Chocolate is one of the most popular sweet treats on the planet. Global annual sales are approaching $130 billion, making it one of the biggest food and beverage markets. As consumers in developing countries acquire more wealth, they consume more chocolate.
Chocolate is a favorite for many investors, too. A handful of snack food conglomerates dominate the industry. Given their size, growth is rather pedestrian. However, if you're after slower but more stable growth paired with dividend income, chocolate stocks can be a tasty option.
Investing in chocolate stocks in 2026
The production and sale of chocolate and related candy are largely controlled by a few massive multinational companies. The largest chocolate goods producer, Mars (responsible for world-famous candies such as Snickers and M&Ms), is privately owned by the Mars family. As for the publicly traded companies, here are the top stocks in the chocolate business we'll consider:
| Name and ticker | Current price | Market cap | Dividend yield |
|---|---|---|---|
| Nestlé (OTC:NSRGY) | $97.77 | $247.3 billion | 3.77% |
| Mondelez International (NASDAQ:MDLZ) | $57.54 | $73.8 billion | 3.42% |
| Hershey (NYSE:HSY) | $206.19 | $41.8 billion | 2.70% |
| Chocoladefabriken Lindt & Sprüngli Ag (OTC:CHLSY) | $13.54 | $13.1 billion | 1.33% |
| Kraft Heinz (NASDAQ:KHC) | $22.79 | $27.0 billion | 7.02% |
| Tootsie Roll Industries (NYSE:TR) | $43.73 | $3.3 billion | 0.81% |
| Simply Good Foods (NASDAQ:SMPL) | $14.16 | $1.3 billion | 0.00% |
1. Nestlé
OTC: NSRGY
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NASDAQ: MDLZ
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3. Hershey
NYSE: HSY
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OTC: LDSVF
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NASDAQ: KHC
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NYSE: TR
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NASDAQ: SMPL
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FAQ
Chocolate stocks FAQ
About the Author
Matt DiLallo has positions in Hershey. The Motley Fool has positions in and recommends Hershey. The Motley Fool recommends Kraft Heinz, Nestlé, and Simply Good Foods. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.
