Instead of roses or bling, how about candy stocks for your Valentine sweetie

By Dian Vujovich

Stuck for what to get that very special someone this Valentine’s Day? You could show your love by making an investment or two into confectionary stocks. Okay, so it’s not that romantic but it could be just one of the many precious gifts you give.

Reports from American Express indicate that the very wealthy do love spending on Valentine’s Day gifts. In fact, they are expected to spend $281 million this year. That’s up from last year and topping what regular folks are predicted to spend in leaps and bounds or by about 18 percent.

To help you find some sweets for your sweetie, here are Friday’s closing prices on a few companies we all know:

•Tootsie Roll Industries (TR) stocks closed at $24.58 a share on Feb. 3, 2012. Some of the many goodies they bring us include, Tootsie Roll Pops, Junior Mints, Sugar Daddy, Charleston Chew, and Carmel Apples Pops.

•Rocky Mountain Chocolate Factory (RMCF) closed at $8.66 a share. This Colorado-based sweetery makes all sorts of chocolate everythings from candied apples to chocolate truffles.

• There’s nothing like a Hershey’s kiss. Shares of The Hershey Company (HSY) closed at $61.16 on Friday. Lest you’ve forgotten they make Hershey’s Kisses, Reece’s Peanut Butter Cups, 5th Avenue, Almond Joy, Cadbury Chocolates, etc. etc. etc.

• And then there is Nestle (NSRGY). Friday’s closing price was $57.86 for the company that brings us Nestlé’s Crunch, Baby Ruth, Butter Finger and more.

If Godiva chocolates or Mars bars are among your baby’s favorites, forget about getting your hands on them unless, of course, you’re privy to private equity investments. Or own shares of Warren Buffett’s Berkshire Hathaway. Hoover’s reports that See’s Candies are held in that portfolio. Of course, shares of it -BRK.A–closed at $119,800. a share Friday.

Other privately held confectionary stocks, (other than See’s Godiva and Mars), include, Russell Stover Candies, World’s Finest Chocolate, Jelly Belly Candy Company and Betsy Ann Candies.