Top 5 Food Stocks To Invest In Right Now

Although we don't believe in timing the market or panicking over daily movements, we do like to keep an eye on market changes -- just in case they're material to our investing thesis.

With the noise from Washington finally quieting down, investors can get back to focusing on what really matters: earnings. And as they do so today, the major indexes are mixed. As of 12:45 p.m. EDT the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) is flat, while the S&P 500 is up 0.4% and the Nasdaq has jumped 0.9% higher. For more on which recent earnings reports are hurting the Dow today, click here.

Let's see which big retailers are struggling this afternoon.

Shares of Costco (NASDAQ: COST  ) are down 0.9% this afternoon, likely because of a Salmonella scare at one of the company's stores in San Francisco. Yesterday that location recalled 14,000 units of rotisserie chicken products that may have been contaminated according to the Department of Agriculture. The company initially recalled chicken products on Oct. 12, but after Costco consulted the California Public Health Department, the recall was expanded yesterday. As a result of the chicken scare, investors have sold off food producers today: Tyson Foods is down 4.2%, Sanderson Farms has lost 2.8%, and Pilgrim's Pride is off by 5.4%. �

Top 10 Heal Care Companies For 2015: Seven & i Holdings Co Ltd (SVNDY)

Seven & i Holdings Co., Ltd. is a Japan-based holding company. The Company operates in six business segments. The Convenience Store segment operates convenience stores under the name 7-Eleven through direct operation and franchising. The Super Store segment operates general supermarkets, food supermarkets and specialty stores. The Department Store segment operates department stores with a focus on Seibu. The Food Service segment is engaged in the restaurant business, the contract food business and the fast food business. The Financial-related segment is engaged in the banking service, credit card and electronic money services. The Others segment is engaged in the information technology (IT) business. Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Jim Jubak]

  If you're a trader, you try to catch these ups and downs. If you're a longer term trader, you sort of go with Japanese equities. The one that I've got in Jubak's Picks is Toyota Motor, (TM), which trades in New York as an ADR. You can also go with something like Torre Industries (TRYIF), which trades as an ADR in New York as well as on the Tokyo exchange. They're the world's largest maker of carbon fiber, good play on exports to the aircraft and car industries. Or you can do something like Seven & I (SVNDY), the Japanese company that owns 7-Elevens around the world. So, those would be my ways to play a weak yen if you want to use Japanese equities for the week and the year ahead.

Top 5 Food Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Krispy Kreme Doughnuts Inc (KKD)

Krispy Kreme Doughnuts, Inc. (Krispy Kreme), December 02, 1999, is a retailer and wholesaler of doughnuts complementary beverages and treats and packaged sweets. The Company�� principal business is owning and franchising Krispy Kreme stores, at which a variety of doughnuts, including the Company�� Original Glazed doughnut, are sold and distributed together with complementary products, and where a broad array of coffees and other beverages are offered. As of February 3, 2013, there were 239 Krispy Kreme stores operated domestically in 38 states and in the District of Columbia, and there were 509 shops in 21 other countries around the world. Of the 748 total stores, 295 were factory stores and 453 were satellites. The Company operates in four segments: Company Stores, domestic franchise stores, international franchise stores, and the KK Supply Chain.

Company Stores

Its Company Stores segment consists of the operating activities of its Company-owned stores. These stores sell doughnuts and complementary products through the on-premises and wholesale channels. Many of the doughnut varieties the Company offers in its doughnut shops also are distributed, through off-premises sales channels. In addition, it offers a number of products through off-premises channels, including honeybuns, fruit pies, mini-crullers, cupcakes and various chocolate enrobed products, generally packaged as individually wrapped snacks or packaged in snack bags. Krispy Kreme has a beverage program, which includes drip coffees, both coffee-based and noncoffee-based frozen drinks, juices, sodas, milks, water and packaged and fountain beverages. In addition, the Company also develops beverages such as espresso, cappuccino and hot chocolate.

