MONTERREY, Mexico, July 28, 2025 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Fomento Económico Mexicano, S.A.B. de C.V. ("FEMSA") (NYSE: FMX; BMV: FEMSAUBD, FEMSAUB) announced today its operational and financial results for the second quarter of 2025. | | Total Revenues | | | Gross Profit | | Income from Operations | Same-Store Sales | | | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | --- | | As Reported | 2Q25 | YTD25 | 2Q25 | YTD25 | 2Q25 | YTD25 | 2Q25 | YTD25 | | FEMSA Consolidated | 6.3% | 8.3% | 4.2% | 9.2% | 1.2% | 2.6% | ...

Core Insights - Both PepsiCo and Coca-Cola have reported anemic growth due to declining demand for soda and snack foods, with Q2 revenue increases of 1% attributed to price hikes offsetting slight sales drops [1][7] - Coca-Cola's Q2 net income rose to $3.8 billion from $2.4 billion year-over-year, while PepsiCo's net income fell to $1.3 billion from $3.1 billion, primarily due to a $1.9 billion impairment charge [8][9] - PepsiCo offers a higher dividend yield of approximately 3.8% compared to Coca-Cola's 2.9%, making it potentially more attractive for income-focused investors [12][16] Company Comparisons - Both companies are diversified beverage holdings with a range of products including juices, coffees, teas, and waters, and have entered the alcohol market with new offerings [4][5] - The shift towards healthier ingredients has impacted sales, particularly for PepsiCo, which is responding by producing cane sugar versions of its flagship colas [6] - Despite Coca-Cola's recent stock outperformance, PepsiCo's lower forward P/E ratio of 18 compared to Coca-Cola's 23 suggests it may be a more cost-effective investment [11][15] Investment Considerations - Both companies are considered Dividend Kings, having a long history of annual dividend increases, but PepsiCo's stronger yield may appeal more to dividend investors [12][14] - The iconic brands of both companies are expected to drive sales growth in the long term, but PepsiCo's revenue diversification from its snack business provides an additional advantage [15][16] - Overall, PepsiCo appears to offer a slight edge for shareholders due to its higher dividend returns and lower valuation metrics [14][16]

Core Viewpoint - Coca-Cola is experiencing unusual popularity among investors this year, outperforming the market, primarily due to its stability and protection against tariffs, despite the overall market rise [1][2]. Company Performance - Coca-Cola is the largest beverage company globally, with trailing-12-month sales of $47 billion, but it is not considered a growth stock [4]. - The company has historically underperformed the market over the past 30 years, with notable exceptions during market downturns when it benefited from a flight to safety [5]. - Recent restructuring has improved Coca-Cola's position, allowing it to report record figures again, similar to its performance a decade ago [8]. Financial Metrics - In the second quarter of 2025, Coca-Cola reported a 1% year-over-year revenue increase, with organic revenue growth of 5% [9]. - The operating margin improved to 34.1%, up from 21.3% the previous year, while adjusted operating margin rose to 34.7% from 32.8% [9]. - Comparable earnings per share (EPS) increased by 4% to $0.87, surpassing Wall Street's expectations of $0.84 [9]. - Revenue growth aligns with the company's long-term goal of 4% to 6%, but EPS fell short of the 7% to 9% target [10]. - Adjusted operating income increased by 15%, exceeding the long-term goal of 6% to 8% [10]. Valuation - The stock currently trades at a price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio of 27, slightly above its three-year average, indicating that significant growth is needed to justify a higher valuation [11]. Investment Appeal - Despite the narrowing gap with the market, Coca-Cola's stock is up 13% this year compared to the market's 8% [12]. - The primary attractions for investors are the stock's security and value, bolstered by a reliable dividend that has been raised for 63 consecutive years, yielding 2.9% [13].

