After publishing PepsiCo's (PEP) recent fourth quarterly report, the new CEO Ramon Laguarta reiterated he is satisfied with the Company’s product and geographic portfolios and, therefore, has no plans to divest its operations by shedding or acquiring any significant businesses. However, the company has put into motion a new restructuring program that may lead to an unspecified number of job losses and factories closures over the coming years.In its FY 2018 results, the company allocated $138 million towards these restructuring costs with a further projected expense of $800 million in related charges during the current year. PEP is optimistic about its future growth anticipating organic revenue to rise 4% this year over last year’s 3.7%.

Coca-Cola, the parent company of popular soft drink Coke, has proven enduringly successful over the years: It ranked No.6 on Forbes' list of the world's most valuable brands in 2018, with a whopping $57.3 billion value. READ MORE...

The company’s snack business  registered +4% organic revenue growth in North America for the quarter.  PepsiCo.’s fiscal fourth-quarter net income came in at $6.85 billion (or $4.83 per share), compared to a loss of -$710 million, (or -50 cents per share) of the year-ago quarter.  However, Pepsi has apparently lowered its hopes for full-year 2019 earnings, owing to currency exchange rates headwinds, increased advertising/marketing expenses, and an expected hike in the effective tax rate to 21 percent from 18.8 percent.

Coca-Cola's fourth quarter earnings matched analysts’ expectations, while the soft drink giant warned about a potential slowing of comparable sales in 2019. For the three months ending December, Coke's earnings of 43 cents per share  was +9% higher compared to the year-ago quarter, and was in line with Wall Street consensus estimates. However, the company's group revenues of $7.1 billion was slightly lower than the $7.06 billion analysts' estimate.It was also -6% below the year-ago period’s figure. For 2019, Coca-Cola projects organic sales growth of +4% - which would be slower than 2018’s +5%.

Coca-Cola European Partners PLC is expecting 2019 to be a year of positive growth in sales and profit for the company. The bottler of Coca-Cola products has predicted low single-digit revenue growth (excluding impact from currency fluctuations or incremental soft drink taxes),  and 6%-7% increase in comparable operating profit for 2019.Its revenue in the quarter increased + 5% year-over-year to touch 2.8 billion euros – as prices rise more than offset decline in volume.  Volume dropped -2.5%, while revenue per case rose +6%.

Beverage behemoth Coca-Cola had a magnificent 2018, as the stock appreciated by ~15% and emerged as one of the best-performing Dow stocks.Over the same period, the index was down around 4%. KO has seen another 5% surge in the last two weeks, and technician experts believe the company can keep up its strong performance -- particularly if the company reports earnings breakout this week. Keep an eye on the stock this week.   

In a rare show of unity, PepsiCo CEO Ramon Laguarta and Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey discussed during a World Economic Forum panel how their companies are reducing plastic use.READ MORE...

Coca-Cola CEO James Quincey on the economy, expanding the company's line of beverages, the pricing outlook, the Super Bowl, marketing, launching bottles and cans themed to the Korean boy band BTS and the company's 'World Without Waste' initiative.READ MORE...

New Age Beverages Corp. is joining hands with Docklight Brands to launch a line of Bob Marley-themed cannabis-infused beverages. The product line is also a collaboration with Marley – the brand formed by legendary reggae artist Bob Marley's family and  private equity firm Privateer Holdings (the latter backs cannabis-focused Docklight Brands). Colorado, Oregon, Washington and Michigan would be the initial markets to get a taste of the Marley+CBD beverages.Over time, New Age plans to make the drinks available to more places. Marley-branded CBD-infused drinks marks New Age’s expansion into the hemp space – an apparently much-coveted sector today.

One company that has seemingly remained above the fray is Coca-Cola European Partners (NYSE: CCEP). Looking at the daily chart for the stock we see that it has been moving steadily higher since late May, and a trend channel has formed to mark the highs and lows.

New Age Beverages wants to launch CBD-infused drinks.  The beverage company recently hinted at its interest in the marijuana component that does not cause users to get high.CEO Brent Willis told CNN that the company is already in talks with many retailers about selling its potential line of CBD-mixed waters, teas and other drinks. The implementation and success of the plan could also hinge on whether the Congress would pass the Farm Bill, which would make it legal to produce hemp and potentially make  way for more production of drinks containing cannabidiol, or CBD. Several beverage makers in recent times have either expressed interest or already have actively ventured into the cannabis space.

