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Yahoo
6 days ago
- Business
- Yahoo
PepsiCo vs. Celsius: Which Functional Beverage Player Has the Edge?
In the high-octane world of beverages, few rivalries are as compelling as the one brewing between PepsiCo Inc. PEP and Celsius Holdings Inc. CELH. On one side stands PepsiCo, a global behemoth with decades of dominance, an expansive product portfolio spanning snacks and drinks, and unmatched distribution muscle. Then again, Celsius is a fast-rising disruptor making waves in the booming energy drink space with a sharp focus on health-conscious millennials and high-performance PepsiCo commands a massive share of the global beverage market with iconic brands like Pepsi, Gatorade and Mountain Dew, Celsius is carving out a niche by positioning itself as a lifestyle energy brand with explosive sales growth and loyal fan following. One is a diversified titan, the other a pure-play challenger. But as the lines blur between traditional soda, sports hydration and functional energy drinks, the competition for shelf space and consumer mindshare is heating how do these two contenders stack up in terms of market share, core strategy and future positioning? Let us dive into the strengths, challenges and investment appeal of each. PEP continues to fortify its position as a global consumer staples powerhouse, underpinned by a diversified portfolio and commanding presence across key beverage and snack categories. With more than 40% of its 2024 net revenue generated internationally, PepsiCo has scaled a $37-billion international business, making it one of the most geographically diversified players in the North America, its beverages segment showed renewed strength, with Pepsi Zero Sugar and Gatorade Zero gaining share in their respective categories, while its functional hydration brand Propel also delivered strong growth. These figures highlight PepsiCo's ability to hold and expand share in a dynamic, consumer-driven is sharpening its focus on high-growth niches like zero sugar, functional hydration and sports nutrition while simplifying its go-to-market execution through larger-scale initiatives. Campaigns like 'Food Goes Better With Pepsi' and product rollouts like Mountain Dew Baja Blast reflect a focused brand push. It is also expanding in under-penetrated spaces through innovations and acquisitions like its recent deal to acquire the prebiotic soda brand poppi, and by scaling multicultural and permissible offerings under brands like Simply, Siete and Sabra. At the same time, PepsiCo is adjusting to post-inflation consumer behavior with more affordable, flavorful and portion-conscious snack a financial standpoint, PepsiCo's resilience is shown in its core operating margin expansion in beverages and its continued push for efficiency. Despite foreign exchange headwinds and rising supply-chain costs, the company remains committed to long-term investments in automation, digital analytics, and productivity initiatives to preserve margins and drive plans to return $8.6 billion in cash to shareholders in 2025 and a record of 53 consecutive annual dividend increases, PepsiCo is not just a beverage titan; it is also a reliable bet for income-focused investors navigating today's volatile macro landscape. CELH is rapidly emerging as a formidable force in the energy drink sector, powered by its laser focus on health-conscious consumers and strategic expansion into functional beverages. In first-quarter 2025, Celsius captured a combined 16.2% share of the U.S. energy drink market (via Celsius and Alani Nu), contributing to 20% of total category growth for the quarter. Notably, Alani Nu's retail sales soared 88% year over year, crossing the $1-billion milestone and highlighting its appeal, especially among female consumers, an underserved segment in the energy drink a growing international presence and new markets like the U.K., Australia, and New Zealand showing strong uptake, Celsius is positioning itself at the intersection of wellness, convenience and lifestyle-driven Celsius is betting big on innovation and brand identity to carve deeper market inroads. Its latest product launches — CELSIUS Playa Vibe, Mango Lemonade and CELSIUS HYDRATION powder sticks — are designed to expand both shelf space and use cases, moving from impulse buys to daily lifestyle staples. The brand's 'Live Fit' identity resonates strongly with its target demographic of active, health-driven, and socially connected consumers, and its latest NIL and athlete ambassador campaigns are set to amplify multipacks now making up more than 50% of the retail mix, Celsius is firmly entering the pantry as a household staple. In addition, its strong performance in foodservice, with placements in 18,000 Subway stores and more than 1,800 Home Depot locations, underscores its ability to win across Celsius maintains a strong balance sheet with nearly $1 billion in cash and minimal debt, even after the Alani Nu acquisition. As it scales operations, unlocks supply-chain leverage, and rolls out high-margin innovation, CELH is laying the groundwork for sustained growth in the fast-evolving $1.4-billion hydration and modern energy market. For growth-focused investors, Celsius offers a compelling blend of market disruption, brand momentum and category leadership. PepsiCo shares have trended lower year to date, pressured by soft demand in its North America convenient food segment and investor concerns over rising supply-chain costs and potential tariff impacts on global inputs. In contrast, the Celsius stock has shown steady year-to-date gains, supported by strong underlying business momentum and continued category growth. Year to date, PEP shares have declined 13.9%, whereas the CELH stock has rallied 56.3%. