Companies and Brands

Pepsi Boosts Guidance on Pricing Strength

handtocan
Source: courtesy of PepsiCo
PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) reported second-quarter 2014 results before markets opened Thursday. The food and beverage company posted adjusted diluted earnings per share (EPS) of $1.32 on revenues of $16.89 billion. In the same period a year ago, the company reported EPS of $1.31 on revenues of $16.81 billion. Second-quarter results also compare to the Thomson Reuters consensus estimates for EPS of $1.23 and $16.81 billion in revenues.

On a constant currency basis, adjusted operating income rose 6% on revenue growth of 3.6%. On a GAAP basis, revenues rose 0.5% and operating profit rose 1%. Higher net pricing boosted earnings in the company’s America’s food and beverage divisions and a 10% jump in operating profit in Europe and a 9% rise in Latin America.

Pepsi raised its outlook for adjusted annual EPS from a year-over-year increase of 7% to a new level of 8%. That translates to EPS of around $4.72, sharply higher than the current analysts’ estimate of $4.54. Currency translation effects are expected to have a negative impact of around 4% on 2014 EPS growth.

The company continues to expect organic revenue growth in the mid-single digits and productivity savings of $1 billion. Pepsi expects commodity price inflation in the low single-digit range for 2014.

The company’s CEO said:

Despite operating in what continues to be a challenging and volatile macro environment, we are delivering consistent, strong results. … Based on the strength of our year-to-date results and our outlook for the remainder of the year, we’re increasing our full-year, core constant currency EPS growth target to eight percent.

Pepsi expects to return a total of $8.7 billion to shareholders in 2014 through a combination of $3.7 billion in dividends and $5 billion in share buybacks.

PepsiCo shares were up about 2% in premarket trading, at $91.00 in a 52-week range of $77.01 to $91.39. Thomson Reuters had a consensus analyst price target of around $94.800 before this report.

ALSO READ: States That Drink the Most Beer

Take This Retirement Quiz To Get Matched With A Financial Advisor (Sponsored)

Take the quiz below to get matched with a financial advisor today.

Each advisor has been vetted by SmartAsset and is held to a fiduciary standard to act in your best interests.

Here’s how it works:
1. Answer SmartAsset advisor match quiz
2. Review your pre-screened matches at your leisure. Check out the
advisors’ profiles.
3. Speak with advisors at no cost to you. Have an introductory call on the phone or introduction in person and choose whom to work with in the future

Take the retirement quiz right here.

Thank you for reading! Have some feedback for us?
Contact the 24/7 Wall St. editorial team.