With the US Federal Reserve set to announce its policy decision and new Chair Kevin Warsh holding his first press conference, interest rate expectations and any fresh signals on inflation are front and center for growth investors. Markets broadly expect no change in rates, but the tone of the press conference could still move growth stocks that are sensitive to borrowing costs and future monetary policy. This article highlights 3 stocks from a Growth Stocks screener that appear positively exposed to this Fed meeting, helping you decide whether they deserve a closer look in your portfolio watchlist.

BlackLine (BL)

Overview: BlackLine provides cloud based software that automates tasks like account reconciliations, journal entries, compliance checks, and cash collection so finance and accounting teams can close their books faster and with fewer manual errors.

Operations: BlackLine generates about US$716.7m in revenue from software and programming, with roughly US$490.6m coming from the United States and US$226.1m from international customers.

Market Cap: US$1.7b

BlackLine appears in the Growth Stocks screener because it sits at the crossroads of AI, automation, and stricter finance controls. The Fed’s policy tone is back in focus for rate sensitive tech stocks. The company is earning awards for its AI led Agentic Financial Operations platform and reporting high quality earnings. At the same time, growth is moderating, margins have compressed from 23.6% to 3.7%, and debt levels increase the importance of execution. Analysts still expect earnings expansion and high future ROE, while recent Q1 results, new AI products, and SAP centered partnerships indicate ongoing demand for automation. The balance between these strengths and rising competitive and funding risks is what makes BlackLine a candidate for closer review as the market reacts to the Fed’s message.

BlackLine’s AI led automation story is accelerating, but compressed margins and higher debt make the next phase far more revealing for its long term potential. Get the fuller picture in the 2 key rewards and 2 important warning signs

Sandisk (SNDK)

Overview: Sandisk develops and sells NAND flash based storage solutions, from solid state drives for PCs and data centers to embedded storage for smartphones, IoT devices, automotive systems, and consumer memory products, serving customers worldwide.

Operations: Sandisk generates about US$13.2b in revenue from developing, manufacturing, marketing, and selling data storage devices and solutions.

Market Cap: US$312.2b

Sandisk provides flash storage that underpins data center servers, edge devices, and consumer electronics, and it is now backed by multi year contracts that management says cover around US$42b of minimum revenue through 2031. Profitability has only recently turned positive and the P/E is high. Investors are therefore paying for forecast growth, AI related demand for enterprise SSDs, and tight NAND supply that could support pricing, while also accepting volatility, funding reliance on external borrowing, insider selling, and a relatively new board. With the Fed in the spotlight and tech in focus, Sandisk presents a combination of notable growth drivers alongside execution and cycle risks that may warrant closer analysis.

Sandisk’s high P/E and recent return to profitability suggest the stock may be priced for a significant AI storage upswing, yet the multi year contracts and funding risks indicate a more complex story in the analyst forecasts for Sandisk

AppFolio (APPF)

Overview: AppFolio provides a cloud based software platform that helps US property managers run their businesses, handling core tasks like accounting, leasing, marketing, maintenance, payments, and resident communication in one system.

Operations: AppFolio generates about US$995.3m in revenue from its cloud based business management software and value added platforms, all from customers in the United States.

Market Cap: US$5.6b

AppFolio appears in the Growth Stocks screener because its AI centric property management platform directly targets the need for efficiency as financing costs stay elevated and real estate operators look to do more with leaner teams. The company combines revenue growth forecasts with a return on equity (ROE) of 32.3%. However, margins have compressed from 23.9% to 15.3%, and the P/E of 36.7x may limit flexibility if earnings momentum stalls. In addition, there has been significant insider selling, reliance on external borrowing, and the presence of a relatively new management team. Taken together, these factors present AppFolio as a high quality but finely balanced Fed sensitive growth stock that may warrant closer inspection to see how its AI rollout, buybacks, and raised 2026 guidance compare with these risks.

AppFolio’s high ROE and AI focus suggest the story is still unfolding, yet the margin pressure, P/E of 36.7x, and insider selling raise key questions that the analyst forecasts for AppFolio starts to answer, but not in the way many expect

The three growth stocks in this article are just a starting point, and the full Growth Stocks screener surfaces 16 more companies with equally compelling growth stories and risk reward trade offs that you have not seen yet. Use Simply Wall St to identify and analyze the specific catalysts and narratives that matter most to you so you can filter for the highest conviction growth ideas with confidence.

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This article by Simply Wall St is general in nature. We provide commentary based on historical data and analyst forecasts only using an unbiased methodology and our articles are not intended to be financial advice. It does not constitute a recommendation to buy or sell any stock, and does not take account of your objectives, or your financial situation. We aim to bring you long-term focused analysis driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis may not factor in the latest price-sensitive company announcements or qualitative material. Simply Wall St has no position in any stocks mentioned.