PepsiCo isn’t hitting on all cylinders
In the second quarter of 2026, PepsiCo’s organic sales rose 2.4%. That’s actually not a terrible number for a consumer staples company, but it is less than half the 6% that Coca-Cola (KO +0.22%) achieved. Given that these two companies are key competitors in the beverage space, you can see why Wall Street isn’t happy with PepsiCo’s business results.
To be fair to PepsiCo, its business spans beverages, snacks, and packaged food products. So it is far more diversified than Coca-Cola. Right now, that’s a headwind, but I actually see the added diversification as a net positive. I believe it gives PepsiCo more levers for long-term growth.
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NYSE: KO
Coca-Cola
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
76/100
Today’s Change
(0.22%) $0.19
Current Price
$88.25
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$380BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded s outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded s. Implied market cap may vary.
Day’s Range
$87.52 – $88.28
52wk Range
$65.35 – $92.49
Volume
28M
Avg Vol
16.8M
Gross Margin
61.95%
Dividend Yield
2.38%
But right now, consumer tastes are shifting. Some of that is related to a general increase in health consciousness. And some is tied to the development of GLP-1 weight-loss drugs, which are changing the way people eat. The why here is less important than the fact that there is a change. PepsiCo is aware of it and is working to update its brand portfolio. That takes time, and Wall Street is famously impatient, so the stock price has fallen. I think that’s an opportunity for long-term investors me.
PepsiCo has dealt with change before
What’s important to remember right now is that consumer buying habits shift constantly. While the current change may feel dramatic, at least partly due to the impact of GLP-1 drugs, PepsiCo has adjusted its business many times over the past 54 years. Fifty-four may seem an oddly specific number, but it really isn’t. It is the number of years that PepsiCo has increased its dividend.
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NASDAQ: PEP
PepsiCo
Premium Feature
Moneyball Superscore
69/100
Today’s Change
(-2.92%) $-3.91
Current Price
$129.75
Key Data Points
Market Cap
$177BMarket cap calculated using publicly traded s outstanding only. Does not include unlisted, private, or dual-class non-traded s. Implied market cap may vary.
Day’s Range
$129.55 – $132.30
52wk Range
$129.55 – $171.48
Volume
23.5M
Avg Vol
8.4M
Gross Margin
53.98%
Dividend Yield
4.47%
That streak makes PepsiCo a Dividend King. A company can’t create a streak that by accident. It requires a strong business plan that gets executed well in both good times and bad. Today is just a “bad” time. Given the consumer staples giant’s long and successful history, I’m confident it will eventually get back on track. To get there, it is leaning into innovation and acquiring on-trend brands.
PepsiCo is paying you well to wait
Not only is PepsiCo’s yield high relative to the S&P 500 and the average consumer staples stock, but it is also near the highest levels in the company’s own yield history. Wall Street is basically treating PepsiCo as if it is a terrible business, even though organic sales are still increasing and the company remains highly profitable, with second-quarter earnings of $2.20 per , up 4% year over year. This is not a money-losing start-up on the verge of bankruptcy.
If you buy PepsiCo today, you can collect an attractive yield while this historically well-run company adjusts its brand portfolio, as it has many times before. While the stock isn’t a risk-free investment, I think the risk-versus-reward balance is tilted heavily toward reward.
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About the Author
Reuben Gregg Brewer is a contributing Motley Fool stock market analyst covering energy, utilities, REITs, and consumer staples. He is the former director of research at Value Line Publishing, where he rose from mutual fund analyst to equity analyst before leading all research operations. Reuben holds a bachelor’s degree in psychology from SUNY Purchase, a master’s in social work from Columbia University, and an MBA from Regis University. He has been featured as a financial expert on CNBC and in the Financial Times, Barron’s, and InvestmentNews.
Stocks Mentioned
PepsiCo
NASDAQ: PEP
$129.75
(-2.92%)-$3.91
Motley Fool Stock Advisor’s Latest Pick
—% Avg Return
S&P 500 Index
SNPINDEX: ^GSPC
$7,650.50
(+0.17%)+$12.74
Coca-Cola
NYSE: KO
$88.25
(+0.22%)+$0.19
*Average returns of all recommendations since inception. Cost basis and return based on previous market day close.
Sumber Artikel:
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