Higher shelf prices hurt their volumes

Article Excerpt

These two foodmakers have had to increase their selling prices in the past two years in response to rising costs for ingredients and other inputs. However, those higher prices are prompting consumers to switch to cheaper generic brands. New weight-loss drugs could also cut demand for snack foods. PEPSICO INC. $169 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol PEP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.4 billion; Market cap: $236.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.6; Dividend yield: 3.2%; TSINetwork Rating: Above Average; www.pepsico.com) is the world’s second-largest soft-drink maker after Coca-Cola. Its other brands include Frito-Lay snacks, Gatorade sports drinks, and Quaker Oats. PepsiCo’s sales in the quarter ended December 30, 2023, declined 0.5%, to $27.85 billion from $28.00 billion a year earlier. If you factor out acquisitions and exchange rates, sales rose 4.5%. That gain is entirely due to higher selling prices (up 9%), which countered a 4% drop in sales volumes. A recall of granola bars and cereals also hurt…