Company Performance - Hershey's stock closed at $187.12, reflecting a +1.75% increase from the previous day, outperforming the S&P 500's daily gain of 0.4% [1] - Over the past month, Hershey's shares gained 10.12%, significantly surpassing the Consumer Staples sector's loss of 0.48% and the S&P 500's gain of 4.61% [1] Upcoming Earnings - Hershey is set to disclose its earnings on July 30, 2025, with an expected EPS of $1.01, indicating a 20.47% decrease from the same quarter last year [2] - The consensus estimate for revenue is $2.55 billion, representing a 22.82% increase compared to the same quarter of the previous year [2] Full Year Estimates - For the full year, analysts expect earnings of $5.77 per share and revenue of $11.52 billion, reflecting changes of -38.42% and +2.88% respectively from the previous year [3] Analyst Forecast Revisions - Recent revisions to analyst forecasts for Hershey are important as they indicate short-term business trends, with upward revisions suggesting positive sentiment towards the company's operations [4] Zacks Rank and Valuation - Hershey currently holds a Zacks Rank of 3 (Hold), with a recent 3.06% decline in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate [6] - The company has a Forward P/E ratio of 31.9, which is a premium compared to its industry's Forward P/E of 24.4 [6] Industry Metrics - Hershey's PEG ratio stands at 6.93, higher than the Food - Confectionery industry's average PEG ratio of 4.96 [7] - The Food - Confectionery industry ranks in the top 41% of all industries, with a current Zacks Industry Rank of 99 [7][8]

Core Insights - The competition between The Coca-Cola Company (KO) and PepsiCo Inc. (PEP) is a long-standing rivalry in the global beverage market, with Coca-Cola known for its classic carbonated drinks and PepsiCo offering a diversified portfolio that includes snacks and other beverages [1][2] Group 1: Coca-Cola (KO) - Coca-Cola commands a leading share in the soft drinks industry with $30 billion brands and has achieved value share gains for 17 consecutive quarters [3][4] - The company's strategy focuses on affordability, digital engagement, and premium innovation, utilizing bold marketing campaigns and AI-driven tools to enhance efficiency and engagement [5][6] - Coca-Cola adapts quickly to market changes and consumer preferences, leveraging local sourcing and strategic hedging to maintain momentum despite global challenges [7] Group 2: PepsiCo (PEP) - PepsiCo's investment case is supported by its unmatched scale and diversified portfolio, with strong market share growth in beverages, particularly through products like Pepsi Zero Sugar [8][9] - The company employs a multipronged strategy that includes refining price-pack architecture, expanding into functional beverages, and enhancing its international presence [10][11] - PepsiCo has seen upward revisions in earnings estimates, reflecting optimism about future profitability, and its "One North America" initiative aims to integrate operations for better efficiency [12][23] Group 3: Stock Performance & Valuation - In the past three months, PepsiCo's stock has increased by 8%, while Coca-Cola's stock has declined by 3.8%, indicating a shift in investor sentiment [14] - PepsiCo trades at a lower forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 17.66X compared to Coca-Cola's 22.26X, making it more attractively priced [15][17] - Earnings estimates for PepsiCo have risen by 1.7% and 1.6% for 2025 and 2026, respectively, while Coca-Cola's estimates have remained mostly unchanged [20][21]

Product Analysis - Coca-Cola's new cane sugar line compared to Mexican Coke [1] - Article discusses the potential differences and quality aspects of the new product line [1]

Core Insights - The Coca-Cola Company reported a 5% organic revenue growth and a 4% year-over-year increase in comparable earnings per share for Q2 2025, despite a 1% decline in volume due to currency headwinds [1][9] Financial Performance - Comparable operating margin expanded by 190 basis points year-over-year, supported by productivity initiatives and favorable investment timing, despite a negative volume growth [3][4] - Comparable gross margin increased by approximately 80 basis points, with one-third of the underlying expansion attributed to faster realization of productivity initiatives [4] Strategic Execution - The company achieved seventeen consecutive quarters of global value share gains, with management emphasizing the importance of rapid, data-driven adjustments in response to market conditions [5][6] - Operational agility was highlighted as a key factor in defending the growth algorithm, allowing the company to mitigate external volatility [6] Portfolio Innovation - The Fairlife brand experienced double-digit volume growth, with capacity constraints expected to be alleviated by the expansion of the New York facility in early 2026 [7][8] - The company’s $30 billion-brand portfolio and disciplined innovation pipeline are designed to meet evolving consumer preferences and capture share in high-growth premium categories [7][8] Future Outlook - Management reaffirmed full-year 2025 organic revenue growth guidance of 5%-6% and raised comparable currency-neutral earnings per share growth guidance to about 8% [9] - Positive volume growth is anticipated in the second half of 2025 as transitory impacts from Q2 fade, with robust free cash flow generation of $3.9 billion in Q2, up $600 million year-over-year [10]

Coca-Cola FEMSA (NYSE: KOF ) is the largest Coca-Cola system bottler in the world by volume. It operates in 10 countries in Latin America, with more than 2 million sales outlets and leading brands across all geographies.I am an individual investor with over five years of experience in personal investing, holding a PhD in Economics from UCEMA. My investment approach focuses on value companies with solid long-term potential. I share my knowledge with the community by offering analysis to support individual in ...

