Keep holding these beverage makers

Article Excerpt

These two beverage makers continue to face several challenges, including consumer preferences for healthier foods, higher input costs and a shift to cheaper brands. While both stocks will probably stay in a narrow range, their dividends remain solid. PEPSICO INC. $167 is a hold. The company (Nasdaq symbol PEP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.4 billion; Market cap: $233.8 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.5; 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 major brands include Frito-Lay snacks, Gatorade sports drinks, and Quaker Oats cereals. PepsiCo’s sales in the quarter ended March 23, 2024, rose 2.3%, to $18.25 billion from $17.85 billion a year earlier. If you factor out acquisitions and exchange rates, sales rose 3% in the quarter. That’s entirely due to higher selling prices (up 5%), which countered a 2% drop in sales volumes. A recall of granola bars and cereals also hurt sales at its Quaker Foods division in the quarter. Earnings (before…