Here's a mix of bold, speculative, and contrarian stock picks for 2025, covering sectors from fintech and e-commerce to oil and crypto. Some are market darlings, others are underdogs — but all have an interesting story to tell.
More from Higgo Van Biljon, our Head of Product for EasyRetire Retail. Learn from his top 10 picks, from high-risk plays to steady compounders.
It’s That Time of Year Again!
Last year, my top 10 stock picks ended with an average return of +54% — an out-of-the-ordinary year and not returns I’ll always expect.
My 2025 stock picks are here, and as always, let me remind you: these are not all companies I own (so please take it with a pinch of salt). Some are highly speculative plays, and this list is definitely not tailored for long-term investors looking to sleep soundly at night. Let’s dive in with the right expectations — a mix of opportunities, risks, and what I think might shake up the year ahead.
Purple Group
This one’s personal — literally. Purple Group’s flagship company, EasyEquities, is where I’m proud to call my new workplace. So yes, I’m biased, but I also have some solid reasons why
Purple Group is my top pick and my personal biggest holding by far:
- User Growth: EasyEquities now boasts over 2 million registered users, with over 1 million actively using the platform.
- New Products: The Easy ecosystem keeps growing, with products like EasyProtect, EasyMortgages, EasyWealth, and EasyCrypto creating opportunities for higher revenue per user.
- Growth Trajectory: Both organic and acquisitive growth seem promising, plus the company’s scale is becoming a real competitive edge.
From short-term traction to long-term potential, Purple Group ticks all the boxes for me. And yes, I’m cheering for the home team!
Sasol
This one’s all about speculation. I don’t love
Sasol for the long haul, but I do think there’s short-to-medium-term potential here. Why?
- Unpopular, Yet Cyclical: Sasol’s had its fair share of issues and headwinds lately. That’s exactly why it’s interesting. Cyclical stocks like this can bounce back sharply when you least expect it (though cheap can always get cheaper!).
- Oil Politics: With Trump back in the picture (potentially), we’re likely to see oil prices become a hot topic again. Sasol could ride that wave.
Alibaba
Here’s another stock from the “market hates it right now” pile:
Alibaba. Chinese stocks, in general, have been under a dark cloud of doubt, but hear me out:
- Cash Rich: Alibaba is sitting on a mountain of cash and actively buying back shares. That’s a good sign for long-term value.
- Beyond Retail: While everyone knows them for retail, Alibaba’s reach extends into cloud computing, logistics, and other sectors. They’re still a dominant force globally, even if sentiment says otherwise.
Brait
Now for something I don’t own yet but am watching closely.
Brait makes the cut for two reasons:
- Insider Confidence: Directors have been buying up shares, and that’s always a good sign.
- Unlocking Value: There’s buzz about potential moves, like listing Virgin Active, which could be a big value unlock for shareholders.
Caxton
This is my boring-but-reliable pick.
Caxton’s not flashy, and it’s not growing like crazy, but hear me out:
- Massive Cash Pile: The company is sitting on a big stack of cash.
- Discount to NAV: It’s trading at a huge discount to its net asset value, and I’m hoping 2025 will be the year management finally starts unlocking that hidden value.
Safe, steady, and hopefully rewarding.
EC10
Crypto had a great run over the past 18 months, and we’re currently in a bull market. Lots of good news has flooded the market recently with adoption, ETFs, regulation, global liquidity, etc.
Bitcoin moves in cycles, and I won’t be surprised if the market tops sometime this year, but I do think it can run further. Why
EC10 specifically?
- Diversified Crypto Exposure: EC10 is market-cap weighted, so I don’t have to stress about picking the “right” coins.
Note: I do also own crypto in other personal accounts.
MercadoLibre
I’m sticking with this Latin American e-commerce powerhouse.
MercadoLibre continues to dominate its region with its e-commerce platform and fintech arm, Mercado Pago, which is rapidly growing and redefining digital payments in the region.
Their management team has consistently delivered strong execution, navigating tough macroeconomic conditions while expanding their market share. Recent results show continued innovation and resilience, making this company an exciting growth story for 2025.
Nubank
Speaking of Latin America, Nubank is one to watch as well. The neobank has been a disruptor in financial services, offering tech-first, customer-friendly banking to millions. Nubank’s leadership team is known for its strategic vision and effective execution, which has helped them capture significant market share while maintaining rapid growth. Their recent investment in Tymebank shows their forward-thinking approach, positioning them well as the fintech sector matures. Nubank’s early lead could pay off big time.
4Sight
This small-cap tech company has been quietly growing its presence in South Africa’s digital transformation space. Over the past year or so,
4Sight has successfully turned things around, focusing on the right sectors like data analytics, cloud solutions, and IoT. A significant portion of their revenue is now recurring, which adds stability and predictability to their financials. With businesses prioritizing tech and AI adoption, 4Sight is well-positioned for meaningful growth in 2025.
Novo Nordisk
Wrapping things up with a healthcare giant.
Novo Nordisk has been leading the charge in diabetes and obesity treatments with blockbuster drugs like Ozempic and Wegovy. The recent 36% pullback in its share price over the past six months, fueled by concerns about market saturation and competition, makes this one of my “market doesn’t like” picks for 2025.
And there you have it — my 2025 (speculative) stock picks! Some are bold, some are boring, but all of them have a story worth watching. Let me know which ones you’re betting on this year!
Note: All of these are available on EasyEquities.Disclaimer: This is not financial advice. This is purely a speculative and friendly exercise I do each year, and I don’t own all of these companies personally. Always do your own research.
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