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KDP or PEP or UL
Which Stock Would AI Choose? Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) vs. PepsiCo (PEP) vs. Unilever (UL) Stock Comparison
Key Takeaways
- KDP reported strong Q4 results with 10.5% revenue growth and forecasts $25.9-26.4 billion in 2026 sales, driven by U.S. refreshment beverages and acquisitions like JDE Peet's.
- PEP exhibits YTD gains around 12%, bolstered by diversified snacks and beverages, though recent monthly dips reflect broader market pressures.
- UL shows modest YTD performance near 3-6%, focusing on AI investments amid competitive consumer goods pressures.
- KDP trades at a forward P/E of about 13.6, lower than PEP's 19.3 and offering undervaluation signals with 26% analyst upside.
- All three provide solid dividends: KDP at 3.3%, PEP around 3%, UL at 3.3%, appealing for defensive positioning.
- Consumer staples sector resilience positions these stocks for relative stability amid volatility, with KDP leading on recent growth metrics.
Introduction
This stock comparison examines KDP (Keurig Dr Pepper), PEP (PepsiCo), and UL (Unilever), all prominent players in consumer staples with exposure to beverages, snacks, and personal care products. These companies offer defensive qualities through essential goods portfolios, making them relevant for investors seeking stability in volatile markets. Traders may value their dividend yields and relative performance amid shifting sentiment in non-alcoholic beverages and household essentials. Recent earnings beats and growth forecasts highlight contrasts in momentum and valuation, aiding decisions on relative positioning in the current environment.
KDP Overview and Recent Performance
KDP (Keurig Dr Pepper) is a leading North American beverage company with over 125 brands, including Dr Pepper, Keurig coffee systems, and Snapple. It operates in U.S. refreshment beverages, coffee, and international segments, generating annual revenue exceeding $16 billion. In recent market activity, KDP shares have shown resilience, climbing around 6% in the past month amid broader sector pressures. Q4 results exceeded expectations with 10.5% year-over-year revenue growth to $4.5 billion, fueled by 3.9% volume/mix gains and pricing benefits, plus contributions from GHOST energy drinks. The company guided for $25.9-26.4 billion in 2026 sales, supported by the JDE Peet's acquisition. Analysts see 26% upside potential, with the stock trading at a forward P/E near 13.6 and 3.3% dividend yield. Sentiment has improved on undervaluation—33.8% below intrinsic value—and strong refreshment segment performance, though debt from acquisitions warrants monitoring.
PEP Overview and Recent Performance
PEP (PepsiCo) is a global food and beverage giant with iconic brands like Pepsi, Gatorade, Lay's, and Quaker Oats, operating across beverages, snacks, and nutrition in over 200 countries. Annual revenue tops $90 billion, with diversified segments including Frito-Lay and Tropicana. Recent weeks have seen mixed performance, with YTD gains around 12% but monthly dips of 4% amid market volatility. Q4 earnings surpassed estimates, driven by disciplined cost management and international organic growth, though North American volumes faced headwinds. Shares trade at a forward P/E of 19.3, reflecting premium stability, with a roughly 3% dividend yield. Positive sentiment stems from $10 billion buybacks, snack price adjustments, and a $15 billion brand refresh, enhancing long-term growth prospects. Broader exposure to snacks provides a buffer against beverage slowdowns, though elevated debt levels remain a factor.
UL Overview and Recent Performance
UL (Unilever) is a multinational consumer goods firm offering beauty, personal care, home care, and nutrition products under brands like Dove, Hellmann's, and Ben & Jerry's. It serves global markets with annual revenue around $60 billion across segments like Beauty & Wellbeing and Home Care. In recent market activity, UL has posted modest YTD gains of 3-6%, with monthly weakness around 6% due to competitive pressures. The company invests in AI and technology partnerships to drive efficiency amid share price scrutiny. Trading at a forward P/E similar to peers with a 3.3% dividend yield, UL emphasizes premium beauty and sustainability. Sentiment reflects resilience in essential goods but challenges from market share battles and volume softness, positioning it as a steady defensive play with global diversification.
