Group 1 - Cervecerias Unidas (CCU) has gained approximately 25.2% year-to-date, outperforming the average gain of 5% in the Consumer Staples sector [4] - The Zacks Rank for Cervecerias Unidas is currently 2 (Buy), indicating a positive outlook based on earnings estimates and revisions [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for CCU's full-year earnings has increased by 10.5% over the past quarter, reflecting improving analyst sentiment [3] Group 2 - Cervecerias Unidas belongs to the Beverages - Alcohol industry, which consists of 17 individual stocks and is currently ranked 84 in the Zacks Industry Rank [5] - Stocks in the Beverages - Alcohol industry have gained about 9.4% year-to-date, indicating that CCU is performing better than its industry peers [5] - Another stock in the Consumer Staples sector, Monster Beverage, has a year-to-date return of 18.6% and also holds a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [4][6]

Core Insights - Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP) is currently undervalued with a forward 12-month P/E ratio of 16.04X, lower than the industry average of 18.31X and the sector average of 17.39X [1][4] - KDP shares have appreciated 5.9% in the last three months, outperforming the Zacks Beverages - Soft Drinks industry's growth of 1% and the broader Consumer Staples industry's return of 3.5% [4] Valuation Picture - The stock offers compelling value to investors seeking exposure to the consumer staple sector [4] Performance Analysis - KDP's strong performance in Q1 2025 is attributed to its consumer-focused innovation model, which has driven market share gains in key categories such as liquid refreshment beverages, K-Cup pods, and brewers [6][10] - The company achieved a 4.8% year-over-year increase in net sales, or 6.4% on a constant-currency basis, in Q1 2025, with a 3.6% rise in volume/mix and a 2.8% benefit from favorable pricing [10] Segment Growth - The U.S. Refreshment Beverages segment saw sales reach $2.32 billion in Q1 2024, marking an 11% year-over-year increase, supported by an 8% rise in volume/mix and a 3% increase in net price realization [11] - Strong performance in liquid refreshment beverages was driven by brands like Peñafiel and core offerings such as Dr Pepper and Crush, with the acquisition of GHOST enhancing the energy drink portfolio [12] Future Outlook - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KDP's 2025 earnings has increased by a penny in the past 30 days, indicating positive sentiment [13] - For 2025, the consensus estimates imply 5.61% and 6.25% year-over-year growth in sales and EPS, respectively [13] Strategic Initiatives - KDP's growth reflects a strategic combination of innovation, brand activity, and strong commercial execution, with a focus on cost efficiency and disciplined capital management [7] - The company has strengthened its distribution network with new territory expansion in Tennessee and enhanced its Direct Store Delivery network in Mexico [9]

Core Viewpoint - Coca-Cola's stock has recently slipped below its 50-day simple moving average (SMA), indicating a potential short-term bearish trend, with a notable decline of 3.9% since the earnings report on April 29, 2025 [1][4][25]. Stock Performance - KO stock closed at $69.53, below the 50-day SMA of $70.88, and has been on a downtrend since May 9, 2025 [1][4]. - The stock has lost 4% in the past month, slightly outperforming the Zacks Beverages – Soft Drinks industry's decline of 4.7% but underperforming the broader Zacks Consumer Staples sector's decline of 1.4% and the S&P 500's growth of 4.4% [4][5]. - KO stock reflects a 6.5% discount from its 52-week high of $74.38 and a 14.7% premium to its 52-week low of $60.62 [8]. Financial Performance - The first quarter of 2025 saw a 2% decline in revenues and a modest 1% growth in earnings per share (EPS), with underwhelming results across most operating segments except North America and EMEA [9]. - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO's 2025 revenues and EPS implies year-over-year growth of 2.3% and 2.8%, respectively, with estimates for 2026 suggesting 5.2% and 8.2% growth [18]. Competitive Positioning - Coca-Cola's performance is weaker than competitor Monster Beverage, which rallied 4.8% in the past month, but it outperformed PepsiCo and Keurig Dr Pepper, which declined by 10.3% and 6.1%, respectively [5]. - KO trades at a forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 22.8X, significantly higher than industry peers like PepsiCo and Keurig, which trade at 16.37X and 16.04X, respectively [20][21]. Strategic Initiatives - Coca-Cola is focusing on innovation and strategic expansion, diversifying its portfolio to include healthier options and entering the ready-to-drink alcoholic beverage market [11][13]. - The company aims to balance volume growth with price/mix optimization while anticipating a tapering impact from inflation-driven pricing pressures [14]. Market Outlook - Despite short-term headwinds, Coca-Cola's strong market leadership, diversified product portfolio, and strategic emphasis on innovation support its long-term growth trajectory [26]. - The company's proactive approach to navigating economic volatility is crucial for sustaining performance, making it an attractive option for long-term investors [27].

