Top Food Stocks to Buy

Wingstop and Chipotle lead the fast-casual sector, with strong revenue growth and expanding locations across the U.S.

Sectors & Industries

1. Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ: WING)

WingStop Logo
Source: PR Newswire

Wingstop, a popular chain of restaurants specializing in buffalo wings and chicken sandwiches, has demonstrated impressive growth despite challenges in the broader restaurant industry. The company’s strong focus on digital sales and franchise growth continues to support its expansion.

Key Financials:

  • Market Cap: $12.50B
  • Current Price: $426.46
  • Revenue Growth (Y/Y): 45.28%
  • Earnings Growth (Y/Y): 69.86%
  • Dividend Yield (TTM): 0.22%
  • P/E Ratio: 133.27
  • Dividend per Share: $0.27 (last ex-date: Aug 16, 2024)
  • EBITDA: $46.38M
  • Net Profit Margin: 17.65%

2. Chipotle Mexican Grill Inc. (NYSE: CMG)

Chipotle Logo
Source: Wikipedia

Chipotle, a fast-casual restaurant chain known for its Tex-Mex cuisine, continues to deliver strong financial growth through its expanding number of locations and digital sales. With more than 3,500 restaurants as of mid-2024, Chipotle maintains its position as a leader in the fast-casual dining sector.

Key Financials:

  • Market Cap: $79.50B
  • Current Price: $58.05
  • Revenue Growth (Y/Y): 18.22%
  • Earnings Growth (Y/Y): 33.32%
  • P/E Ratio: 56.88
  • EBITDA: $675.38M
  • Net Profit Margin: 15.33%
  • Earnings per Share: $0.34

3. CAVA Group Inc. (NYSE: CAVA)

CAVA Group banner on New York Stock Exchange building
Source: CNBC


CAVA Group, a growing fast-casual Mediterranean restaurant chain, has shown impressive revenue growth as it expands its market reach. The company’s focus on health-conscious dining and a unique fast-casual experience continues to drive its strong financial performance.

Key Financials:

  • Market Cap: $14.53B
  • Current Price: $127.12
  • Revenue Growth (Y/Y): 35.05%
  • Earnings Growth (Y/Y): 201.90%
  • Dividend Yield (TTM): N/A
  • P/E Ratio: 351.87
  • EBITDA: $30.78M
  • Net Profit Margin: 8.45%
  • Earnings per Share: $0.17

4. Sweetgreen Inc. (NYSE: SG)

Sweetgreen stock on Nasdaq monitors
Source: CNBC

Sweetgreen, known for its fast-casual, health-conscious salad offerings, has been expanding steadily across the U.S., now operating in 18 states and the District of Columbia. The company's focus on fresh, healthy food aligns with consumer demand for nutritious dining options

Key Financials:

  • Market Cap: $3.99B
  • Current Price: $34.95
  • Revenue Growth (Y/Y): 21.06%
  • Earnings Growth (Y/Y): 46.95%
  • Dividend Yield (TTM): N/A
  • P/E Ratio: N/A (due to negative earnings)
  • EBITDA: -$1.39M
  • Net Profit Margin: -7.83%

5. McDonald's Corporation (NYSE: MCD)

McDonald's logo and store
Source: Reuters

McDonald's, the world’s largest fast-food chain, continues to dominate the global market with more than 69 million customers served daily across over 100 countries. The company’s real estate business and franchising model provide steady revenue streams, despite some recent dips in financial performance.

Key Financials:

  • Market Cap: $217.82B
  • Current Price: $303.65
  • Revenue Growth (Y/Y): -0.11%
  • Earnings Growth (Y/Y): -12.47%
  • Dividend Yield (TTM): 2.20%
  • P/E Ratio: 26.57
  • EBITDA: $3.53B
  • Net Profit Margin: 31.16%
  • Earnings per Share: $2.97

Key Metrics for Selecting Top Food Stocks:

How We Selected These Stocks:

  • Highest Revenue Growth (TTM): Companies with strong revenue growth have shown the ability to expand their market presence or improve sales. We selected stocks that have consistently outperformed in this area.
  • Strong Earnings Growth: : A healthy dividend yield indicates companies that prioritize returning value to shareholders. We chose companies that maintain a stable or increasing dividend payout.

By basing our selection on these clear, quantitative metrics, we can justify each company's inclusion in our list and avoid any perception of bias. The following companies were chosen based on a combination of these metrics, showing they are well-positioned for growth.

Frequently Asked Questions (FAQs)

Q1: How do food stocks perform during inflation?

  • Food stocks generally perform well during inflationary periods because companies can pass rising costs to consumers. Essential food items have inelastic demand, meaning people continue purchasing them regardless of price increases. However, consumers have their limits. So more expensive restaurants will hit a wall where consumers are no longer willing to pay for them.

Q2: Are food stocks a good long-term investment?

  • Yes, food stocks can be excellent for long-term investments due to the stable demand for food products and strong brand loyalty. Companies with diversified portfolios and global reach, like General Mills and PepsiCo, tend to offer consistent returns.

Q3: How do dividends work with food stocks?

  • Many food companies offer dividends as a way to return capital to shareholders. For example, McDonald’s and Pepsi have a history of strong dividend payouts, making them attractive for income-seeking investors.

Food Stocks: Other Ways to Profit from Food Stocks

Using event-driven trading to find the best entry and exit points provides many benefits long-term stock holding cannot:

  • Rapid gains
  • Outsized gains
  • Access to your capital
  • Reduced exposure to macroeconomic events
  • Reduced exposure to competition
  • A consistent, repeatable strategy

Event-driven trading identifies stocks being catalyzed by events. This enables traders to use AI stock trading to identify stock set to move higher quickly. For most of the year, stocks stay in a trading range. When events happen, share prices can move 20%, 50%, even 100% in just a short time, enabling investors to capitalize on these rapid movements. 

Find the Best Investments 1,800 Times Faster With LevelFields AI

LevelFields

Ready to transform the way you trade? With LevelFields, you gain access to cutting-edge analytics that empower you to find better investments 1,800 times faster.

Our platform analyzes over 1.8 million market events each month, ensuring you act on facts, not opinions. Don’t leave your trading decisions to chance—equip yourself with the tools to make informed, data-driven investments.

Sign up today and start turning market insights into profits.

Join LevelFields now to be the first to know about events that affect stock prices and uncover unique investment opportunities. Choose from events, view price reactions, and set event alerts with our AI-powered platform. Don't miss out on daily opportunities from 6,300 companies monitored 24/7. Act on facts, not opinions, and let LevelFields help you become a better trader.

Free Trial: Signup for 1 Free Alert Per Week

Add your email to get alerts & the report.

Get 1 free alert per week via email

Upgrade if you want more or platform access

We'll also send you a free report

or Click Here to get full access now

By clicking “Accept All Cookies”, you agree to the storing of cookies on your device to enhance site navigation, analyze site usage, and assist in our marketing efforts. View our Privacy Policy for more information.