PEP Faces Wall of Resistance Following Earnings

Core Viewpoint - PepsiCo is set to report earnings, with expectations indicating a mixed but potentially stable outlook for the company amid challenges in profitability and market performance [1][4][7]. Earnings Expectations - Earnings per share (EPS) is expected to be $2.27, a slight decline from $2.31 in the same quarter last year, indicating a modest year-over-year decrease in profitability [3]. - Revenue is anticipated to be approximately $23.88 billion, reflecting slight growth year-over-year, but suggests potential margin pressures or increased costs affecting earnings [4]. Regional Performance - North American beverage revenue is projected to be around $7.24 billion, while food revenue is expected to exceed $6.5 billion [4]. - Latin America is expected to be a bright spot, with food revenue anticipated at $2.62 billion [5]. Market Performance - PepsiCo shares have declined about 8% year-to-date and 15% over the past 12 months, underperforming the broader beverage sector, which has seen a modest gain of over 1% [5][6]. - The company's performance has prompted scrutiny regarding its strategic direction and operational efficiencies [7]. Analyst Ratings - Analysts maintain a neutral outlook, with 31% holding a buy rating, 65% a hold rating, and 4% a sell rating. JP Morgan has lowered its price target to $157 from $151, indicating some upside potential [9][10].