Core Insights - Monster Beverage reported $1.85 billion in revenue for Q1 2025, a year-over-year decline of 2.4% and a surprise of -6.40% compared to the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $1.98 billion [1] - The EPS for the same period was $0.47, an increase from $0.42 a year ago, with an EPS surprise of +2.17% against the consensus estimate of $0.46 [1] Revenue Breakdown - Net Sales from Alcohol Brands were $34.70 million, significantly below the estimated $50.18 million, reflecting a year-over-year decline of -38.1% [4] - Net Sales from Strategic Brands totaled $98.33 million, compared to the estimated $101.81 million, marking a year-over-year decrease of -9.3% [4] - Net Sales from Monster Energy Drinks reached $1.72 billion, slightly below the $1.80 billion estimate, with a year-over-year change of -0.8% [4] - Net Sales from Other categories were $5.98 million, slightly above the estimated $5.95 million, showing a year-over-year increase of +8% [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, Monster Beverage shares returned +4.1%, while the Zacks S&P 500 composite increased by +13.7% [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Core Insights - Monster Beverage reported quarterly earnings of $0.47 per share, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $0.46 per share, and up from $0.42 per share a year ago, representing an earnings surprise of 2.17% [1] - The company posted revenues of $1.85 billion for the quarter, missing the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 6.40%, and down from $1.9 billion year-over-year [2] - The stock has increased approximately 15.2% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with a -4.3% decline in the S&P 500 [3] Earnings Outlook - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is $0.47 on revenues of $2.05 billion, and for the current fiscal year, it is $1.84 on revenues of $7.99 billion [7] - The estimate revisions trend for Monster Beverage is mixed, leading to a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Industry Context - The Beverages - Soft drinks industry is currently in the top 20% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to the bottom 50% [8]

Core Viewpoint - Westrock Coffee Company reported a quarterly loss of $0.22 per share, which was worse than the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.17, marking a 29.41% earnings surprise [1] Group 1: Financial Performance - The company posted revenues of $213.8 million for the quarter ended March 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 4.53%, compared to $192.5 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Westrock Coffee has surpassed consensus EPS estimates only once [2] - The current consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.15 on revenues of $237.27 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$0.37 on revenues of $1.02 billion [7] Group 2: Stock Performance and Outlook - Westrock Coffee shares have declined approximately 5% since the beginning of the year, while the S&P 500 has decreased by 4.3% [3] - The company's earnings outlook and management commentary will be crucial for future stock movements [4] - The estimate revisions trend for Westrock Coffee is mixed, resulting in a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market [6] Group 3: Industry Context - The Beverages - Soft drinks industry, to which Westrock Coffee belongs, is currently in the top 20% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable industry outlook [8]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Reported net sales for Q1 2025 were $1,850 million, a decrease of 2.3% compared to $1,900 million in Q1 2024 [9] - Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 56.5% in Q1 2025 from 54.1% in Q1 2024, driven by pricing actions and supply chain optimization [9] - Operating income for Q1 2025 increased by 5.1% to $569.7 million from $542 million in Q1 2024 [10] - Net income for Q1 2025 was $443 million, slightly up from $442 million in Q1 2024 [11] - Diluted earnings per share increased by 7.4% to $0.45 in Q1 2025 from $0.42 in Q1 2024 [11] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales of Monster energy drink increased by 8.7% in the thirteen-week period ending April 26, 2025 [14] - Sales of Reign decreased by 9.9%, while NOS increased by 0.8% and Full Throttle decreased by 1.5% [14] - The Alcohol Brands segment saw net sales of $34.7 million in Q1 2025, a decrease of approximately 38.1% compared to the previous year [34] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., the energy drink category grew by 10% in the thirteen weeks ending April 26, 2025 [6] - In EMEA, the energy drink category grew by approximately 13.7% on an FX neutral basis [7] - In APAC, the energy drink category grew by approximately 13.6% on an FX neutral basis [8] - In Latin America, the energy drink category grew by approximately 15.7% on an FX neutral basis [8] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its presence in non-Nielsen measured channels and optimizing its supply chain [41][42] - Plans for further innovation in the Monster Brewing portfolio and the rollout of Predator and Fury brands in international markets are underway [43][44] - The company is exploring opportunities for its alcohol products in certain international jurisdictions [43] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management expressed optimism about the long-term prospects for the Monster brand, particularly in China and India [31][38] - The energy category continues to grow globally, with increasing household penetration and per capita consumption [41] - Management noted that April 2025 sales were approximately 16.7% higher than the comparable April 2024 sales [39] Other Important Information - The effective tax rate for Q1 2025 was 23.4%, slightly down from 23.5% in Q1 2024 [11] - The company has approximately $500 million remaining for stock repurchase under the previously authorized program [38] - Management indicated that the tariff landscape is complicated but does not expect current tariffs to have a material impact on operating results [13] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of supply chain optimization on Q1 numbers - Management acknowledged that Q1 was impacted by bottler distributor ordering patterns and significant closure days of distribution centers [50] Question: Macro impact on retail sales trends - Management noted that consumer demand remains strong, with positive trends in retail takeaway reflected in Nielsen numbers [55][56] Question: Future gross margin expectations - Management indicated that while Q1 margins were strong, they do not expect the same level of margin in Q2 due to rising costs [65] Question: Top line sales versus internal expectations - Management confirmed that there was more innovation in Q1 than in Q2, with some shipment timing impacts to consider [69] Question: Pricing dynamics and market share satisfaction - Management stated that pricing decisions are based on various factors and emphasized the importance of regaining market share [76][77]