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research From a valuation perspective, PepsiCo currently trades at a more modest forward price-to-earnings (P/E) multiple of 16.22X, significantly lower than Celsius' 42.65X. On the surface, this may suggest that PepsiCo is more attractively priced. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research However, a lower valuation does not automatically signal a buying opportunity; it can reflect underlying concerns about growth prospects or operational challenges. While the company remains a stable dividend payer with a diversified portfolio, the question for investors is whether this discount represents untapped value or signals persistent headwinds that can limit the upside in the near again, Celsius' valuation appears rich, but for good reason. Its premium multiple reflects strong brand equity, exceptional gross margins and a laser focus on fast-growing segments like sugar-free, functional energy and hydration. Its consumer-first approach, digital-savvy marketing, and expanding retail footprint underscore why investors are willing to pay up. For long-term investors seeking exposure to a high-growth, category-disrupting brand, Celsius offers a compelling case despite its premium price PepsiCo's broad footprint insulates it from volatility, it slows agility. Celsius, by contrast, is still in its high-growth phase, with a significant runway across international markets, hydration powders, multipacks and co-branded retail. PepsiCo's EPS estimates for 2025 and 2026 moved down 0.3% and 0.2%, respectively, in the last 30 days. PEP's 2025 revenues are projected to rise 0.4% year over year to $92.2 billion, and EPS is expected to decline 3.6% year over year to $7.87. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Celsius' EPS estimates for 2025 have moved down 12.9% in the past 30 days. Its 2026 estimate declined by a penny in the last seven days. CELH's 2025 revenues and EPS are expected to increase 60.3% and 15.7% year over year, respectively, to $2.2 billion and 81 cents per share. Image Source: Zacks Investment Research Both PepsiCo and Celsius bring distinct strengths to the table — PepsiCo with its global scale, diversified portfolio and dividend reliability, and Celsius with its focused strategy, innovation-driven growth and rising presence in the functional beverage space. Each company reflects a different investment profile: one rooted in stability, the other in acceleration. While PepsiCo's broad footprint insulates it from volatility, it also slows agility. Celsius, by contrast, is still in its high-growth phase, with a significant runway across international markets, hydration powders, multipacks and co-branded retail. However, looking at the stock performance and forward-looking appeal, Celsius emerges as the stronger investment case. CELH also commands a premium valuation, backed by strong brand resonance, rapid market share gains and expanding global reach. Its impressive year-to-date return and strong year-over-year earnings growth expectations highlight growing investor confidence in the brand's momentum and execution capabilities, especially in the high-growth functional energy investors seeking dynamic growth and future earnings potential, Celsius stands out as the more compelling pick in the evolving beverage landscape. Celsius currently carries a Zacks Rank #3 (Hold), while PEP has a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell).You can see the complete list of today's Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report PepsiCo, Inc. (PEP) : Free Stock Analysis Report Celsius Holdings Inc. (CELH) : Free Stock Analysis Report This article originally published on Zacks Investment Research ( Zacks Investment Research Error in retrieving data Sign in to access your portfolio Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data Error in retrieving data
Yahoo
03-06-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Happy Valley Restaurant Week returns with creative menus, giveaways from Pepsi
STATE COLLEGE, Pa. (WTAJ) — Foodies and casual diners alike can get ready to savor unique flavors as Happy Valley Restaurant Week returns June 13–22 with new dishes, creative drink challenges, and a chance to win local sports tickets. More than two dozen restaurants across Centre County will participate in this year's event, offering exclusive specials and prix-fixe menus that highlight the region's diverse and growing culinary scene. From upscale dining experiences to laid-back local favorites, the lineup offers something for every taste. New this year, Pepsi is adding extra flavor to the week by sponsoring a mocktail and cocktail challenge. Participating restaurants will create beverages using Pepsi Zero Sugar, and diners can vote for their favorites. The winning establishment will receive a prize package courtesy of Pepsi. Pepsi is also offering a giveaway for diners who complete a participation card. One lucky winner will receive a sports prize package featuring four tickets to both the Altoona Curve and the State College Spikes. Restaurants already confirmed include Allen Street Grill, RE Farm Cafe, The Field, Flour and Stone, and the Trophy Room at the Graduate Hotel, among others. Organizers say more eateries are welcome to join the event and can sign up online. Happy Valley Restaurant Week is organized by Maggie Anderson and sponsored in part by the Happy Valley Adventure Bureau, which provides free professional marketing support to participating restaurants. Guests are encouraged to make reservations early and follow @happyvalleyrestaurantweek on social media for sneak peeks and updates. Copyright 2025 Nexstar Media, Inc. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten, or redistributed.
