Core Viewpoint - The analyst downgraded PepsiCo, Inc. from a buy to a hold rating due to tariff headwinds impacting North America sales and eroding margins [1]. Summary by Relevant Sections - **Company Performance** - The downgrade reflects concerns over North America sales and margin erosion attributed to tariffs [1]. - **Market Conditions** - Tariff headwinds are identified as a significant factor affecting the company's performance in the North American market [1].

Performance Overview - The Jot ETF has achieved a 69% increase since its launch five years ago [1][2] - The ETF's performance is attributed to various momentum factors and its strategic usage as a core investment [2] Market Insights - Current market conditions are characterized by volatility, leading to a cautious outlook [3] - United Healthcare is highlighted as a safer investment option amidst market uncertainty [3] - There is an expectation of government-level resolutions in the healthcare sector, which could act as a catalyst for market movements [4] Notable Stocks - Monster Beverage is mentioned as a significant player within the consumer staples sector [4]

SAN FRANCISCO, Nov. 17, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A securities class action lawsuit has been filed against beverage company Primo Brands Corporation (NYSE: PRMB) in the wake of its troubled merger with BlueTriton Brands. The suit seeks to represent investors who purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of Primo Water between June 17, 2024 and November 8, 2024. The suit also seeks to represent investors who purchased or otherwise acquired the common stock of Primo Brands between November 11, 2024 and ...

Core Viewpoint - Vita Coco Company (NASDAQ: COCO) shares surged after the announcement that coconut water would likely benefit from reduced reciprocal tariffs on agricultural products [1][3]. Group 1: Tariff Changes - President Trump issued an Executive Order to eliminate reciprocal tariffs on certain agricultural products, including tropical fruits and fruit juices [3]. - Vita Coco expects its coconut water products to be exempt from these tariffs starting November 13, while a 40% ad valorem duty on imports from Brazil will remain [4]. - The average tariff rate for Vita Coco's products is projected to decrease to approximately 6%, down from a previous estimate of 23% [4]. Group 2: Financial Impact - The tariff relief is anticipated to enhance Vita Coco's growth, with net sales and earnings per share increasing by 37% and 25%, respectively, reaching $182 million and $0.40 in the third quarter [5]. - Vita Coco's Executive Chairman expressed appreciation for the administration's efforts, indicating that this change will help maintain accessible prices for consumers [5].

Group 1 - Vita Coco's stock surged over 10% following the announcement of eligibility for tariff exemptions on agricultural products [1] - The executive order signed by President Trump removed tariffs on products that cannot be grown in the U.S., benefiting companies like Vita Coco [1] - Hershey received an upgrade in its Relative Strength (RS) rating, indicating improved price performance, while Vita Coco also saw a rise in its RS rating to 83 [4] Group 2 - Celsius stock reached a new buy point before experiencing a retreat, with third-quarter earnings results expected in early November [2]

Core Insights - Wall Street continues its strong performance in 2025, but the consumer staples sector is lagging, with the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR (XLP) down 1.7% year to date, the only sector in the S&P 500 Index in the red [1][2][8] Consumer Staples Sector Overview - The consumer staples sector is facing challenges due to rising living costs, which are impacting household budgets and leading to cautious consumer spending, resulting in margin compression [2] - Despite the overall sector's poor performance, five consumer staples stocks are highlighted for their potential to perform well in 2026: PepsiCo Inc. (PEP), Monster Beverage Corp. (MNST), Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (LW), United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI), and Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. (OLLI) [3][8] Company-Specific Insights PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) - PepsiCo, with a Zacks Rank of 2, is benefiting from strong beverage performance in international markets, particularly in Mexico, Brazil, Germany, and Thailand [6] - The company is focused on localizing flavors, expanding price-pack options, and enhancing productivity through digital transformation, with expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 3.3% and 5.6% for next year [7][9] Monster Beverage Corp. (MNST) - Monster Beverage, ranked 1, is capitalizing on the expanding energy drinks market, with a 16% sales growth in its energy drinks segment in Q3 2025 [10][11] - The company has expected revenue and earnings growth rates of 9.3% and 12.8%, respectively, for next year, supported by improving margins and easing supply-chain pressures [11] Lamb Weston Holdings Inc. (LW) - Lamb Weston, also ranked 1, is driving growth through its "Focus to Win" strategy, emphasizing operational efficiency and innovation [12] - The company expects a 4.1% volume increase year over year in fiscal 2026, with revenue and earnings growth rates of 1.3% and -6.3% for the current year [13] United Natural Foods Inc. (UNFI) - United Natural Foods, ranked 1, is showing strong growth driven by demand for natural and organic products, with strategic initiatives enhancing efficiency and service quality [14][15] - The company has an expected revenue growth rate of 2.5% and over 100% earnings growth for the current year, with a significant 24.2% improvement in earnings estimates over the last 60 days [16] Ollie's Bargain Outlet Holdings Inc. (OLLI) - Ollie's, with a Zacks Rank of 2, is leveraging a cost-effective business model and strategic investments to support growth, expecting a 16.3% revenue increase and 16.2% adjusted earnings per share improvement in fiscal 2025 [17][18] - The company plans to expand its store network significantly, aiming for over 1,300 stores, with a consistent CAGR of 9.5% from fiscal 2020 to fiscal 2024 [19][20]

