12 Best Food Stocks to Buy Under $30

1. Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI)

Stock Price: $21.93

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 70

Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) is a US-based food and drug retailer. It has over 2,269 stores across 34 states and the District of Columbia under 20 banners, including Star Market, Shaw’s, Albertsons, Kings Food Markets, United Supermarkets, Haggen, Kings Food Markets, Acme, Carrs, and more.

In a report released on May 2, Kenneth Goldman from J.P. Morgan maintained a Buy rating on Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) and set a price target of $31.00. While the company is likely to continue experiencing margin pressures due to its ongoing investments in customer experience, value, and digital investments, they are expected to affect short-term upside only, according to Robert Ohmes, an analyst from Bank of America Securities.

The analyst said they the investments will position Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) well for long-term growth. He also highlighted that the company’s fiscal Q4 2024 adjusted EPS surpassed expectations, with pharmacy and digital sales experiencing notable growth.

Other factors also bring a bullish light to the company’s operations, such as the 10% growth of its total revenue in 2024 over 2023. Albertsons Companies, Inc.’s (NYSE:ACI) loyalty membership also increased significantly by over 15% year-over-year, reaching more than 45 million members. Longleaf Partners Fund was also bullish on Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) and said the following in its Q1 2025 investor letter:

“Albertsons Companies, Inc. (NYSE:ACI) – US grocery retailer Albertsons was a contributor for the quarter. Albertsons was a new purchase in 2024, after we had followed the company and its predecessors for years. In an otherwise turbulent quarter, Albertsons stands out as a stable business that remains undervalued because it had fallen off the radar during a protracted deal process with Kroger that ultimately failed. The company should grow at a moderate pace and has plenty of financial firepower to repurchase shares, all while it has multiple strategic options (such as unlocking its real estate value and/or selling non-core markets) to realize value per share.”

Overall, ACI ranks first among the best food stocks to buy under $30. While we acknowledge the potential of food stocks, our conviction lies in the belief that AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns and doing so within a shorter time frame. There is an AI stock that went up since the beginning of 2025, while popular AI stocks lost around 25%. If you are looking for an AI stock that is more promising than ACI but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about this cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 20 Best AI Stocks To Buy Now and 30 Best Stocks to Buy Now According to Billionaires.

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