We recently compiled a list of the 7 Best Coffee Stocks to Buy Now. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) stands against the other coffee stocks.
Coffee is one of the most widely consumed beverages globally, however, not many investors are bullish on coffee stocks right now as AI seems to be getting all the attention. The coffee market is growing and estimates by Mordor Intelligence valued it at $132.13 billion in 2024. The market is expected to grow to $166.39 billion by 2029, at a compound annual growth rate of 4.72% over the forecast period.
Consumers are currently worried since coffee sellers have predicted that the already high prices will spike even more in the near future. Supply disruptions from Vietnam to Brazil have resulted in high prices for the Arabica and Robusta beans. The reasons behind the surge in prices are diverse. While weather conditions in major coffee bean exporting nations including Brazil and Vietnam have impacted the size and quality of the arabica beans, rising demand in markets such as China also tightened the supply. Considering the fact that Arabica beans are preferred by coffee giants and Robusta beans are best for instant coffee, there is no sense of relief for the end consumers who are paying for their daily dose of coffee.
Prevailing Trends in the Market
As reported by the World Bank, the beverage price index hit a 13-year high in February as a result of the surging prices of Robusta coffee and cocoa. Coffee Arabica and Coffee Robusta prices hit $4.61 and $3.38 per kilogram, respectively. The reaction of the industry to these prices has been diverse. While some suppliers have warned consumers of further price hikes for their products, other coffee chains are finding store closures convenient. The competition for supplies continues to rise as the demand for coffee in non-traditional markets is expanding. While the dynamics of the market have shifted to more online orders or drive-throughs, some critics mention coffee brands have let go of the idea of offering premium customer service in stores.
The real question revolves around what the coffee industry holds for consumers in the future. While many believe that the price hikes will not be so severe, the underlying challenge penetrating coffee-producing regions is climate change and not just bad weather. Although pests and diseases due to heavy rainfall impacted the coffee yield in Brazil, just like the high temperature in Vietnam, the issue is more dense. Considering the fact that such regions can become unusable by 2050 if the circumstances persist, the coffee industry remains under serious threat.
The coffee market may be under pressure but it goes without saying that caffeine is a staple in today’s high-paced world. Whatever challenges persist, products from top coffee companies will continue to be on the shelves of retail stores and in the kitchen cabinets of consumers. Coffee stocks might even be ideal for recession-proofing your portfolio. With that, let’s dive into the 7 best coffee stocks to buy now.
Our Methodology:
In order to compile a list of the 7 best coffee stocks to buy now, we first sifted through ETFs and online rankings to gather a preliminary list of 20 coffee stocks. We then selected the top 7 stocks that had the highest number of hedge fund holders as of March 31. The 7 best coffee stocks to buy now are arranged in ascending order of their number of hedge fund holders, as of the first quarter of 2024. We have also included analysts’ average upside potential for the stocks in our list.
Why are we interested in the stocks that hedge funds pile into? The reason is simple, our research has shown that we can outperform the market by imitating the top stock picks of best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy picks 14 small and large-caps every quarter and it has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).
A closeup of a customer tasting a freshly-made cold brew coffee product from the company’s shop.
Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS)
Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 33
Average Upside Potential as of July 31: 11.02%
Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) came into being in 1992 as a pushcart when the founders Dane and Travis Boersma decided to sell coffee in downtown Grants Pass, Oregon. The brothers came up with the idea while their family’s dairy business was struggling. The company grew over the years with the first franchise opening in Oregon in 2000. By 2021, the coffee company had extended to Texas and Oklahoma. Currently, Dutch Bros is an operator and franchisor of drive-thru shops that serve beverages. Dutch Bros has coffee classics, seasonal drinks, shakes, smoothies, and snacks among others to offer to its customers.
Although Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) doesn’t have a market share as compared to larger coffee chains, what deems the company attractive is its exemplary growth story. The company expanded from a double-head espresso machine and a pushcart to 876 locations across 17 states. The firm ranks among some of the fastest-growing brands in the quick-service American beverage industry by location count. Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) recently witnessed the 11th consecutive quarter of 30 or more new shop openings and carried 2023’s momentum to 2024 by recording a 39% year-over-year growth during the first quarter. Highlights of the first quarter performance include two strong new product launches and strong system same shop sales growth. A record 45 new shop openings across 14 states during the quarter are a proof of the consistency in the company’s growth.
The company also believes that they are more than the products they have to serve. The sense of community engagement boasted by the firm fosters loyalty among its customers. The company gives back to the community through fundraisers, grants, and donations. The strong brand image is a reflection of the philanthropic and inclusive attempts made by the firm to achieve its vision of ultimately making a massive difference.
Therefore, Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) is a top coffee stock with a rapid expansion pattern to offer to investors which has translated into strong revenue growth for the company. Over the past 3 years, the firm has grown its revenue by 43.83%. The community-driven approach further amplifies the chances for more business and profitability.
Dutch Bros (NYSE:BROS) was held by 33 hedge funds at the close of Q1 2024 and Citadel Investment Group was the largest shareholder in the company with a stake worth $159 million.
Overall BROS ranks 3rd on our list of the best coffee stocks to buy. You can visit 7 Best Coffee Stocks to Buy Now to see the other coffee stocks that are on hedge funds’ radar. While we acknowledge the potential of BROS as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than BROS but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI Stock.
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Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.