Zacks Industry Outlook Highlights Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Monster Beverage, Keurig Dr Pepper and Vita Coco
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Apr 17 2024
0mins
Should l Buy MNST?
Source: NASDAQ.COM
Soft Drinks Industry Trends:
- Soft drinks industry participants focusing on innovation, adaptability, and consumer well-being.
- Expansion into new categories like RTD alcoholic beverages through collaborations.
- Facing cost inflation challenges but taking actions like price increases and reducing reliance on imports.
- Witnessing trends towards healthier options, sustainability, and digital growth.
- Companies investing in digital capabilities, loyalty programs, and expanding product offerings.
Key Players in the Soft Drinks Industry:
- Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, Monster Beverage Corp., Keurig Dr Pepper, and Vita Coco Co. are poised for growth.
- Companies diversifying portfolios, focusing on core brands, and investing in innovation.
- Expected to benefit from consumer trends towards healthier, functional beverages.
Stock Performance and Valuation:
- Soft drinks industry outperformed Consumer Staples sector but underperformed S&P 500 Index.
- Industry trading at a forward P/E ratio of 20.08X compared to S&P 500's 20.88X.
- Some stocks in the industry have Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) or #2 (Buy).
Company Highlights:
- Vita Coco: Focused on functional beverages with strong volume growth.
- Coca-Cola: Transforming portfolio, expanding digital presence, and diversifying into RTD category.
- PepsiCo: Resilient performance in global beverage and food businesses.
- Monster Beverage: Strong performance in energy drinks category and product innovation.
- Keurig Dr Pepper: Gaining momentum in Refreshment Beverages segment.
Industry Outlook:
- Positive aggregate earnings outlook for constituent companies.
- Analysts gaining confidence in the industry's earnings growth potential.
- Continued investments in digital capabilities and expansion into newer markets expected to drive long-term growth.
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Analyst Views on MNST
Wall Street analysts forecast MNST stock price to fall
18 Analyst Rating
12 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 81.170
Low
70.00
Averages
80.88
High
87.00
Current: 81.170
Low
70.00
Averages
80.88
High
87.00
About MNST
Monster Beverage Corporation is a holding company. The Company, through its subsidiaries, develops, markets, sells and distributes energy drink beverages and concentrates for energy drink beverages under various brand names. Its Monster Energy Drinks segment is primarily consisting of its Monster Energy drinks, Reign Total Body Fuel high performance energy drinks, Reign Storm total wellness energy drinks and Bang Energy drinks. Its Strategic Brands segment is primarily consisting of various energy drink brands acquired from the Coca-Cola Company as well as its affordable energy brands, Predator and Fury. Its Alcohol Brands segment consists of various craft beers, hard seltzers and flavored malt beverages. Its Other segment consists of certain products sold by American Fruits and Flavors LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, to independent third-party customers. It also develops, markets, sells and distributes still and sparkling waters under the Monster Tour Water brand name.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
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- Portfolio Composition Differences: VDC encompasses over 100 consumer stocks, with 98% in consumer defensive, whereas PBJ focuses on 31 food and beverage companies, including Sysco and Corteva, which may increase specific company risk due to its concentrated investments.
- Market Performance and Risk: Over the past year, VDC achieved a return of 4.6%, while PBJ only managed 1.2%, and VDC's maximum drawdown of 16.55% is lower than PBJ's 15.84%, indicating VDC's relative stability amid market volatility.
- Investment Strategy Choices: As a pure index fund, VDC provides comprehensive defensive exposure to consumer staples, while PBJ employs quantitative analysis for a concentrated portfolio, charging nearly seven times the fees of VDC, yet recent performance suggests this may not justify the cost, prompting investors to choose wisely.
See More
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- Outstanding Stock Performance: Since 2000, Monster Beverage's stock has surged 197,800%, turning every $1,000 investment at the century's dawn into $1,551,030, showcasing its remarkable performance and market appeal in the beverage industry.
- Strategic Partnership Advantage: In 2015, Monster inked a deal with Coca-Cola, gaining access to its global distribution network while Coca-Cola acquired a 16.7% stake in Monster, significantly enhancing Monster's market penetration.
- R&D Spending Comparison: In stark contrast to Nvidia and Apple's R&D expenditures of $16.7 billion and $34 billion respectively, Monster spent virtually nothing on R&D in FY 2025, allowing it to allocate more capital towards share buybacks and acquisitions, thereby enhancing shareholder returns.
- Demand-Driven Market Growth: Monster's products are favored by consumers due to their addictive nature, similar to tobacco products, driving sustained sales growth and further solidifying its leadership position in the market.
See More
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- Outstanding Stock Performance: Monster Beverage has achieved a staggering 197,800% return since 2000, turning every $1,000 investment into $1,551,030, surpassing tech giants like Apple and Nvidia, highlighting its unique market position.
- Strategic Partnership Advantage: In 2015, Monster Beverage secured a deal with Coca-Cola, gaining access to its global distribution network while Coca-Cola acquired a 16.7% stake, significantly enhancing the company's market penetration and brand influence.
- R&D Spending Comparison: Compared to Nvidia's $16.7 billion and Apple's $34 billion in R&D spending, Monster Beverage's $195 million in 2024 allows it to allocate more capital towards stock buybacks and acquisitions, enhancing shareholder returns.
- Market Competitive Edge: By avoiding massive expenditures in the battle for market share, Monster Beverage frees up substantial capital for strategic investments, establishing a unique competitive advantage in market history.
See More
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- Performance Metrics: As of 2025, IYK delivered a 7.7% annual return, significantly outperforming PBJ's flat performance, highlighting IYK's advantage in a diversified portfolio that can better withstand market fluctuations.
- Holdings Structure: IYK holds 54 stocks with 84% in consumer defensive and 12% in healthcare, while PBJ focuses almost entirely on food and beverage, with 89% in consumer defensive, making PBJ's concentrated strategy riskier in specific market trends.
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