The Citizen
30-05-2025
- Entertainment
- The Citizen
Local star shines in new global Pepsi campaign
Despite a slowdown in local commissioning, Goldblum said the industry is still very much alive. He's not your stereotypical up and coming showbusiness star. Instead, Dean Goldblum is the kind of guy who has an insatiable curiosity about the world around him, and the people in it. The kind of person everyone wants at a dinner party, because he's just that chilled. In his instance, nice guys cross the finishing line first. And he's well on his way with several notable roles under his belt and now, a spot in a Pepsi Zero Sugar ad set for global release. The ad is a fast moving musical collage that focuses on expressions, consuming and interacting with the soft drink. And while nobody in the cast had a speaking part, just being in a major league soft drink add instantly conjures peers like Michael Jackson, Madonna and Britney Spears. It's a small part but a big deal. 'It was incredible,' Goldblum said. 'We shot the Pepsi ad for six days, and every moment was special.' Filmed in Cape Town with an international crew and managed by Ridley Scott's production house, the campaign is big-budget stuff. Goldblum described the shoot as a masterclass. 'Working with the director, the camera persons, and then the company handling local production, everyone was at the top of their game,' he said. 'You learn so much just by being around people like that.' All South African cast The entire Pepsi ad cast was South African, and most of the crew too. 'It's a big deal,' he said. 'A project like that showcases our talent on a global stage and brings huge investment into the country via the production. And millions of people are going to see it.' ALSO READ: Man of influence still a player? But starring in a Pepsi ad is not the beginning and end of his career, nor his first international pitstop. Goldblum has stacked up roles with credits in Darby and the Dead, The Kingdom, Tali's Joburg Diary, Die Onderonsie, and South Africa's first Amazon Prime Original, The Shakedown. Later this year, he stars in Pretty How Town, directed by Alan Shelley, and he's also been cast in Muzzle: City of Wolves opposite Aaron Eckhart. But the CV isn't what defines him. There's no pushiness. No hustle-for-the-sake-of-hustle vibe at all. Instead, Goldblum comes across as a gentle, kind human. This is also how he approaches his work. 'I started drama classes when I was about six,' he said. 'Helen Holden used to put me in shows. It was small stuff, but I loved it. Then music got me deeper into performance, and it all grew from there.' First, he was a 'Little Star' His first screen role came at 13, on SABC's Little Stars. By high school, he'd already appeared on South Africa's Got Talent. 'I was still figuring out if I wanted to study law or act,' he said. 'I was passionate about human rights. Still am.' The turning point came in a school production of Big Fish. 'That experience changed everything,' he said. 'I realised I could probably have more impact as a performer than I would as an attorney. That connection between people, that energy. It felt more immediate, more alive,' he said. Goldblum studied drama at UCT but worked professionally during his holidays, jumping between television soaps and student life. 'Generations, Rhythm City and the like. I'd come back to Joburg during the breaks and shoot, then return to class,' he said. 'It was just luck, really. Good timing.' He's been fortunate enough that his work has started finding him. 'A lot of international work is being shot here' Despite a slowdown in local commissioning, Goldblum said the industry is still very much alive. 'A lot of the international work is being shot here,' he said. 'The film and television world has become so globalised. I've done American work without ever leaving South Africa.' The challenge, he said, lies in local productions, funded at home. 'Funding is hard. The DTI (Department of Trade and Industry) rebates to producers and the way rules change makes things unpredictable. But people are still doing it, still finding a way to create.' Goldblum has found his way. His slate's busy, and the casting couch has never intimidated him. Instead, it's like a fresh start every time. 'I've always felt calm in castings,' he said. 'I try to approach them like I would a conversation. No performance, no pretence. Just connect.' And then, when he gets a role, he goes for it completely and throws everything he has at it. 'Every encounter is a chance to uplift someone, or to learn,' he said. 'Every second we've got here matters.' NOW READ: Meet the man who has performed at 3800 weddings
Yahoo
10-02-2025
- Business
- Yahoo
Are drones the future of delivery? It's now possible to get food to your door in 3 minutes