Domestic Franchise

The Domestic Franchise segment consists of the Company�� domestic store franchise operations. This segment derives revenue principally from initial development and franchise fees related to new stores and from royalties on sa! les by franchise stores. As of February 3, 2013, there were 142 domestic franchise stores in 29 states, consisting of 99 factory and 43 satellite stores.

International Franchise

The International Franchise segment consists of the Company�� international store franchise operations. International franchise stores sell doughnuts and complementary products almost exclusively through the on-premises sales channel using shop formats similar to those used in the United States, and also using a kiosk format. A portion of sales by the franchisees in Canada, the United Kingdom and Australia are made to wholesale customers. As of February 3, 2013, there were 509 international franchise shops in 21 countries, consisting of 120 factory stores and 389 satellite shops.

KK Supply Chain Business Segment

The Company operates an integrated supply chain. The KK Supply Chain segment buys and processes ingredients it uses to produce doughnut mixes and manufactures doughnut-making equipment that all factory stores are required to purchase. The Company manufactures doughnut mixes at its facility in Winston-Salem, North Carolina. In addition to traditional doughnut mixes and mixes made from mix concentrate, the Company produces or manages the production of doughnut premix, which is used to produce doughnut mixes in certain international locations. The KK Supply Chain segment also purchases and sells supplies, including icings and fillings, other food ingredients, juices, signage, display cases, uniforms and other items to both Company and franchisee-owned stores.

The Company competes with Dolly Madison, Entenmann��, Hostess, Little Debbie, and Sara Lee.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Erin McBride]

  America's two favorite doughnut brands are without question�Dunkin' Brands (NASDAQ: DNKN  ) and Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD  ) . But which brand does America love more? Let's take a look at three tasty stocks -- Krispy Kreme, Dunkin' Brands, and their kissing cousin�Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX  ) �-- to decide.

• [By Jack Kramer and Nick Martell] Before you start dropping the big bucks on Cali Chrome this weekend, check out what sent stocks to fresh highs this past week. The top headline worth writing home to Mom about was the 217,000 new jobs added in May -- which finally brings total payrolls up to the level where they were before the financial crisis. That solid number helped send the Dow Jones Industrial Average (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) (DJINDICES: ^DJI  ) �up 88 points Friday. Mazel Tov. � 1. The stock market winner ... It's wedding season -- and that means a good amount of open bars that will be featuring young people ordering uncreative "Jack and Cokes." That's more good news for Brown-Forman (NYSE: BF-B  ) (NYSE: BF-B  ) (NYSE: BF-B  ) , a big-time liquor distributor.
  
  Brown-Forman was on investors' top shelves last week after an earnings report worth pouring some Scotch to -- the company announced that net sales globally rose 6% over last year. And it's Jack Daniels that's driving the push as sales of the whiskey increased 8% across planet earth.
  
  It's not just that America has refound its taste for whiskey on the heels of the craft brew trend. Its flavored whiskeys, in particular, that are what BF wants to capitalize on. BF's�"Tennessee Honey" brand of Jack doubled sales in its first year, with total sales rising 36% in the last year. Next, BF plans to introduced "Tennessee Fire" to add a�cinnamon�spice to its flavored whiskey lineup (and compete with Fireball Whisky). �
  2. ... And the stock market loser We used to love munching�Krispy Kreme (NYSE: KKD  ) (NYSE: KKD  ) (NYSE: KKD  ) doughnuts after Pee-Wee hockey games -- but ever since the company over-expanded in the early 2000s and fell in 2004, the stock has been trying to claw its way back.
  
  And while 2013 was solid for the glaze
• [By Rich Duprey]

  Hot glazed doughnut maker Krispy Kreme Doughnuts (NYSE: KKD  ) said today it will buy back up to $50 million worth of its stock. At Friday's closing price of $20.10, that would be equivalent to almost 2.5 million shares. The company had approximately 66 million shares outstanding as of July 12, so the repurchase plan equates to just under 4% of its stock.