Market Performance - Major U.S. indexes showed mixed performance last week, with the Nasdaq Composite, S&P 500, and Dow Jones Industrial Average declining by 2.7%, 1.4%, and 0.5% respectively [1] - Investors are shifting focus from high-valuation technology and AI stocks to more defensive sectors due to market volatility [1] Federal Reserve and Economic Data - The end of a 43-day government standoff has reduced political risks, but delays in key economic data releases have created uncertainty for the Federal Reserve and investors [2] - The Fed is balancing economic growth and inflation, with inflation remaining above the 2% target and a resilient labor market casting doubt on December rate cut expectations [2] Zacks Research Performance - Zacks Research has provided guidance that led to significant stock performance, with Macy's shares increasing by 14.9% since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 18, outperforming the S&P 500's 2.2% increase [3][4] - Fresnillo plc also saw a 7.2% return since its upgrade to Zacks Rank 1 on September 19, compared to the S&P 500's 1.8% increase [4] Zacks Model Portfolio Returns - A hypothetical portfolio of Zacks Rank 1 stocks returned +8.64% in 2025 through September 1, outperforming the S&P 500's +7.60% [4] - The Zacks Model Portfolio has outperformed the S&P 500 index by over 12 percentage points since 1988, with an annualized average return of +23.8% compared to +11.3% for the S&P 500 [5] Specific Stock Performances - United Natural Foods, Inc. (UNFI) shares increased by 32.4% after its Zacks Recommendation was upgraded to Outperform [7] - Caterpillar Inc. (CAT) gained 35.9% over the past 12 weeks, while CACI International Inc. (CACI) returned 20.1% during the same period [10] Earnings Certain Admiral Portfolio (ECAP) - The ECAP returned -1.30% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain, and +2.72% year-to-date compared to the S&P 500's +14.84% [15] - The portfolio aims to minimize capital loss by holding shares of companies with a proven track record of earnings stability [16] Earnings Certain Dividend Portfolio (ECDP) - Johnson & Johnson (JNJ) returned 10.9% over the past 12 weeks, while UnitedHealth Group (UNH) increased by 5.9% [18] - The ECDP returned -0.01% in Q3 2025, underperforming the S&P 500's +8.1% gain [20] Top 10 Stock Portfolio - MasTec, Inc. (MTZ) has jumped 41.2% year-to-date, outperforming the S&P 500's 14.7% increase [22] - The Top 10 portfolio has produced a cumulative return of +2,553.1% since 2012, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's +545.2% [24]

Group 1 - Alta Equipment Group (ALTG) has been added to the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List due to a significant downward revision of its current year earnings estimate by approximately 48.6% over the last 60 days [1] - Chagee Holdings Limited - Sponsored ADR (CHA) is also on the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List, with its current year earnings estimate revised downward by 14.7% in the past 60 days [2] - Climb Global Solutions, Inc. (CLMB) has seen its current year earnings estimate revised downward by nearly 7.6% over the last 60 days, leading to its inclusion in the Zacks Rank 5 (Strong Sell) List [2]

PepsiCo has been a prime accumulation target of mine since late 2024, as also evidenced by Seeking Alpha coverage in November 2024 and July 2025 . Since then, the stock returnedExcellent academic Finance background and Finance professional with over five years of cumulative experience in Consulting & Audit Firms including a professional Valuation position, FP&A and Controlling positions, and Financial writing.My approach is mostly value-oriented. However, valuation is rarely an appropriate short- to mid-ter ...

Group 1 - Dividend investors typically focus on fundamentals rather than technical indicators for timing entries [1][2] - The use of technical indicators can complement fundamental analysis, providing a method to initiate positions [2] - Barchart offers tools to identify stocks with positive technical indicators, particularly focusing on Dividend Aristocrats, which are companies that have increased dividends for 25 or more years [3] Group 2 - The analysis utilized Barchart's Stock Screener with specific filters to identify attractive investment opportunities [4] - Coca-Cola Company (KO) is highlighted as a top dividend stock, known for its strong brand portfolio including Sprite, Fanta, and Minute Maid [5][7] - The overall buy signal for Coca-Cola is supported by positive technical indicators and strong buy ratings from analysts [6]