Best Stock to Buy and Hold Forever: Dutch Bros vs. Wingstop

Key Points

• Dutch Bros is still early in its growth story, with more than 6,000 potential locations left to build and a new consumer products business expanding the brand beyond its stores.

• Wingstop’s franchise model generates impressive cash flow and has fueled one of the most consistent growth stories in the restaurant industry.

• Dutch Bros’ combination of unit growth, brand loyalty, and new retail opportunities makes it my top pick for a 20-year hold.

• 10 stocks we like better than Dutch Bros ›

Great restaurant and service brands can turn everyday habits into decades of recurring revenue, giving investors a powerful combination of customer loyalty and expansion-driven growth. If I could only buy one restaurant stock to hold for the next 20 to 50 years, these are the two I’d choose today.

Dutch Bros

Employees are trained to learn customers’ names, memorize orders, and treat the drive-thru window like the front door of someone’s home. That sounds soft until you look at the economics: Dutch Bros has one of the highest same-store sales growth rates in the entire quick-service sector.

The company now has just over 1,000 locations and a long-term target of over 7,000. It is opening at least 181 new shops in 2026 alone. For context, that means Dutch Bros is still in the first quarter of its eventual footprint, a stage of growth where unit economics are proven and the brand is established, but the runway is almost entirely ahead.

What’s new and noteworthy: Wingstop’s asset-light model and aggressive expansion in 14 countries show stark contrasts with Dutch Bros’ direct footprint-based strategy.

Why Dutch Bros?

Both brands offer consumer loyalty, but Dutch Bros’ integration of physical and digital presence, coupled with its community-centric culture, creates a stronger moat for sustained dominance.

Additionally, its ability to scale efficiently and maintain high customer retention gives it a critical edge over more established competitors.