Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CELH) is among the consumer defensive stocks to buy according to analysts. On December 12, Matthew Smith, an analyst at Stifel Nicolaus, reaffirmed the ‘Buy’ rating on Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CELH), while setting a price target of $60, which suggests an upside potential of about 37%. Just two days earlier, Morgan Stanley analyst Eric Serotta also reiterated the ‘Buy’ rating on Celsius Holdings, Inc. (NASDAQ:CELH) and a $64 price target. This reflects an upside potenti ...

Core Insights - Vita Coco has significantly outperformed competitors, achieving a stock price increase of 46% in 2025 alone, following its public debut in October 2021 [1] - The company maintains a trailing price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 47, which is substantially lower than Celsius' P/E ratio of 365, indicating a more favorable valuation [2] - Vita Coco's commitment to health and sustainability has strengthened its market position, particularly in 2025 [2] Financial Performance - In Q3 2025, Vita Coco reported a 37% increase in net sales, reaching $182 million for the quarter [6] - The company's market capitalization stands at $3.1 billion, with a gross margin of 35.86% [6] Tariff Impact - The company benefited from tariff relief announced by the White House, reducing average tariff costs on U.S. imports from 23% to 6% for coconut water beverages [4] - Unlike competitors reliant on aluminum cans, Vita Coco is less affected by increased tariffs on aluminum and steel, as its products are primarily packaged in recyclable paper cartons [5] Sustainability Initiatives - Vita Coco has launched the Seedlings for Sustainability program, aiming to plant 10 million coconut seedlings and trees by 2030, enhancing efficiency for coconut farmers [7] - The company has secured a partnership with Rush Soccer, the largest global youth soccer organization, to be its official hydration partner [6]

Core Insights - Celsius Holdings, Inc. (CELH) experienced a significant acceleration in U.S. retail performance in Q3 2025, with portfolio retail sales increasing by 31% year over year for the 13 weeks ending September 28, 2025, outpacing the broader ready-to-drink (RTD) energy category and achieving market share expansion [1][4]. Retail Performance - The combined portfolio of CELSIUS, Alani Nu, and Rockstar Energy captured a 20.8% dollar share of the U.S. RTD energy market, marking a 2.1 percentage point increase from the previous year and a 1.2-point sequential gain, indicating that the 31% retail sales increase was driven by portfolio-level share gains rather than overall category growth [2][8]. - Alani Nu led the growth within the portfolio, with retail sales soaring by 114% year over year and dollar share increasing by 3.3 points to 7.2%, supported by expanded distribution [3][8]. - The CELSIUS brand saw a 13% increase in retail sales but faced a 0.5-point year-over-year decline in dollar share to 11.2% [3][8]. - Rockstar Energy, acquired late in the period, reported a 9% decline in retail sales and a 0.7-point decrease in dollar share to 2.4% [3][8]. Market Trends - The combined portfolio of Celsius Holdings grew nearly twice as fast as the U.S. energy drink category during the quarter, with overall results indicating that the increase in retail sales coincided with aggregate market share gains [4]. - Management emphasized the importance of monitoring the durability of retail and share trends across brands and channels as the company moves into 2026 [4]. Competitor Insights - PepsiCo reported steady retail performance across its beverage portfolio in Q3 2025, driven by consumer demand for zero-sugar and functional offerings, with brands like Gatorade and Propel contributing positively [5]. - Coca-Cola also cited solid retail trends in Q3, supported by the strength of its zero-sugar portfolio and improved execution across key beverage categories [6]. Stock Performance and Valuation - Celsius Holdings' shares have increased by 0.8% over the past six months, contrasting with a 10.9% decline in the industry [7]. - The company trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 28.98, significantly higher than the industry average of 14.59 [9]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CELH's earnings implies year-over-year growth of 81.4% for 2025 and 20.4% for 2026 [10].

Core Insights - Celsius Holdings has experienced significant stock performance in 2025, with shares up 37%, outperforming the S&P 500's 16% return [1] - The company made a strategic acquisition of Alani Nu for $1.8 billion, which has positively impacted its revenue growth [4][5] - The upcoming quarters in 2026 will be critical for Celsius as they will reflect the true impact of the Alani Nu acquisition on sales and profitability [9][10] Financial Performance - The acquisition of Alani Nu closed at a net price of $1.65 billion, which was advantageous given Alani Nu's rising popularity and the demographic expansion it offers [4][5] - Following the acquisition, Celsius reported an 84% increase in revenue in the second quarter and a 173% surge in the latest report, defying initial expectations [6] - Analysts project a 114% revenue increase in the first quarter of 2026 due to the addition of Alani Nu, with a consolidated revenue forecast of $3.2 billion for the year, reflecting a 32% increase [8][9] Market Outlook - The second quarter of 2026 is anticipated to be pivotal, as it will provide a clearer picture of growth on a comparable basis with Alani Nu [9][10] - The momentum suggests potential for continued stock price appreciation, contingent on the performance metrics in 2026 [10]

