In the 1970s, most pundits probably thought that John Mackey was crazy for thinking Whole Foods Market (WFM) could ever become a force on the national food scene. But decades later -- and with a stock that's up 2,600% since going public -- it's clear that Mackey was on to something.
The problem is, that "something" -- namely, a movement to educate yourself about where your food comes from -- has been so popular that it's attracting competition from all corners. In fact, so far this year, Whole Foods' stock is down almost 30%, largely due to concerns about competition.
Though investing (as opposed to trading) means taking a years-long approach to buying and selling stocks, checking in periodically with one's holdings is important. So what should investors be focused on, and what should they look for by year's end from Whole Foods? Check out the slideshow below to find out.
