NEW YORK, Feb 26, 2026, 15:46 (EST) — Regular session
Celsius Holdings Inc (CELH) climbed 7.2% to $54.25 Thursday afternoon, boosted by its latest quarterly numbers. Earlier in the session, the energy drink stock spiked nearly 17%, before pulling back from those highs; it previously settled at $50.61.
The report arrives at a tricky point for the name. Investors are still picking apart genuine demand versus inventory simply circulating in the supply chain following a big change in distribution.
Margins are facing their own squeeze. Celsius says profitability should return to normal once integration efforts ease off and regular order flows resume, leaving behind the recent bursts.
Celsius posted a 117% surge in fourth-quarter revenue to $721.6 million, while non-GAAP adjusted diluted EPS climbed to $0.26 compared to $0.14 last year. Adjusted numbers exclude items Celsius considers outside its core operations. Gross margin narrowed to 47.4% from 50.2%, hit by integration costs, tariffs, and Rockstar Energy-related dilution. The company expects margins to recover to the low 50s once integrations wrap up in the first half of 2026. Celsius also paid back $197.8 million in debt and repurchased $39.8 million in stock during the quarter. CEO John Fieldly described 2025 as “a defining year.” Business Wire
The quarter underscored just how turbulent transitions can be. Celsius saw core CELSIUS brand revenue slide roughly 8% as shipments, distributor depletions—a stand-in for product flow into stores—and promotions all fell out of alignment. The company insisted this didn’t reflect actual retail demand, pointing to a 13% jump in U.S. tracked retail sales over the 13-week stretch ending Dec. 28. Celsius also booked a $327.5 million buyout obligation connected to distributor terminations. Distribution for Alani Nu in PepsiCo’s network hit 94.2% ACV in early February, its measure for shelf reach.
Celsius notched up gains Thursday, bucking the broader market’s slide as U.S. indexes dropped. Nvidia’s earnings pressured chip stocks, dragging the Nasdaq down.
Some investors have been too focused on short-term concerns, missing a larger trend in the energy drink space, UBS analyst Peter Grom told Barron’s. Grom, who rates the stock a buy with a $70 price target, said the portfolio continues to gain share.
Monster Beverage, a main competitor, will deliver its quarterly numbers after the bell. Analysts are zeroed in on pricing power and whether it’s enough to balance out a jump in aluminum expenses. RBC Capital is forecasting “a strong Jan sales number (16-19%)” for Monster—a gauge for the sector as Celsius and other brands keep the pressure on. Investing.com
The margin rebound at Celsius is the next test—does it come through fast after integration tasks are out of the way, or does a tough promo landscape drag things out? With shares slipping off their highs late in the session, investors are still watching execution more closely than the surface-level results.
Monster’s numbers drop after the bell, with traders eyeing the results for signals on energy-drink demand and pricing. As for Celsius, the buzz is quieter—focus now is on whether cleaner shipment trends and more stable margins can carry through the first half of 2026.
