Slate's MoneyBox column identified gourmet and organic grocer Whole Foods Market Inc. as being undervalued by the stock market. Although Slate is better known for its political discourse and not business news, the story offers some interesting analysis, including the fact that the chain has yet to penetrate deep into the middle section of the country, having only 177 stories in 31 states. Of course, MoneyBox's conclusion is simple: Whole Foods is an undervalued stock. It never once suggests that the weak stock could draw the interest of buyout firms. After all, the retailer's $6.6 billion market cap makes it a relatively cheap buyout candidate by today's standards. In addition, Whole Foods could use the buyout firm's capital infusion to expand beyond the coasts and college town enclaves into America's heartland. —Matthew Wurtzel
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