8 top specialty food stocks to buy in 2024

The best specialty food stocks depend on your portfolio and investment goals — while volatility can be ideal for day traders, long-term investors will want to look to stocks with steadier gains over time.

8 popular specialty food stocks picks to buy in 2024

We round up a selection of stocks in or related to the health food industry, weighting the list more heavily towards popular mid- and large-cap US stocks.

1. Sprouts Farmers Market LLC (SFM)
2. Beyond Meat (BYND)
3. The Hain Celestial Group (HAIN)
4. Lifeway Foods (LWAY)
5. SunOpta (STKL)
6. Amazon-com (AMZN)
7. United Natural Foods (UNFI)
8. Burcon NutraScience Corporation (BU)

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The specialty food stocks industry is affected by a range of complex factors such as trade policies, regulations, and fluctuating supply and demand. So when considering specialty food stocks to buy, it's important that you have access to vital information about a company's financial health, leadership team, and market positioning.

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How to invest in specialty food stocks

1. Choose an online stock trading platform. Choose from our Top Picks above, use our comparison table below or jump straight to the best stock trading apps of 2024.
2. Sign up for an account. Provide your personal information and sign up.
3. Set up a funding method to pay for the transaction. Deposit funds into your account by linking your banking information.
4. Choose the stocks you want to buy. Search for the stock by name or ticker symbol like SFM or BYND.
5. Place your order. Buy the stock. It's that simple.

Take a deeper dive into specialty food stocks

If you're interested in investing in the health food industry, take a closer look at what companies in this industry do and how the stocks have historically performed. Keep in mind that positive past performance doesn't guarantee that a stock will continue to rise in the future.

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1. Sprouts Farmers Market LLC (SFM)

Sprouts Farmers Market, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, engages in the retailing of fresh, natural, and organic food products under the Sprouts brand in the United States. It offers perishable product categories, including fresh produce, meat and meat alternatives, seafood, deli, bakery, floral, and dairy and dairy alternatives; and non-perishable product categories, such as grocery, vitamins and supplements, bulk items, frozen foods, beer and wine, and natural health and body care.

Sprouts Farmers Market LLC stock opened the day at $65.47 after a previous close of $65.49. The latest price was $65.59 (25-minute delay). Sprouts Farmers Market LLC is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD6.8 billion and employs 32,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $6,363,571,712
• P/E ratio: 25.24
• PEG ratio: 1.3929

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2. Beyond Meat (BYND)

Beyond Meat, Inc. , a plant-based meat company, develops, manufactures, markets, and sells plant-based meat products in the United States and internationally. The company sells a range of plant-based meat products across the platforms of beef, pork, and poultry.

Beyond Meat stock opened the day at $6.30 after a previous close of $6.07. The latest price was $6.05 (25-minute delay). Beyond Meat is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$343.4 million and employs 686 staff.

• Market capitalization: $425,382,528
• PEG ratio: 5.7516

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3. The Hain Celestial Group (HAIN)

The Hain Celestial Group, Inc. manufactures, markets, and sells organic and natural products in United States, United Kingdom, Europe, and internationally. It operates through two segments: North America and International.

The Hain Celestial Group stock opened the day at $6.09 after a previous close of $6.18. The latest price was $6.14 (25-minute delay). The Hain Celestial Group is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$1.8 billion and employs 2,837 staff.

• Market capitalization: $529,112,832
• PEG ratio: 0.8449

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4. Lifeway Foods (LWAY)

Lifeway Foods, Inc. produces and markets probiotic-based products in the United States and internationally. Its primary product is drinkable kefir, a cultured dairy product in various organic and non-organic sizes, flavors, and types.

Lifeway Foods stock opened the day at $20.78 after a previous close of $20.47. The latest price was $21.78 (25-minute delay). Lifeway Foods is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$160.1 million and employs 288 staff.

• Market capitalization: $285,005,408
• P/E ratio: 25.8667
• PEG ratio: 7.54

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5. SunOpta (STKL)

SunOpta Inc. engages in manufacture and sale of plant-based and fruit-based food and beverage products in the United States, Canada, and internationally. The company provides plant-based beverages utilizing oat, almond, soy, coconut, rice, hemp, and other bases under the Dream and West Life brands; oat-based creamers under the SOWN brand; ready-to-drink protein shakes; and nut, grain, seed, and legume based beverages; packaged teas and concentrates; and meat and vegetable broths and stocks.

SunOpta stock opened the day at $6.54 after a previous close of $6.55. The latest price was $6.75 (25-minute delay). SunOpta is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$630.3 million and employs 1,174 staff.

• Market capitalization: $686,052,032
• PEG ratio: 31.17

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6. Amazon-com (AMZN)

Amazon. com, Inc. engages in the retail sale of consumer products, advertising, and subscriptions service through online and physical stores in North America and internationally.

Amazon-com stock opened the day at $179.94 after a previous close of $179.54. The latest price was $177.03 (25-minute delay). Amazon-com is listed on the NASDAQ, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$574.8 billion and employs 1,525,000 staff.

• Market capitalization: $1,907,023,151,104
• P/E ratio: 63.2138
• PEG ratio: 2.32

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7. United Natural Foods (UNFI)

United Natural Foods, Inc. , together with its subsidiaries, distributes natural, organic, specialty, produce, and conventional grocery and non-food products in the United States and Canada. It operates in two segments, Wholesale and Retail.

United Natural Foods stock opened the day at $8.85 after a previous close of $8.90. The latest price was $8.87 (25-minute delay). United Natural Foods is listed on the NYSE, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around USD$30.3 billion and employs 29,455 staff.

• Market capitalization: $550,979,136
• PEG ratio: 3.74

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8. Burcon NutraScience Corporation (BU)

Burcon NutraScience Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, develops plant proteins and ingredients for use in the food and beverage industries in Canada. The company offers Peazazz and Peazac, a pea protein for use in dairy alternatives, ready-to-drink beverages, dry blended beverages, bars, baked goods, and meat substitute products. It provides Puratein, a canola protein isolate for use in meat alternatives, such as burgers, sausages, and nutrition bars; Supertein, a canola protein that is a light-colored powder for use in non-dairy frozen desserts, egg alternative, plant-based marshmallows and ready-to-mix beverages, whipped toppings, and plant-based bars; and Nutratein, a canola protein comprising a mixture of globulin and albumin proteins for use in meat and egg alternatives, and other plant-based functional foods.

Burcon NutraScience Corporation stock opened the day at C$0.24 after a previous close of C$0.22. The latest price was C$0.24 (25-minute delay). Burcon NutraScience Corporation is listed on the TO, has a trailing 12-month revenue of around CAD$184,359 and employs 24 staff. All prices are listed in Canadian Dollars.

• Market capitalization: $31,246,600
• PEG ratio: 0

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Bottom line

While it’s possible to turn a profit investing in specialty food stocks, keep in mind that — like any investment — specialty food stocks are not immune to risk. These stocks are subject to fluctuating conditions — both in the market and in the health food industry, so carefully vet your picks before you invest. And if you’re new to investing, or if it’s been awhile since you’ve taken a critical look at your investing accounts, compare brokers to make sure you’re getting the best features in your trading account.

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