Core Viewpoint - Coca-Cola HBC operates as a bottler and is economically subordinate to The Coca-Cola Company, but it can still benefit from this relationship, as indicated by its strong recent performance [1]. Group 1 - Coca-Cola HBC's relationship with The Coca-Cola Company allows it to leverage brand strength while maintaining its operational independence [1]. - The company adopts a long-term, buy-and-hold investment strategy, focusing on stocks that can sustainably generate high-quality earnings [1].

CNBC's Jim Cramer on Friday guided investors through next week on Wall Street, highlighting earnings reports from McCormick and Delta Air Lines as well as Dell's analyst meeting. He also suggested the economy outside of data center-related business is getting weaker and advocated for another rate cut from the Federal Reserve."We have a lot of anecdotal evidence of weakness, but not anything hardcore. We need to watch this, as we're about to head into earnings season, and the bulls could run into serious tro ...

Dividend Increase - Philip Morris International Inc. has raised its quarterly dividend by 8.9% to $1.47 per share, with the annualized dividend now totaling $5.88 per share, marking a total increase of 219.6% since 2008 [1][8] - The next dividend payment is scheduled for October 20, 2025, to shareholders on record as of October 3, 2025 [1] Growth Strategy - The company's long-term growth strategy is focused on its smoke-free transformation, with smoke-free products contributing 41% of total net revenues in Q2 2025, growing 15.2% year over year [2] - Key products driving this growth include IQOS, ZYN, and VEEV, positioning the company for sustainable growth and long-term value creation [2] Traditional Cigarette Business - Despite volume declines, the traditional cigarette business remains resilient, with combustible net revenues growing 2.1% in Q2, driven by price increases [3] - Marlboro achieved its highest quarterly market share since the 2008 spin-off, reinforcing the brand's strength and pricing leadership [3] Cost Efficiency Initiatives - The company achieved over $500 million in gross cost savings in the first half of the year through optimization initiatives, aiming for $2 billion in gross cost efficiencies between 2024 and 2026 [4] - By mid-2025, the company has already realized more than $1.2 billion in cost efficiencies, contributing to margin expansion [4] Earnings Outlook - Management has lifted its full-year adjusted earnings per share guidance to a range of $7.43-$7.56, indicating a growth of 13-15% [5] - This outlook reflects management's confidence in sustaining double-digit earnings growth despite ongoing regulatory and currency challenges [5] Stock Performance - Over the past six months, Philip Morris stock has risen 7.6%, compared to the industry's growth of 15.7% [10]

Core Insights - Celsius Holdings, Inc. has experienced an impressive stock increase of 875% over the past five years, significantly outperforming the S&P 500's 90% growth [1][14] - The company is backed by PepsiCo and is projected to achieve double-digit earnings and revenue growth, with a current Zacks Rank of 1 (Strong Buy) [2][12] - Celsius has seen a 130% stock increase in 2025, following a strong second quarter performance [1][8] Company Overview - Celsius specializes in functional energy drinks under its CELSIUS brand and has seen explosive sales growth due to effective marketing strategies and a consumer shift towards healthier options [3][4] - The company claims its CELSIUS drinks are a "better-for-you, zero-sugar alternative" to traditional energy drinks, aligning with health-conscious consumer trends [4] Market Position - Celsius is now the 3 energy drink brand in the U.S. and has expanded its portfolio through the $1.8 billion acquisition of Alani Nutrition [5][11] - The partnership with PepsiCo has strengthened, with PepsiCo increasing its stake in Celsius to approximately 11% and managing distribution for Celsius products in the U.S. and Canada [6][9][11] Financial Performance - Celsius's sales grew from $131 million in 2020 to $1.36 billion in 2024, with a forecasted sales increase of 74% in FY25 and 26% in FY26, reaching $2.97 billion [12][13] - The consensus earnings per share estimate for FY25 has increased by 33%, with adjusted earnings expected to grow by 56% in 2025 and 27% in 2026 [12][13] Valuation and Technical Analysis - Celsius stock is currently trading 36% below its all-time high and is on the verge of breaking out of a critical technical range [2][8][16] - The stock trades at a 70% discount to its highs, with a PEG ratio of 1.2, and 16 out of 20 brokerage recommendations are "Strong Buys" [16]

