Financial Performance - Reported net sales for the 2025 first quarter decreased 2.3 percent to $1.85 billion, down from $1.90 billion in the comparable period last year[4] - Net sales, excluding the Alcohol Brands segment, on a foreign currency adjusted basis increased 1.9 percent in the 2025 first quarter[3] - Operating income increased 5.1 percent to $569.7 million, with a 7.9 percent increase to $591.2 million when excluding the Alcohol Brands segment[5][14] - Net income for the 2025 first quarter increased 0.2 percent to $443.0 million, with net income per diluted share rising 7.4 percent to $0.45[16] - Gross profit as a percentage of net sales improved to 56.5 percent from 54.1 percent in the 2024 first quarter[11] - Net sales for the three months ended March 31, 2025, were $1,854,558, a decrease of 2.3% compared to $1,899,098 in the same period of 2024[33] - Gross profit increased to $1,047,962, representing a gross profit margin of 56.5%, up from 54.1% in the prior year[33] - Operating income rose to $569,745, reflecting an operating margin of 30.7%, compared to 28.5% in the previous year[33] - Net income for the period was $442,993, which is 23.9% of net sales, slightly up from 23.3% in the same quarter of 2024[33] - Adjusted net sales, excluding the Alcohol Brands segment, were $1,877,202, a 1.9% increase from $1,843,028 in the previous year[38] - The Alcohol Brands segment reported net sales of $(34,703), down from $(56,070) in the same quarter of 2024[38] Segment Performance - Net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment decreased marginally to $1.72 billion, while on a foreign currency adjusted basis, it increased 2.2 percent[6] - Net sales for the Alcohol Brands segment decreased 38.1 percent to $34.7 million, primarily due to the launch of the Nasty Beast® Hard Tea product line in the previous year[8] Product Launches - The Company launched new products, including Monster Energy® Ultra Blue Hawaiian, which has rapidly become a top seller[21] Shareholder Returns and Debt Management - As of May 8, 2025, approximately $500.0 million remained available for share repurchase under the previously authorized program[25] - The Company repaid $175.0 million on its term loan facility during the first quarter and an additional $200.0 million in April 2025[26] Asset Management - Total assets increased to $8,227,028 as of March 31, 2025, compared to $7,719,089 at the end of 2024[35] - Cash and cash equivalents rose to $1,903,419, up from $1,533,287 at the end of the previous year[35] Sales Volume - Energy drink case sales reached 213,100 (in thousands), an increase from 211,430 in the prior year[33]

Core Insights - Monster Beverage Corporation reported a net sales decrease of 2.3% to $1.85 billion for the first quarter of 2025 compared to $1.90 billion in the same period last year, impacted by various factors including distributor ordering patterns and adverse weather conditions [3][15][10] - Despite the overall decline in net sales, the company experienced a 1.9% increase in net sales on a foreign currency adjusted basis, excluding the Alcohol Brands segment [2][15] - Gross profit margin improved to 56.5% from 54.1% year-over-year, attributed to pricing actions and supply chain optimization [9][17] Financial Performance - Net sales for the Monster Energy® Drinks segment decreased marginally to $1.72 billion, while on a foreign currency adjusted basis, it increased by 2.2% [4][10] - The Strategic Brands segment saw a 9.3% decline in net sales to $98.3 million, primarily due to timing differences in concentrate sales [5] - The Alcohol Brands segment experienced a significant 38.1% decrease in net sales to $34.7 million, largely due to the launch of the Nasty Beast® Hard Tea product line in the previous year [6] Operating Metrics - Operating income increased by 5.1% to $569.7 million, with a 7.9% increase to $591.2 million when excluding the Alcohol Brands segment [10][13] - Net income rose by 0.2% to $443.0 million, with diluted earnings per share increasing by 7.4% to $0.45 [14][39] - Operating expenses decreased to $478.2 million, representing 25.8% of net sales, compared to 25.5% in the previous year [11][12] Market Trends - Consumer retail sales for the energy drink category showed strong growth, with April 2025 sales being robust [16][18] - The company continues to focus on innovation, launching new products such as Monster Energy® Ultra Blue Hawaiian, which has quickly become a top seller [19] - Growth opportunities in household penetration and per capita consumption of energy drinks remain positive trends for the category [18] Balance Sheet and Cash Flow - As of March 31, 2025, total assets increased to $8.23 billion from $7.72 billion at the end of 2024 [32] - The company repaid $175 million on its term loan facility during the first quarter and an additional $200 million in April 2025, satisfying all outstanding borrowings [22] - Approximately $500 million remains available for share repurchase under the previously authorized program [21]