It's a bird! It's a plane! It's ... your food? And it's delivered in record time by drone. While it may seem otherworldly — or at least a bit strange — to have food delivered by drones, some Texas cities are already embracing the future. During the Super Bowl, a promotional partnership between PepsiCo and Wing, Alphabet's drone delivery service, brought free snacks to Frisco, about 30 miles north of Dallas. Customers placed orders through the app, tracked their deliveries in real time, and received snacks securely enclosed in a cardboard box. The drone slowly lowered the box, which was then opened to reveal a selection of game-day treats, including Doritos, Tostitos dips and Pepsi Zero Sugar. However, prior to this weekend, drone delivery had already begun to make a footprint in North Texas. For instance, Wing had already partnered with Walmart at 11 locations across the Dallas-Fort Worth area, including Dallas, Plano, Murphy, Richardson, Mesquite, Rowlett, The Colony, and Garland. More recently, in December, Wing further expanded its services, partnering with DoorDash to launch drone deliveries from local Brookfield Properties malls, including Hulen Mall in Fort Worth and Stonebriar Centre in Frisco, the Dallas Morning News reported. According to the Wing website, the company's quickest delivery from order to drop-off was 2 minutes and 47 seconds. Their drones can fly speeds of up to 65 mph and up to 12 miles round-trip. Another drone service, Flytrex, operates in Granbury and Little Elm, a neighboring town to Frisco, promising to deliver food in under five minutes — though it doesn't specify if that's from launch to door-time or order to door-time. The app offers menu options from over 30 restaurants, including Raising Cane's and Chick-fil-A, along with smaller items like ice cream, sandwiches and items from the Flytrex Market, and even full meals from Chili's and Hoffbrau's Steakhouse. The company guarantees that food will arrive at the intended temperature without any spillage during delivery. As long as the order weighs less than 6.6 pounds, nothing is off the table. While DoorDash and other food delivery apps allow for the delivery of beer via drone, the option is not currently available on Wing or Flytrex in Texas. This article originally appeared on Austin American-Statesman: Food-delivering drones? Some Texas cities have already launched them
Yahoo
06-02-2025
- Entertainment
- Yahoo
Pepsi Is Bringing Back This Beloved Offering for the First Time in 50 Years
If you have a preference between Pepsi and Coke, as many of us do, you know they're far from interchangeable. Each has a distinct flavor and it's not uncommon for fans to feel a strong sense of loyalty to their favorite brand. Recently, Costco announced its food court will switch to Coca-Cola products, sparking a lively debate among shoppers. The strong opinions on each side have us wondering: If you tried both Coke and Pepsi in a blind taste test, do you think you would correctly guess each fizzy sample? In 1975, PepsiCo launched a marketing campaign known as 'The Pepsi Challenge,' where it conducted taste tests all over the country, including malls and grocery store parking lots, to prove that Pepsi could stand against fellow soda aisle giant Coca-Cola. The taste tests were a huge success for Pepsi not only because it received major media attention, but also because of the waves it made in the beverage world. Many consider it to be one of the reasons Coca-Cola launched New Coke, a reformulation that aimed to draw fans back to the brand. It's been 50 years since the iconic campaign debuted, and to celebrate, Pepsi is reviving the challenge by launching nationwide taste tests and giving away free soda. Starting Feb. 6, Pepsi Zero Sugar and Coke Zero Sugar will go head-to-head in a battle of the colas. The first week of events will kick off in New Orleans ahead of Super Bowl LIX. Fans can stop by the 'Chips and Sips Quarter' where they can participate in a blind soda taste test, score prizes, and explore other PepsiCo-owned brands such as Doritos, Cheetos, and Lay's. If you don't have plans to attend the big game, you can catch Pepsi on its taste-testing tour which begins in March. It will stop in major U.S. cities including New York City, Los Angeles, Dallas, Tampa, and more. All challenge participants, including those who don't choose Pepsi as their favorite, can snag a free 20-ounce bottle of Pepsi Zero Sugar because, according to the brand, 'even those with questionable taste deserve a second chance.' In addition to in-person events, fans can also enter online for a chance to win a DIY Pepsi Challenge Kit and limited edition brand merch. Be sure to visit the website for more details on how you can get in on the action. Read the original article on ALLRECIPES