Core Viewpoint - Celsius Holdings has experienced significant volatility in its stock price, with a recent 30% decline following a $61 million net loss in Q3, yet long-term investors have seen substantial returns despite this short-term setback [1][2]. One-Year Returns - Over the past year, Celsius stock has delivered a remarkable 53.2% return, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 12.4% return [2]. Three-Year Returns - In contrast, Celsius has underperformed over the last three years, with a return of only 9.5%, lagging behind the S&P 500's impressive 72.6% gain by 63.1 percentage points [4]. Five-Year Returns - Over a five-year period, Celsius stock has outperformed the market, achieving a return of 264.9%, which is more than triple the S&P 500's 86.4% return [7]. Ten-Year Returns - The ten-year performance of Celsius stock is exceptional, with returns exceeding 8,000%, highlighting the benefits of a long-term buy-and-hold investment strategy [7].

Core Viewpoint - Celsius Holdings (CELH) is rated as a buy due to its strengthening partnership with PepsiCo (PEP) [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Celsius Holdings is focusing on reinforcing its partnership with PepsiCo, indicating a strategic move to enhance its market position [1] - The company is viewed as a strong-moat investment opportunity, appealing to long-term investors [1] Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The investment approach emphasizes a fundamental standpoint with a "buy & hold" strategy, suitable for long-term horizons [1] - The focus is on price and margin of safety, considering risks often overlooked by analysts with shorter time frames [1]

Core Viewpoint - Celsius Holdings (CELH) is rated as a buy due to its strengthening partnership with PepsiCo (PEP) [1] Group 1: Company Overview - Celsius Holdings is focusing on reinforcing its partnership with PepsiCo, indicating a strategic move to enhance its market position [1] - The company is viewed as a strong-moat investment opportunity, appealing to long-term investors [1] Group 2: Investment Philosophy - The investment approach emphasizes a fundamental standpoint with a "buy & hold" strategy, suitable for long-term horizons [1] - The focus is on price and margin of safety, considering risks often overlooked by short-term analysts [1]

Core Insights - The article emphasizes the importance of conducting personal in-depth research and due diligence before making investment decisions, highlighting the inherent risks involved in trading [3]. Group 1 - The analysis is intended for informational purposes only and should not be considered as professional investment advice [3]. - There is a clear disclaimer stating that past performance does not guarantee future results, indicating the uncertainty in investment outcomes [4]. - The author expresses no current or planned investment positions in the companies mentioned, ensuring a lack of bias in the analysis [2].

If there's one thing Celsius Holdings, Inc. ( CELH ) investors don't want to hear, it has to be in the area of inventory headwinds.I aim to invest in companies with perfect qualitative attributes, buy them at an attractive price based on fundamentals, and hold them forever. I hope to publish articles covering such companies approximately 3 times per week, with extensive quarterly follow-ups and constant updates.I manage a concentrated portfolio targeted at avoiding losers and maximizing exposure to big winn ...

Core Insights - Celsius Holdings, Inc. (CELH) has demonstrated exceptional performance in the beverage sector, with its stock rising 65.1% this year, significantly outperforming the industry decline of 15.7% and the S&P 500's gain of 18.7% [1][8] Group 1: Performance and Market Position - The company's shares have surged due to a rapid portfolio transformation and expanding partnership with PepsiCo, allowing CELH to outperform competitors like The Coca-Cola Company, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper [2] - CELH's core brand is one of the fastest-growing in the energy drink market, achieving strong market-share gains across various retail channels [3] Group 2: Growth Drivers - Celsius is aggressively expanding its portfolio and integrating Alani Nu into PepsiCo's distribution network, which is expected to enhance brand reach in early 2026 [4] - Innovation plays a crucial role in growth, with limited-time flavors and seasonal launches attracting new consumers and maintaining relevance among younger demographics [5] Group 3: Financial Metrics - The company's gross margin remained above 50% in Q3, attributed to a shift towards higher-quality revenues and improved operational efficiencies [6][8] - Analysts have raised earnings estimates for CELH, indicating confidence in the company's ability to sustain strong growth into 2026 [13] Group 4: International Expansion - Celsius is increasing brand visibility in international markets such as Australia and select European regions, laying the groundwork for long-term global expansion [9] Group 5: Challenges Ahead - Despite strong demand, the company anticipates near-term volatility due to integration costs and other operational challenges, which may affect margins [10][16] - The integration of Rockstar is expected to contribute to margins only in 2026, leading to potential uneven quarterly comparisons [11] Group 6: Valuation - CELH's forward 12-month P/E ratio of 28.77X is significantly higher than the industry average of 14.4X, indicating a premium valuation that may pose risks if execution falters [12]