Core Viewpoint - Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) is expected to report first-quarter 2025 results on May 8, with anticipated revenue and earnings growth [1] Revenue and Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is $1.98 billion, reflecting a growth of 4.3% year-over-year [2] - The consensus estimate for earnings is 46 cents per share, indicating a rise of 9.5% from the previous year [2] - The consensus estimates have remained stable over the past 30 days [2] Performance Drivers - The quarterly performance is likely to benefit from strong demand in the energy drinks category, with net sales in this segment estimated at $1.8 billion, showing nearly 4% year-over-year growth [3] - The company is focusing on expanding its distribution network internationally, with net sales outside the U.S. estimated at $730 million, indicating a year-over-year rise of 5.3% [4] - Pricing actions, lower input costs, and improved cost efficiencies are expected to enhance margins [4] Challenges - The company faces high operating expenses due to increased costs related to sponsorships, endorsements, and payroll [5] - Adverse currency rates continue to pose challenges for the company [5] Earnings Prediction Model - The current model does not predict an earnings beat for Monster Beverage, with an Earnings ESP of -1.02% and a Zacks Rank of 3 [6] Valuation Metrics - Monster Beverage stock is trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings ratio of 31.38x, above the industry average of 18.73x and its median of 28.08x [7] - The stock has gained 11.3% over the past six months, compared to the industry's growth of 3.1% [7]

Core Viewpoint - Monster Beverage's stock faces challenges from a short report, but analysts and institutional trends indicate a bullish outlook despite concerns raised [4][7][10]. Group 1: Short Report and Market Response - Spruce Point's short report highlights increased competition, regulatory hurdles, and unsustainable international growth as concerns [4]. - The report is perceived more as a deterrent to investment rather than a strong argument for declining stock prices, with other market forces showing disagreement [4][10]. - Analysts have raised price targets, with over 50% rating the stock as a Moderate Buy or better, indicating a bullish bias [7]. Group 2: Price Targets and Institutional Activity - Fresh price targets range from $50 to $71, with a consensus suggesting a 5% gain in early May [8]. - Institutional ownership exceeds 70%, with buying activity outpacing selling at a rate of more than two to one in early Q2 [8]. Group 3: Financial Performance and Capital Returns - Monster Beverage's Q4 2024 results showed mixed performance, with revenue growing at a mid-single-digit pace and earnings nearly doubling [10]. - The company has a strong capital return strategy, focusing on share buybacks, which reduced share count by 4.2% in 2024 [11]. - The company maintains a healthy balance sheet with a net cash position and long-term debt leverage of less than 0.1x equity [11]. Group 4: Stock Trends and Future Outlook - The stock price has been range-bound for two years but is on track to set new highs, with early May price action nearing all-time highs [13]. - Potential risks include Q1 results and guidance updates, which could affect the stock's trajectory if business headwinds intensify [13].

Core Viewpoint - Wall Street analysts expect Monster Beverage to report a quarterly earnings per share (EPS) of $0.46, reflecting a year-over-year increase of 9.5%, with revenues projected at $1.98 billion, a 4.3% increase compared to the previous year [1]. Earnings Estimates - The consensus EPS estimate has been revised upward by 1% in the last 30 days, indicating a reassessment by covering analysts [2]. - Revisions to earnings estimates are crucial indicators for predicting investor actions regarding the stock, with empirical research showing a strong correlation between earnings estimate trends and short-term stock price performance [3]. Revenue Projections - Analysts project 'Net Sales- Alcohol Brands' to reach $50.18 million, indicating a year-over-year decline of 10.5% [5]. - 'Net Sales- Strategic Brands' are expected to be $101.81 million, reflecting a year-over-year decrease of 6.1% [5]. - 'Net Sales- Monster Energy Drinks' are forecasted to reach $1.80 billion, showing a year-over-year increase of 4% [5]. - 'Net Sales- Other' is projected at $5.95 million, indicating a year-over-year increase of 7.5% [6]. Stock Performance - Over the past month, shares of Monster Beverage have returned +5.2%, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite, which changed by +0.4% [7]. - Currently, Monster Beverage holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), suggesting its performance may align with the overall market in the near future [7].