Industry Overview - The Zacks Beverages – Soft Drinks industry is facing challenges due to rising costs, tariff uncertainty, and supply-chain disruptions, which are negatively impacting margins and profitability [1][5][9] - The industry is currently ranked 184 out of over 250 Zacks industries, placing it in the bottom 25% and indicating dull near-term prospects [9][10][11] - The industry has underperformed compared to the Consumer Staples sector and the S&P 500 Index, with a collective loss of 8.6% over the past year [12] Consumer Trends - There is a growing demand for healthier beverages with natural ingredients, reduced sugar, and functional benefits, leading companies to pivot away from sugary sodas [2][6] - Plant-based beverages and functional drinks that promote hydration, energy, and mood support are gaining traction among health-conscious consumers [6] Digital Transformation and Innovation - The industry is leveraging digital transformation to enhance consumer engagement and capture evolving demand through investments in e-commerce and subscription models [3][7][8] - Companies are optimizing fulfillment strategies and expanding digital offerings to boost customer loyalty and secure recurring revenues [7][8] Company Performance - PepsiCo is expected to benefit from its strong global beverage and convenience food businesses, with a focus on cost-management and revenue-management initiatives amid inflationary pressures [19][20] - Zevia, focused on zero-sugar, naturally sweetened drinks, has seen a stock increase of 166.7% in the past year, with strong growth estimates for sales and earnings [23][24] - Coca-Cola is positioned for long-term growth through strategic transformation and digital investments, with a focus on the rapidly growing RTD category [27][28] - Monster Beverage continues to perform well in the energy drinks category, with a stock increase of 28.2% in the past year and positive growth estimates [30][31] - Keurig Dr Pepper is benefiting from momentum in the Refreshment Beverages segment, with growth estimates for sales and earnings, despite a stock decline of 22.4% in the past year [34][35]

Core Insights - Verizon Communications Inc. has elected Jennifer K. Mann, an Executive Vice President at The Coca-Cola Company, to its Board of Directors, effective immediately [1][2]. Company Overview - Verizon generated revenues of $134.8 billion in 2024, serving millions of customers and nearly all of the Fortune 500 [5]. Board Composition - With the addition of Ms. Mann, the Verizon board now consists of 11 directors, bringing a diverse mix of perspectives and expertise [2]. Ms. Mann's Background - Ms. Mann has 28 years of experience at Coca-Cola, where she has held various leadership roles, including President of the North America Operating Unit and President of Global Ventures [2][3]. - She has been responsible for overseeing significant acquisitions and investments, including the Costa Coffee acquisition and the investment in Monster Beverage Corp [3]. Educational and Community Involvement - Ms. Mann holds a B.A. in Accounting from Georgia State University and is involved with several charitable organizations, reflecting her commitment to community and education [4].

Core Insights - Zacks Premium provides various tools for investors to enhance their stock market strategies and confidence [1] - The Zacks Style Scores are designed to help investors select stocks with the highest potential to outperform the market in the short term [2] Zacks Style Scores Overview - Stocks are rated based on value, growth, and momentum characteristics, with scores ranging from A to F, where A indicates the highest potential for outperformance [3] - The Value Score focuses on identifying undervalued stocks using financial ratios like P/E and Price/Sales [4] - The Growth Score emphasizes a company's financial health and future growth potential, analyzing projected and historical earnings [5] - The Momentum Score identifies stocks with favorable price trends, utilizing recent price changes and earnings estimate revisions [6] - The VGM Score combines the three Style Scores to highlight stocks with attractive value, growth forecasts, and momentum [6] Zacks Rank and Performance - The Zacks Rank is a proprietary model that uses earnings estimate revisions to simplify portfolio building [7] - Stocks rated 1 (Strong Buy) have historically achieved an average annual return of +23.75% since 1988, significantly outperforming the S&P 500 [8] - Investors are encouraged to select stocks with a Zacks Rank of 1 or 2 and Style Scores of A or B for optimal success [10] Company Spotlight: Monster Beverage Corporation - Monster Beverage Corporation, based in Corona, CA, is a prominent marketer and distributor of energy drinks [12] - Currently rated 3 (Hold) on the Zacks Rank, Monster Beverage has a VGM Score of B [12] - The company is appealing to growth investors, with a Growth Style Score of A and a projected year-over-year earnings growth of 17.3% for the current fiscal year [13] - Recent upward revisions in earnings estimates by analysts indicate a positive outlook, with the Zacks Consensus Estimate rising to $1.90 per share [13]