Top 5 Food Stocks To Invest In Right Now: CannaVEST Corp (CANV)

CannaVEST Corp., formerly Foreclosure Solutions, Inc., incorporated on December 9, 2010, is engaged in the business of developing, producing, marketing and selling end consumer products to the nutriceutical industry containing the hemp plant extract, Cannabidoil (CBD). The Company produces raw ingredients for neutraceutical markets. This substance can be used with foods and nutritional supplements for consumer health and wellness benefits, as well as in the pharmaceutical industry. On March 4, 2013, the Company acquired KannaLife Sciences, Inc. On December 31, 2012, the Company acquired certain assets of PhytoSPHERE Systems, LLC (PhytoSPHERE). It also secured the license to the name PhytoSPHERE and PhytoSPHERE Systems for use in the development and commercialization of hemp-based products.

The Company focuses to develop applicable raw ingredients, and provide raw ingredients for the production and development of multiple existing and developing product applications. Its focus is to produce, market and distribute hemp-based consumer products, as well as acquire existing businesses involved in the industrial hemp industries.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By John Udovich]

  The Marijuana Index is Really Getting Stoned. The Marijuana Index, which is the first and only registered equity tracking index for marijuana stocks, cannabis stocks and hemp stocks,�experienced significant volume and price fluctuations throughout the month of February when is started the month at the $25 level only to close the month at $56.21 for a 125% gain as some marijuana stocks experienced all time highs. Notable gainers included Abattis Bioceuticals (OTCMKTS: ATTBF)�being up 194%, Advanced Cannabis Solutions (OTCQB: CANN) being up 132% and CannaVest (OTCMKTS: CANV) being up 116%. You can see all of the�Marijuana Index�� advancers and decliners at http://www.marijuanaindex.org.

• [By Dan Burrows]

  But it doesn’t end there. Investors should run away from all OTC marijuana stocks, including Medical Marijuana (MJNA), Cannabis Science (CBIS), CannaVest (CANV), MediSwipe (MWIP) and GreenGro Technologies (GRNH). As the SEC warns:

Top 5 Food Stocks To Invest In Right Now: Crumbs Bake Shop Inc (CRMB)

Crumbs Bake Shop, Inc., formerly 57th Street General Acquisition Corp., incorporated on October 29, 2009, is owner of Crumbs Holdings LLC (Crumbs), a neighborhood bakery and a retailer of cupcakes. As of November 1, 2011, Crumbs had 43 locations, including 29 locations in the New York Metro area, nine locations on the West Coast, three locations in Washington, D.C., one location in Virginia and one location in Chicago. The specialty of the house is cupcakes; however, the menu also includes a blend of baked goods. On May 5, 2011, the Company merged with Crumbs.

The Company offers a range of Signature and Taste size cupcakes. Signature cupcakes are ordered in increments of six. One can create its own individual six packs or choose a pre-selected assortment. Its Taste size cupcakes are offered by the dozen in pre-selected favorites assortments. There are more than 60 varieties of cupcakes baked fresh daily with a new cupcake of the week debuting each Monday.

Advisors' Opinion:

• [By Lex Haris]

  Crumbs (CRMB) closed all of its stores Monday, and has been struggling for some time. It began closing outlets in 2013 amid steep losses. At the end of the first quarter this year, it had 65 locations in 12 states.

• [By John Kell and Tess Stynes var popups = dojo.query(".socialByline .popC"); p]

  Crumbs Bake Shop Inc.(CRMB) said interim Chief Executive Edward M. Slezak has been named permanently to post, while also announcing that its board has appointed Frederick G. Kraegel as chairman.

• [By Jack Kramer and Nick Martell]

  2. Crumbs Cupcake stock continues to drop
  Pour some sugar on me, baby, because the recent performance of cupcake-makin' chain Crumbs Bake Shop (NASDAQ: CRMB  ) hasn't tasted good for investors. The stock has fallen nearly 30% in the past month, dropped 13.4% in the last week, and dipped almost 2% Monday on growing doubts the company can even stay in business.