Core Insights - Coca-Cola Consolidated, Inc. reported solid second quarter results with a focus on top-line growth and margin management, leading to steady profit growth and substantial cash flow [2][3] - The company experienced a volume decline of 0.8% in Q2 2025 and 3.5% in the first half of 2025, attributed to two fewer selling days compared to the previous year [3][4] - Net sales increased by 3.3% to $1.9 billion in Q2 2025 and by 1.4% to $3.4 billion in the first half of 2025, driven by growth in both Sparkling and Still beverage categories [4][5] Financial Performance - Gross profit for Q2 2025 was $742.5 million, a 3.6% increase from Q2 2024, with a gross margin of 40.0% [4][6] - Income from operations in Q2 2025 rose to $272.1 million, a 5.0% increase year-over-year, while the operating margin improved to 14.7% [8][9] - Net income for Q2 2025 was $187.4 million, an increase of 8.4% compared to the same quarter in 2024 [9] Beverage Sales Breakdown - Sparkling beverage sales in Q2 2025 reached $1.08 billion, up 3.0% from Q2 2024, while Still beverage sales increased by 4.8% to $626.1 million [4][5] - The decline in volume was noted in Coca-Cola Original taste, while zero-sugar and flavored offerings saw solid growth [3][5] Cost Management - Selling, delivery, and administrative (SD&A) expenses increased by 2.8% in Q2 2025, primarily due to higher labor costs, but as a percentage of net sales, they decreased to 25.4% [7][8] - The company has made ongoing investments in supply chain capabilities to respond to changing consumer preferences for value [7] Cash Flow and Investments - Cash flows from operations for the first half of 2025 were $406.2 million, down from $437.1 million in the same period of 2024 [11] - The company invested approximately $157 million in capital expenditures in the first half of 2025, with expectations of around $300 million for the fiscal year [11]

Core Viewpoint - Ecolab, Inc. is set to report its second-quarter 2025 results, with expectations of revenue growth and improved earnings per share compared to the previous year [1][11]. Group 1: Business Segments Performance - Ecolab's Global Water segment, previously known as Global Industrial, saw sales growth in Q1 2025 due to organic growth and the acquisition of Barclay Water Management, particularly in Light & Heavy and Food & Beverage sectors [2][3]. - The Global Hi-Tech Water segment experienced strong sales growth driven by innovations in microelectronics production and data center cooling solutions, which are expected to continue boosting performance [4]. - The Global Pest Elimination segment benefited from acquisitions in North America and growth in food & beverage, restaurants, and hospitality sectors, with expectations for continued sales increases in Q2 2025 [5][6]. - The Global Institutional & Specialty segment is integrating its units and reported strong sales growth in its Specialty business, although it faced challenges due to the sale of its surgical solutions business [7][10]. - The Global Life Sciences segment recorded new business wins, leveraging industry trends and investments in innovation, which are expected to drive revenue growth [9]. Group 2: Financial Estimates and Market Performance - The Zacks Consensus Estimate for Ecolab's total revenues in Q2 2025 is $4.01 billion, reflecting a 0.6% increase from the prior year, while the EPS estimate is $1.90, indicating a 13.1% improvement [11]. - Ecolab's shares have gained 12.8% over the past three months, outperforming the Chemical - Specialty sector and the Basic Materials sector, but underperforming the S&P 500 [14]. - Ecolab's forward 12-month price-to-earnings (P/E) ratio is 33.3X, which is a premium compared to the industry average of 23.4X, indicating higher valuation expectations relative to growth [18][19]. Group 3: Strategic Developments - Ecolab launched the AI-powered program Ecolab RushReady to enhance restaurant operations and profitability, indicating a focus on leveraging technology for business growth [22]. - The introduction of 3D TRASAR Technology for Direct-to-Chip Liquid Cooling aims to improve data center operations by monitoring coolant health, showcasing Ecolab's commitment to innovation and resource efficiency [23]. - Overall, Ecolab's core business strength, earnings potential, and global opportunities position it favorably for future growth, although current valuations suggest limited room for new investments [24][25].