We recently compiled a list of the 10 Best Cookies and Crackers Stocks to Buy. In this article, we are going to take a look at where Kellanova (NYSE:K) stands against the other cookies and crackers stocks.

The Global Cookie and Cracker Market

The global cookie and cracker market was valued at $100.2 billion in 2023 and is expected to grow to $122.45 billion by 2030, growing at a compound annual growth rate of 3.7% during the forecast period between 2024 and 2030. Region-wise, North America dominates the market with the United States and Canada as its top markets. With significant markets in the United Kingdom, Germany, and France, Europe follows. Simultaneously, Asia Pacific is depicting rapid growth with significant market expansion in countries such as China and India.

What is the Global Snacking Industry Looking Like?

According to Mondelēz International’s annual State of Snacking Report 2023, consumers continue to snack strong as 6 in 10 global consumers surveyed for the last 5 years have been consistently of the opinion that they tend to eat many small meals throughout their days instead of few large ones while young people look forward to the snacks in their day, more as compared to the meals. Younger consumers tend to snack once or more a day. Across all ages, the majority have ritualized snack time as they consume a snack at a special moment or time of the day.

Consistent snack spending is evident from the fact that two-thirds of consumers have not made significant changes to their spending on snacks although they are more conscious of price. Recently, consumers have cut back spending on non-essential items which has negatively impacted sales for Starbucks and McDonald’s. However, the threat doesn’t seem major to the snacking industry as snacking giants still see snacking as a large, attractive, and durable category that continues to grow in importance with consumers.

A piece of important news surfacing in the market just before the year’s end, as reported by CNBC, is that the Oreo maker has made a preliminary takeover approach for Hershey according to those familiar with the matter. The company had previously made a takeover bid for Hershey in 2016 which Hershey’s board unanimously rejected. The acquisition, if it takes place, is going to result in one of the biggest confectionery companies globally. While the combined business could be a huge deal, the question about it competing against the recent Mars’ acquisition of Kellanova which is expected to materialize in the coming year, is circulating all around. This acquisition is a great deal in the global snacking market as well since it ranks among the top 10 global food and beverage mergers and acquisitions since 1995, as revealed by Dealogic.

Our Methodology:

In order to compile a list of the 10 best cookies and crackers stocks to buy, we went through stock screeners, relevant ETFs, and media reports to make a list of relevant stocks. Moving on, we shortlisted the top 10 stocks from our list which had the highest number of hedge fund holders. The 10 best cookies and crackers stocks to buy have been arranged in ascending order of their hedge fund holders, as of Q3.

At Insider Monkey we are obsessed with 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 the best hedge funds. Our quarterly newsletter’s strategy selects 14 small-cap and large-cap stocks every quarter and has returned 275% since May 2014, beating its benchmark by 150 percentage points (see more details here).

Kellanova (NYSE:K)

Number of Hedge Fund Holders: 64

Kellanova (NYSE:K) serves as a leading company in global snacking, international cereal and noodles, plant-based foods, and North American frozen breakfast. Kellanova was launched in 2023 and builds over the strong brand equity and legacy created over the past 117 years as Kellogg Company.

Kellanova remains powered by differentiated brands including Pringles, Pop-Tarts, Kellogg’s Rice Krispies Treats, RXBAR, Eggo, MorningStar Farms, Special K, and Coco Pops. The company owns popular cracker brands including Club Crackers and Cheez-It. 50% of its net sales came from five of the most differentiated brands in the world in 2022, one of which was Cheez-It.

With a majority of sales being driven by global snacks and emerging markets, the company boasts a more growth-oriented portfolio. Kellanova has grown net sales by approximately $3 billion from 2019 to 2022. Alongside a solid portfolio and a track record of growth, the firm benefits from a world-class supply chain and marketing capabilities as well as a rapidly expanding reach across channels.

Kellanova (NYSE:K) is all set to begin its new journey as a part of Mars, the global leader in pet care, snacking, and food. The Mars acquisition of the company is expected to close within the first half of 2025. While the company is rearing for the next chapter, it closed its third quarter on a good note, with earnings per share continuing their double-digit growth momentum and a double-digit operating profit growth sustained.

Overall K ranks 1st on our list of the best cookies and crackers stocks to buy. While we acknowledge the potential of K as an investment, our conviction lies in the belief that some deeply undervalued AI stocks hold greater promise for delivering higher returns, and doing so within a shorter timeframe. If you are looking for a deeply undervalued AI stock that is more promising than K but that trades at less than 5 times its earnings, check out our report about the cheapest AI stock.

READ NEXT: 8 Best Wide Moat Stocks to Buy Now and 30 Most Important AI Stocks According to BlackRock.

Disclosure: None. This article is originally published at Insider Monkey.