Suppliers are Witnessing Robust Demand: New boat sales have increased sharply amid the coronavirus pandemic. In fact, boat sales have been going through the roof since April-end 2020, and some dealers are hard-pressed to supply. Per National Marine Manufacturers Association (NMMA) reports, retail unit sales of new powerboats increased by 12% in 2020 compared with the prior year. More than 310,000 new powerboats were sold in 2020, compared with 178,000 and 286,000 boats sold in the United States in 2010 and 2012, respectively. In fact, boat sales in the United States touched a 13-year high in 2020. In 2021, new powerboat sales surpassed 300,000 units for only the second time in 15 years. Although new powerboat sales in 2021 were 4% to 6% below record highs in 2020, it is 7% above the five-year sales average. In 2021, first-time boat buyers accounted for 34% of boat sales. The uptrend is likely to continue in 2022. Per NMMA, new boat sales in 2022 are likely to surpass the 2021 figure by as much as 3%. According to the Marine Retailers Association of America, 95% of the boats in the world are made in the United States.

Booming Golf Business: The golf industry has been doing exceptionally well amid the pandemic. Golf has been benefiting from an increase in the participation of young people. Per Golf Datatech’s 2020 National Golf Performance Report, rounds rose by 13.9% in 2020, while equipment sales increased 10.1%. The uptrend continued in 2021, with rounds played rising 5.5%. While comparing 2021 to 2019 (pre-pandemic), rounds played increased nearly 18%. This gives an indication that the industry has been performing exceptionally well over the past two years. The golf industry has been gaining from strong participation from millennials. Technology has been playing a vital role in reshaping the sport of golf. Meanwhile, India and China have popped up as two of the largest emerging golf markets.

Economy Recovering: The industry is likely to benefit from the decline in the unemployment rate. In May, the unemployment rate remained steady at 3.6%. In the same month, 390,000 new jobs were created. This highlights that U.S. unemployment is back to its pre-pandemic levels. Average hourly earnings for May grew at a 0.3% rate, in line with the previous month but moderating a bit when we trace back over this strong period in the workforce.

Zacks Industry Rank Indicates Bright Prospects

The Zacks Leisure and Recreation Products industry is grouped within the broader Consumer Discretionary sector.

The group’s Zacks Industry Rank, which is basically the average of the Zacks Rank of all the member stocks, indicates bright near-term prospects.

The Leisure and Recreation Products industry currently carries a Zacks Industry Rank #24, which places it in the top 60% of more than 251 Zacks industries. Our research shows that the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries outperform the bottom 50% by a factor of more than 2 to 1.

The industry’s position in the top 50% of the Zacks-ranked industries is a result of a positive earnings outlook for the constituent companies in aggregate. Looking at the aggregate earnings estimate revisions, it appears that analysts are gradually gaining confidence in this group’s earnings growth potential.

Before we present a few stocks from the industry that you may want to consider, let’s take a look at the industry’s recent stock market performance and valuation picture.

Industry Underperform the S&P 500

The Zacks Leisure and Recreation Products industry has underperformed the Zacks S&P 500 composite and its sector over the past year. Stocks in this industry have collectively fallen 66.3% over the past year compared with the S&P 500’s decline of 12.3%. The Zacks Consumer Discretionary sector has slumped 43% in the same time frame.

One Year Price Performance

Valuation

On the basis of forward 12-month price-to-earnings, which is a commonly used multiple for valuing leisure products stocks, the industry trades at 14.27X compared with the S&P 500’s 16.11X and the sector’s 16.41X. Over the past five years, the industry has traded as high as 44.8X and as low as 12.36X, with the median being at 14.27X, as the charts show.

Forward Price To Earnings Ratio Compared With S&P

3 Leisure & Recreation Products Stocks to Watch

Malibu Boats: This Loudon, TN-based company operates as a designer, manufacturer and marketer of sport boats primarily in the United States. Strength at retail, robust cash flow generation and strong future demand are likely to benefit the company in fiscal 2022. Its strategic initiatives, operating plan, and robust product portfolio bode well.

In the past year, shares of this Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) company have declined 29.9%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2022 has been revised upward by 10% in the past 60 days. You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.

Price & Consensus: MBUU

Callaway Golf: This Carlsbad, CA-based company designs, manufactures, and sells golf clubs and golf balls, apparel, gear, and other products. This Zacks Rank #2 (Buy) company has been gaining from strong demand for its golf equipment business. Robust demand for soft goods has been favoring the company.

The Zacks Consensus Estimate for current-quarter earnings has been revised upward to 80 cents from 76 cents in the past 30 days. The stock has appreciated 40.5% in the past year.

Price & Consensus: ELY

Vista Outdoor: This Anoka, MN-based company designs, manufactures, and markets several consumer products in the outdoor sports and recreation markets in the United States and internationally. This Zacks Rank #2 company has been benefiting from an increase in outdoor activity and shooting sports participation. Increased emphasis on product innovation and digital marketing, and e-commerce are likely to have bolstered the fiscal third-quarter top line.

Shares of the company have declined 35.5% in the past year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for 2022 earnings has been revised upward by 10.5% in the past 30 days.

Price & Consensus: VSTO

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