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Head-to-Head Comparison
KDP, PEP, and UL operate in consumer staples but differ in focus: KDP emphasizes U.S. beverages and coffee; PEP balances global snacks (58% revenue) and drinks; UL spans personal/home care and foods. Growth drivers favor KDP's 6.8% LTM revenue edge over PEP's 2.3%, via acquisitions and volume, while UL prioritizes premiumization. Recent momentum shows PEP YTD at 12%, ahead of KDP's 2% and UL's 3-6%. Risks include KDP's higher debt post-acquisitions versus PEP's cash strength. All offer ~3% yields, but KDP's lower forward P/E (13.6 vs. 19+ ) signals valuation sensitivity. Sentiment tilts to KDP for growth/value, PEP for diversification.
Tickeron AI Verdict
Tickeron’s AI currently favors KDP based on trend consistency from recent earnings beats, acquisition catalysts like JDE Peet's, and relative undervaluation at a lower forward P/E with 26% upside potential. Stability in U.S. beverages and superior LTM growth (6.8%) edge out PEP's diversification and UL's global breadth, positioning KDP for probabilistic outperformance in consumer staples amid volatility.
Disclaimer
The information on this webpage is provided for general informational and educational purposes only and is not intended as investment advice, a recommendation to purchase or sell any security, or an offer or solicitation related to investments. It does not consider your personal financial situation, goals, or risk profile, and all investing carries inherent risks, including the possibility of losing your entire investment. For more details, please review our full disclaimer. Disclaimers and Limitations
Long-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a long-term outlook for a ticker by using Fundamental Analysis (FA) ratings. The rating of 1 to 100, where 1 is best and 100 is worst, is divided into thirds. The first third (a green rating of 1-33) indicates that the ticker is undervalued; the second third (a grey number between 34 and 66) means that the ticker is valued fairly; and the last third (red number of 67 to 100) reflects that the ticker is undervalued. We use an FA Score to show how many ratings show the ticker to be undervalued (green) or overvalued (red).
KDP’s FA Score shows that 1 FA rating(s) are green whilePEP’s FA Score has 3 green FA rating(s), and UL’s FA Score reflects 0 green FA rating(s).
- KDP’s FA Score: 1 green, 4 red.
- PEP’s FA Score: 3 green, 2 red.
- UL’s FA Score: 0 green, 5 red.
Short-Term Analysis
It is best to consider a short-term outlook for a ticker by using Technical Analysis (TA) indicators. We use Odds of Success as the percentage of outcomes which confirm successful trade signals in the past.
If the Odds of Success (the likelihood of the continuation of a trend) for each indicator are greater than 50%, then the generated signal is confirmed. A green percentage from 90% to 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bullish trend. A red percentage from 90% - 51% indicates that the ticker is in a bearish trend. All grey percentages are below 50% and are considered not to confirm the trend signal.
KDP’s TA Score shows that 4 TA indicator(s) are bullish while PEP’s TA Score has 5 bullish TA indicator(s), and UL’s TA Score reflects 4 bullish TA indicator(s).
- KDP’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 4 bearish.
- PEP’s TA Score: 5 bullish, 5 bearish.
- UL’s TA Score: 4 bullish, 5 bearish.
Price Growth
KDP (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) experienced а -0.15% price change this week, while PEP (@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic) price change was +0.39% , and UL (@Household/Personal Care) price fluctuated +0.33% for the same time period.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Beverages: Non-Alcoholic industry was -0.77%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was -1.88%, and the average quarterly price growth was +2073.90%.
The average weekly price growth across all stocks in the @Household/Personal Care industry was +0.96%. For the same industry, the average monthly price growth was +3.95%, and the average quarterly price growth was -8.44%.
Reported Earning Dates
KDP is expected to report earnings on Apr 23, 2026.
PEP is expected to report earnings on Jul 14, 2026.
Industries' Descriptions
@Beverages: Non-Alcoholic (-0.77% weekly)Non-alcoholic drinks include traces of alcohol or low alcohol content or without alcohol or alcohol removed. Functional Beverages, Carbonated Soft Drinks (CSDs), Sports Drinks, Fruit Beverages, and Bottled Water are some common types of non-alcoholic beverages. The largest segment in this market is soft drinks (think Pepsi and Coke). Many established companies in this space have also been stepping up production of low to zero-calorie varieties in recent years, to cater to a rising number of health-conscious consumers. Coca-Cola Company, Pepsico Inc, Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. and Monster Beverage Corporation are some major non-alcoholic beverage makers.