Financial Data and Key Metrics Changes - Net sales for Q1 2025 were reported at $1,850 million, a decrease of 2.3% compared to $1,900 million in Q1 2024 [7] - Gross profit as a percentage of net sales increased to 56.5% from 54.1% in the previous year [8] - Operating income increased by 5.1% to $569.7 million from $542 million in Q1 2024 [9] - Net income for Q1 2025 was $443 million, slightly up from $442 million in Q1 2024 [10] - Diluted earnings per share increased by 7.4% to $0.45 from $0.42 in the previous year [10] Business Line Data and Key Metrics Changes - Sales of Monster energy drinks increased by 8.7%, while Reign sales decreased by 9.9% [13] - The Alcohol Brands segment saw a significant decline, with net sales down 38.1% to $34.7 million compared to the previous year [32] Market Data and Key Metrics Changes - In the U.S., the energy drink category grew by 10% year-over-year [5] - In EMEA, the energy drink category grew approximately 13.7% on an FX neutral basis [6] - In APAC, the category grew by 13.6% on an FX neutral basis [6] - In Latin America, the energy drink category grew by 15.7% on an FX neutral basis [6] - Monster's market share in the U.S. convenience and gas channel decreased from 37.1% to 36.4% [14][15] Company Strategy and Development Direction - The company is focused on expanding its product offerings and optimizing supply chains to enhance gross profit [8][9] - Plans for further innovation in the Monster Brewing segment are underway, with new products being launched in various markets [33][34] - The company is optimistic about long-term prospects in China and India, particularly with the rollout of the Predator brand [30][36] Management's Comments on Operating Environment and Future Outlook - Management noted that consumer demand remains strong, with positive trends in retail takeaway [39][40] - The company is optimistic about the energy drink category's growth, citing increasing household penetration and per capita consumption [39] - Management acknowledged challenges from foreign currency exchange rates and adverse weather impacting sales [7][10] Other Important Information - The company has approximately $500 million remaining for stock repurchase under its authorized program [36] - The juice plant at the AFF facility in Ireland is expected to be operational by mid-year 2025 [41] Q&A Session Summary Question: Impact of supply chain optimization on Q1 numbers - Management explained that Q1 was impacted by bottler distributor ordering patterns and distribution center closures, but April showed robust sales [47][48] Question: Macro impact on the energy category - Management indicated that the energy category remains healthy, with positive trends in both the U.S. and international markets [52][54] Question: Future gross margin expectations - Management expects that the second quarter margin will not be as high as Q1 due to rising costs from the Midwest premium [62] Question: Innovation pipeline and shipment timing - More innovation was rolled out in Q1 compared to Q2, with continued acceleration in distribution expected [66] Question: Pricing dynamics and market share satisfaction - Management stated that pricing decisions are based on market opportunities and emphasized the importance of regaining market share [72][73]

Group 1 - Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC (RBGLY) is currently outperforming its peers in the Consumer Staples sector, with a year-to-date gain of approximately 10.8% compared to the sector average of 5.4% [4] - The Zacks Rank for Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC is 1 (Strong Buy), indicating a strong potential for outperformance based on earnings estimate revisions and improving earnings outlooks [3] - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for RBGLY's full-year earnings has increased by 7.5% over the past quarter, reflecting stronger analyst sentiment and an improving earnings outlook [4] Group 2 - Reckitt Benckiser Group PLC belongs to the Soap and Cleaning Materials industry, which is currently ranked 1 in the Zacks Industry Rank [5] - The Consumer Staples group, which includes Reckitt Benckiser, is ranked 11 within the Zacks Sector Rank, which evaluates 16 different sector groups [2] - Another notable stock in the Consumer Staples sector is Reeds (REED), which has seen a significant year-to-date increase of 175.1% and has a Zacks Rank of 2 (Buy) [5][6]

Core Viewpoint - Zevia reported a quarterly loss of $0.06 per share, outperforming the Zacks Consensus Estimate of a loss of $0.10, marking a 40% earnings surprise [1][2] Financial Performance - The company achieved revenues of $38.02 million for the quarter ended March 2025, exceeding the Zacks Consensus Estimate by 3.04%, although this represents a decline from $38.8 million in the same quarter last year [2] - Over the last four quarters, Zevia has surpassed consensus EPS estimates three times and topped revenue estimates three times as well [2] Stock Performance - Zevia shares have declined approximately 51.8% since the beginning of the year, contrasting with the S&P 500's decline of 4.7% [3] - The current Zacks Rank for Zevia is 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the market in the near future [6] Earnings Outlook - The consensus EPS estimate for the upcoming quarter is -$0.04 on revenues of $43.17 million, and for the current fiscal year, it is -$0.24 on revenues of $160.21 million [7] - The trend of estimate revisions for Zevia is currently mixed, which may change following the recent earnings report [6] Industry Context - The Beverages - Soft drinks industry, to which Zevia belongs, is currently ranked in the top 20% of over 250 Zacks industries, suggesting a favorable outlook compared to lower-ranked industries [8]