Market Overview - The three major U.S. indexes (Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, Dow Jones Industrial Average) ended the past trading week positively, with gains of 3.52%, 2.86%, and 3.41% respectively [1] - Despite a gloomy economic outlook due to shifts in U.S. foreign tariff policy, weak economic data, and rising geopolitical tensions, investors are optimistic about strong earnings results and potential reductions in import duties by the Trump administration [1] Economic Indicators - The U.S. GDP contracted for the first time in three years, growing at an annualized rate of 0.3% in Q1 2025, down from 2.4% in the previous quarter [2] - Consumer sentiment index dropped to 52.2 in April from 57.0 in March, marking the lowest level since July 2022 [2] - The consumer confidence index fell to 86 in April from 92.9 in March [2] - The Personal Consumption Expenditure (PCE) index remained flat in March, while personal consumption and personal income grew by 0.7% and 0.5% respectively, exceeding expectations [2] Manufacturing and Labor Market - The manufacturing PMI for April contracted to 48.7% from 49% in March, indicating contraction in manufacturing activities [3] - Nonfarm payrolls increased by 177,000 in April, exceeding analyst expectations, while the unemployment rate remained unchanged at 4.2% [3] Stock Performance and Recommendations - ADMA Biologics, Inc. shares gained 48.6% since being upgraded to Zacks Rank 2 (Buy) on March 4, outperforming the S&P 500's 3% decrease [4] - Intrepid Potash, Inc. shares returned 28.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 2 on March 6, also outperforming the S&P 500 [5] - The Zacks Model Portfolio of Rank 1 stocks has outperformed the S&P 500 index by almost 13 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.9% [7] Focus List and Portfolios - Constellation Brands, Inc. gained 8.2% over the past 12 weeks, while Cheniere Energy, Inc. returned 2.3% during the same period [11] - The Zacks Focus List portfolio returned -2.96% in Q1 2025, compared to -4.30% for the S&P 500 index [12] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) returned +3.20% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -4.30% decline [16] Dividend and Defensive Stocks - Coca-Cola Company returned 13.5% over the past 12 weeks, while Quest Diagnostics Incorporated increased by 7.9% [18] - The Zacks Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) returned +5.74% in Q1 2025, outperforming the S&P 500 index's -2.41% pullback [19] Top 10 Stocks Performance - Primo Brands Corporation increased by 7.4% year-to-date, compared to the S&P 500 index's 3.3% decrease [22] - The Top 10 portfolio returned +62.98% in 2024, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 index's +25.04% return [22][23]

Company Overview - Monster Beverage Corporation is based in Corona, California, and operates primarily through its consolidated subsidiaries, focusing on the development and marketing of energy drinks and other beverages [3]. Upcoming Financial Results - The company will report its first-quarter results for the period ending March 31, 2025, on May 8, 2025, after the market closes [1]. - Co-Chief Executive Officers Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg will host an investor conference call on the same day at 2 p.m. Pacific Time to discuss the financial results and operations [1]. Investor Access - The investor conference call will be accessible to all interested investors via a live audio webcast on the company's website, with an archived version available for approximately one year for those unable to attend live [2].

Group 1 - The core viewpoint is that Monster Beverage is expected to experience accelerated growth due to improved underlying demand, pricing, and a favorable comparison base [1] - The analysis emphasizes a fundamentals-based approach to value investing, focusing on companies with long-term durability and robust balance sheets [1] - There is a recognition that investing in successful companies carries risks, particularly regarding valuation, but some situations may justify less concern about price in the short term due to significant growth potential [1]

Valuation - Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST) is currently trading at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 29.19x, which is a premium compared to the industry's average of 18.25x and the S&P 500's 18.56x, indicating that the stock is overvalued [1][2]. Price Performance - The stock has rallied 10.2% over the past six months, outperforming the industry's decline of 6% [3][5]. Business Performance - In the fourth quarter of 2024, the Monster Energy Drinks segment achieved net sales growth of 4.5% year over year, with a currency-adjusted increase of 7.6%, demonstrating the brand's resilience [7][9]. - The U.S. energy drink sales increased by 6.2% for the 13 weeks ended February 15, 2025, reinforcing Monster's strong position in its home market [9]. - The company has shown strong margin expansion due to improved cost efficiencies and operational improvements, with gross margin strengthening both year over year and sequentially [10]. Market Trends - The global energy drink category remains vibrant, with notable growth in international markets, particularly in Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Latin America [11]. - Monster Beverage's commitment to product innovation is a key driver of its success, with several new products launched in late 2024 and early 2025 [12]. Earnings Estimates - The Zacks Consensus Estimate projects a 13% year-over-year increase in earnings per share (EPS) for fiscal 2025, followed by an additional 11.6% increase in 2026, reflecting positive sentiment around the company [13]. Challenges - Despite strong performance in core energy drinks, the Alcohol Brands segment faced challenges, with sales declining due to weaker craft beer demand, leading to higher inventory reserves [14]. - Operating expenses rose year over year due to impairment charges related to the Alcohol Brands business and increased payroll, sponsorship, and legal expenses [15][16]. Investment Outlook - Monster Beverage is viewed as a compelling investment opportunity, supported by its strong brand portfolio and long-term growth strategies, despite trading at a premium [17].

CORONA, Calif., April 09, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Monster Beverage Corporation (NASDAQ:MNST) ("Monster" or the "Company") today issued the following statement in response to a report issued on April 8, 2025 by a short-selling firm, Spruce Point Capital Management, containing false and misleading characterizations about the Company's business from non-credible sources. Rodney Sacks and Hilton Schlosberg, Chairman and Vice Chairman, respectively, and Co-Chief Executive Officers of the Company, jointly stated ...