@Household/Personal Care (+0.96% weekly)Household/Personal Care companies sell products for home cleaning and/or personal hygiene and grooming purposes. Products of this industry include detergents, shampoos, soaps, cosmetics, fabric conditioners and infant care fragrances. Procter & Gamble, Unilever, Estee Lauder and Colgate-Palmolive are some of the biggest names in the business. A lot of the products become a necessary part of people’s daily routine, and therefore the industry is relatively less vulnerable to macroeconomic downturns. At the same time, product quality, consumer safety, and ease of use are extremely critical factors for a company to survive competition and earn recognition in this industry.
| KDP | PEP | UL | |
| Capitalization | 36B | 216B | 127B |
| EBITDA | 4.19B | 15.5B | 11.3B |
| Gain YTD | -3.656 | 10.840 | -9.822 |
| P/E Ratio | 17.34 | 24.75 | 19.14 |
| Revenue | 16.6B | 93.9B | 59.8B |
| Total Cash | N/A | 9.53B | N/A |
| Total Debt | 17.6B | 49.9B | N/A |
KDP | PEP | UL | ||
|---|---|---|---|---|
OUTLOOK RATING 1..100 | 11 | 55 | 51 | |
VALUATION overvalued / fair valued / undervalued 1..100 | 25 Undervalued | 26 Undervalued | 39 Fair valued | |
PROFIT vs RISK RATING 1..100 | 100 | 59 | 81 | |
SMR RATING 1..100 | 75 | 21 | 97 | |
PRICE GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 61 | 32 | 79 | |
P/E GROWTH RATING 1..100 | 95 | 42 | 83 | |
SEASONALITY SCORE 1..100 | 50 | 50 | 65 |
Tickeron ratings are formulated such that a rating of 1 designates the most successful stocks in a given industry, while a rating of 100 points to the least successful stocks for that industry.
KDP's Valuation (25) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as PEP (26) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry, and is in the same range as UL (39) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that KDP's stock grew similarly to PEP’s and similarly to UL’s over the last 12 months.
PEP's Profit vs Risk Rating (59) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as UL (81) in the Household Or Personal Care industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KDP (100) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that PEP's stock grew similarly to UL’s and somewhat faster than KDP’s over the last 12 months.
PEP's SMR Rating (21) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is somewhat better than the same rating for KDP (75) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry, and is significantly better than the same rating for UL (97) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that PEP's stock grew somewhat faster than KDP’s and significantly faster than UL’s over the last 12 months.
PEP's Price Growth Rating (32) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is in the same range as KDP (61) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for UL (79) in the Household Or Personal Care industry. This means that PEP's stock grew similarly to KDP’s and somewhat faster than UL’s over the last 12 months.
PEP's P/E Growth Rating (42) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry is somewhat better than the same rating for UL (83) in the Household Or Personal Care industry, and is somewhat better than the same rating for KDP (95) in the Beverages Non Alcoholic industry. This means that PEP's stock grew somewhat faster than UL’s and somewhat faster than KDP’s over the last 12 months.
| KDP | PEP | UL | |
|---|---|---|---|
| RSI ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 61% | 3 days ago 54% | 3 days ago 34% |
| Stochastic ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 43% | 3 days ago 39% | 3 days ago 58% |
| Momentum ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 39% | 3 days ago 50% | 3 days ago 37% |
| MACD ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 55% | 3 days ago 43% | 3 days ago 38% |
| TrendWeek ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 47% | 3 days ago 42% | 3 days ago 40% |
| TrendMonth ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 43% | 3 days ago 44% | 3 days ago 46% |
| Advances ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 49% | 11 days ago 39% | 11 days ago 42% |
| Declines ODDS (%) | 5 days ago 46% | 5 days ago 44% | 6 days ago 42% |
| BollingerBands ODDS (%) | N/A | 3 days ago 52% | N/A |
| Aroon ODDS (%) | 3 days ago 35% | 3 days ago 35% | 3 days ago 40% |
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