Utz Brands (UTZ)

Collier Creek Holdings went SPAC in late-August 2020 to become Utz, a maker of snacks under such brands as, Zapp's, Golden Flake and Good Health. This Pennsylvania company has been around for nearly a century, but went public at the right time—in the middle of the pandemic. People stay at home and eat snacks. For example, Q3 year-over-year sales jumped 24%. Last December, Utz bought Truco Enterprises, which churns out tortilla chips and salsa for $480 million. A good fit that will help transform Utz from a regional player into a national one. The news bumped shares from $19 to $22.50. Utz has been climbing ever since, though tumbled 4% after announcing slightly disappointing guidance on March 18 though it crushed Q4 earnings estimates. Since then, Utz shares have been choppy, but rising steadily in the past week. Utz pays a modest dividend of 0.96%, but six analysts signal a buy and two a hold, and they target $27.13, or 8.52% upside. Despite a reopening American economy, Utz remains poised to sell snacks and meet its projections.