7 Best Future Food Stocks to Buy According to Analysts

2. Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING)

Potential Upside: 56.26%

Number of Hedge Funds Holders: 36

Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) is one of the top companies in the fast-casual dining industry, making it a top choice among the Best 7 Food Growth Stocks to Buy. It serves various types of wings, along with tenders, chicken sandwiches, and fries.

The company reported record financials for fiscal 2024, making it its 21st consecutive year of same-store sales growth. Driven majorly by transaction growth, domestic same-store sales increased by 19.9%, while system-wide sales increased 36.8% to $4.8 billion. Furthermore, it recorded an adjusted EBITDA of $212 million, an increase of 44.8%. Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) added a record 349 restaurant locations to its portfolio in 2024, demonstrating strong demand among franchisees and its aim to achieve over 10,000 locations.

For Q4, the company reported a 10.1% increase in same-store sales, and digital sales reached 70% as it continued its strong momentum. The company’s proprietary tech stack, My Wingstop, was important in driving engagement, increasing its digital database to over 50 million customers. Moreover, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) observed improved brand visibility, increasing reach among young consumers, driven through its strategic partnerships with the NBA, NFL, and WWE.

Additionally, the company continues to prioritize operational improvements, such as the roll-out of an AI-powered kitchen system to improve efficiency, decrease wait time, and increase demand. Franchisees continue to report record cash flows, with average unit volumes surpassing the $2.1 million mark. Its development pipelines remain strong, with around 2,000 restaurants under development agreements. Thus, the company has projected unit growth to be between 14% and 15%, furthering its strategy for long-term growth.

Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) is also looking to expand its menu to increase its customer base, including the recent launch of crispy chicken tenders, hand-sauced in its signature flavors, which was met with strong demand. Accordingly, the company gave away one million tenders in an effort to market the new product and to drive engagement.

Conclusively, Wingstop Inc. (NASDAQ:WING) remains set for long-term growth due to its strong financial position, aggressive expansion strategy, and menu innovation, making it one of the Best future food stocks to buy.