Did Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) lose ground during the third quarter of this year, amid the ongoing proliferation of healthier eating (and drinking) habits?Perhaps the company’s Q3 results will show something in the middle. READ MORE...

Cannabis legalization also means consumers will find cannabis in various products, including those involving nutraceuticals, cosmetics and over-the-counter sleep and pain medications.Coca Cola (KO) is reportedly in talks with Aurora Cannabis (ACBFF) to develop cannabis-infused beverages.

PepsiCo, Inc. reported earnings higher than expected, as new strategies for the North American market paid off, along with growing sales in emerging markets. Excluding one-time items, the company raked in $1.59 per share earnings, beating analysts' estimates of $1.57 for the third quarter ending September 8.Total net income of $2.49 billion (or $1.75 per share) was up a whopping 16% from $2.14 billion (or $1.48 per share) a year earlier. Net revenue increased 1.5 percent to $16.49 billion, which is higher than analysts' average projection of $16.36 billion. By shifting its beverage portfolio more towards healthier options such as non-carbonated drinks and sparkling water (including its launch of brands Bubly and Lifewtr), Pepsi managed to revive sales in an increasingly health-conscious consumer segment of  North America.

On Wednesday, financial trading app Robinhood suspended new purchases of Aurora Cannabis’s stocks. Earlier this week, speculations of a possible (albeit unconfirmed) collaboration between Coca-Cola and marijuana producer Aurora (ACBFF) to produce cannabis component CBD-infused drinks apparently led to heightened investor interest in Aurora - so much so that the flood of new buy orders for Aurora was too overwhelming for Robinhood's execution venues to handle.“We suspended the purchase of ACBFF earlier today because our execution venues were unable to support the large volume of orders we’ve received for the stock,” Robinhood spokeswoman Lavinia Chirico told Fortune.

PepsiCo announced an accelerator program to support food and beverage startups. Called Nutrition Greenhouse, the six-month North American program from PepsiCo provides ten startups $20,000 each along with a mentor from the beverage corporation.Through the program, PepsiCo aims to offer guidance and advice to neophytes on product development, fundraising, supply chain management and other aspects of business in the industry.

Coca-Cola wants to buy coffee chain Costa Coffee from British multinational drinks and hotels group Whitbread for £3.9 billion ($5.1 billion). The acquisition could potentially be a big push for Coke’s expansion into the coffee market, with Costa Coffee’s nearly 4,000 stores across 32 countries including parts of Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East and Africa.Approval from shareholders and regulators  are still pending on the deal, but it is expected to come through by 2019. Coca-Cola’s foray into coffee follows the January merger of JAB’s coffee brand Keurig with Coke’s domestic competitor Dr Pepper Snapple.

PepsiCo, Inc. is all set to take a healthier sip, by buying Isreali sparkling water brand SodaStream. Echoing the U.S. beverage industry’s upping the ante on healthier alternatives amidst consumers’ growing aversion to sugary sodas, Pepsi’s $3.2 billion deal apparently goes well with its motto of "making more nutritious products while limiting our environmental footprint" – as emphasized by CEO Indra Nooyi.Nooyi will step down and be replaced by Ramon Laguarta in October. To be funded by cash, Pepsi’s acquisition of SodaStream now awaits the latter’s shareholder vote and certain regulatory approvals before it can formally be brought into effect.

That means, the soft drink maker is vying for a larger pie in a segment where rival Pepsi is already a strong player.Pepsi’s Gatograde drink accounts for 75% of the US sports drink industry, according to research firm Euromonitor International. Coca Cola’s owning a stake in BodyArmour would mean expanding its offerings of low-calorie drinks that use natural sweeteners/ flavors - something that could potentially boost Coke's total sales, since more and more people have been seeking healthier options in beverages. After the deal, Body Armor will be able to access Coca-Cola bottling facilities, while continuing to operate as its own brand. 

Coca Cola beats analysts’ estimates in the latest quarter, slurping rewards on Diet Coke and new launches. The beverage company’s Q2 2018 earnings were 61 cents a share (excluding some items), edging past analysts’ average projection for 60 cents.The firm also spruced up its global presence by launching Coca-Cola Stevia No Sugar in New Zealand and dairy-free smoothie AdeZ in Europe in the latest quarter. Revenues from its core beverage business surged 5% in the quarter, with Coke Zero, Diet Coke, and sparkling water emerging as the major contributors.