NEW YORK, Jan 19, 2026, 17:32 EST — Market closed
- PepsiCo (PEP) finished Friday’s session at $146.32, slipping 0.17%.
- U.S. stock markets remain closed Monday in observance of Martin Luther King Jr. Day; normal trading picks up again Tuesday.
- With PepsiCo’s upcoming earnings report in the spotlight, investors are circling back to worries over tariff-driven risks.
PepsiCo Inc (PEP) shares ended Friday at $146.32, slipping 0.17% on roughly 10.3 million shares changing hands. Trading will pause Monday due to Nasdaq’s closure for Martin Luther King Jr. Day. (Nasdaq)
Risk appetite faltered, sending Nasdaq 100 futures down 1.25% in Europe. The drop followed President Donald Trump’s threat to expand tariffs on European nations if the U.S. isn’t permitted to purchase Greenland, Reuters reported. (Reuters)
PepsiCo holders should note that staples often attract bids when investors shy away from high-growth stocks — yet they can also slide if selling spreads widely. After a long weekend, Tuesday’s open may feel volatile, even if company news is scarce.
Staples barely moved in the last session. The S&P 500 consumer staples index closed Friday unchanged, standing out amid more volatile shifts elsewhere in the market. (Investing)
In its December business update, PepsiCo unveiled a 2026 strategy focused on delivering sharper “everyday value” in North America, slimming down its product lineup, and driving stronger productivity savings. The company expects organic revenue growth of 2% to 4% in 2026 — a figure that excludes currency fluctuations and deal effects — along with core EPS growth around 5% to 7%. It also aims to expand core operating margins by at least 100 basis points over three years (equivalent to one percentage point). CEO Ramon Laguarta emphasized the company’s “high sense of urgency,” while Elliott Investment Management partner Marc Steinberg noted the plan could fuel “greater revenue and profit growth.” (PepsiCo)
Tuesday’s reopening turns focus toward whether those targets can deliver more consistent volumes and margins. Investors are tuning in for clues on affordability efforts, product simplification, and if trimming complexity actually leads to smoother execution.
But these levers come with risks. Sharper promotions can quickly erode profits, while fluctuations in input costs like sugar, corn, aluminum, and freight can cloud quarterly results.
PepsiCo often serves as a stand-in for sentiment in packaged food and beverages, alongside peers such as Coca-Cola and Mondelez, which tend to move with similar defensive trends. But if Tuesday’s open sees a wider risk-off selloff, that won’t offer much support.
Traders will be keeping an eye on whether tariff-related concerns ease by Tuesday’s U.S. open, and if the shift into defensive stocks holds up during the shortened week. PepsiCo usually moves most on guidance updates, not the trading calendar.
PepsiCo’s upcoming earnings report, scheduled for Feb. 3, stands out as the next major catalyst for its shares. (Yahoo)