Core Insights - The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. is expected to report declines in both net sales and earnings for the fourth quarter of fiscal 2025, with net sales estimated at $3.4 billion, reflecting a 12.2% decrease year-over-year [1][9] - The earnings consensus for the fourth quarter has risen by 2 cents to 8 cents per share, indicating an 87.5% decline compared to the previous year [2][9] - The company is facing challenges due to weak consumer sentiment in Mainland China and a downturn in global travel retail, impacting the prestige beauty sector [3][4] Sales and Earnings Expectations - The anticipated organic net sales decline for the fourth quarter is projected at 13.4%, following a 28% drop in Asia travel retail during the third quarter [4] - Retailer destocking across various regions, including Asia-Pacific and North America, is expected to further pressure sales despite gradual improvements in retail trends outside of travel retail [4] Operating Expenses and Profitability - The Estee Lauder Companies has experienced a significant increase in operating expenses, which rose by 580 basis points as a percentage of sales in the fiscal third quarter, primarily due to investments aimed at growth [5] - Any potential deleverage in operating expenses may negatively impact profit margins [5] Strategic Initiatives - The company is implementing a Profit Recovery and Growth Plan focused on margin expansion, targeted investments, and process simplification to enhance agility [6] - An expanded presence in high-growth digital channels and positioning in emerging markets are seen as positive factors that may support performance in the fourth quarter [6] Earnings Prediction - The company's earnings model suggests a likelihood of an earnings beat, supported by a positive Earnings ESP of +36.11% and a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold) [7]

Core Insights - Monster Beverage reported revenue of $2.11 billion for the quarter ended June 2025, reflecting an 11.1% increase year-over-year and a surprise of +1.35% over the Zacks Consensus Estimate of $2.08 billion [1] - The company's EPS for the quarter was $0.52, up from $0.41 in the same quarter last year, resulting in an EPS surprise of +8.33% compared to the consensus estimate of $0.48 [1] Revenue Breakdown - Geographic Revenue from outside the United States was $864.2 million, exceeding the average estimate of $837.91 million, with a year-over-year increase of +23% [4] - Geographic Revenue from the U.S. and Canada reached $1.3 billion, slightly above the estimated $1.28 billion, marking an 8.6% increase compared to the previous year [4] - Net Sales from Alcohol Brands were $37.97 million, slightly below the average estimate of $38.15 million, showing a year-over-year decline of -8.6% [4] - Net Sales from Strategic Brands amounted to $129.89 million, surpassing the estimated $124.89 million, with an 18.9% increase year-over-year [4] - Net Sales from Monster Energy Drinks were $1.94 billion, exceeding the estimated $1.85 billion, reflecting an 11.2% increase compared to the same quarter last year [4] - Net Sales from Other categories were $6.41 million, below the average estimate of $7.25 million, representing a year-over-year decline of -8.5% [4] Stock Performance - Over the past month, Monster Beverage shares have returned +2.8%, outperforming the Zacks S&P 500 composite's +1.9% change [3] - The stock currently holds a Zacks Rank 3 (Hold), indicating expected performance in line with the broader market in the near term [3]

Group 1: Honeywell International - Honeywell is undergoing a breakup that is expected to create value for investors by allowing its constituent parts to trade as stand-alone companies [4][7] - The breakup is driven by the different valuation methods for aerospace and industrial companies, with Honeywell Aerospace being the largest of the three new companies [5] - The remaining company, Honeywell Automation, will focus on building and industrial automation, aligning with industry trends towards software-driven automation [6] Group 2: American Express - American Express is approaching an all-time high due to its strong performance, catering to affluent customers despite pressures on consumer spending [9] - The company has a diverse revenue stream from card fees and transaction fees, which contributes to its robust business model [10] - American Express reported a 2% net write-off rate in Q2 2025, significantly lower than the industry average of 4.44%, indicating effective risk management [11][12] - Over the past three years, American Express stock has increased by 130.3%, with a current P/E ratio of 21.8, reflecting its strong business fundamentals [14] Group 3: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola's stock has recently retreated about 6% from its peak of $74.38, but it still offers a forward-yielding dividend of 2.9% [16] - The company has diversified its portfolio through acquisitions, positioning itself well to adapt to changing consumer preferences towards healthier options [17] - Coca-Cola is recognized as a Dividend King, having increased its dividend for 63 consecutive years, showcasing its commitment to returning capital to shareholders [18] - Current valuation suggests a discount compared to its five-year average cash flow multiple, making it an attractive investment option [19]