NEW YORK, Jan 2, 2026, 14:50 ET — Regular session
- PepsiCo shares fell 0.4% to $142.93 in afternoon trading, lagging a rise in the consumer-staples sector.
- PepsiCo’s next quarterly dividend of $1.4225 per share is due to be paid on Jan. 6.
- Investors are looking ahead to PepsiCo’s Feb. 3 results and its preliminary 2026 targets for sales and earnings growth.
PepsiCo shares slipped on Friday, down 0.4% at $142.93, giving back about 59 cents from the prior close, according to market data.
The soft drinks and snacks maker lagged the broader tape. The SPDR S&P 500 ETF was up about 0.2%, while the Consumer Staples Select Sector SPDR ETF gained roughly 0.3%.
That gap matters in the first trading session of 2026 because investors often use consumer staples — companies that sell everyday essentials — as a defensive pocket when they want steadier earnings.
PepsiCo’s underperformance also puts a spotlight on how investors are pricing branded food and beverage names heading into the next earnings cycle, with management outlooks likely to shape early-year positioning.
Among peers, Coca-Cola fell about 1%, Keurig Dr Pepper eased about 0.3%, and Mondelez rose about 0.8% in afternoon trading.
The move in PepsiCo came without any immediately apparent company-specific headline on Friday, leaving traders focused on the company’s strategy reset and near-term calendar.
In a Dec. 8 statement, PepsiCo Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta said, “Today, we are announcing our plans and initiatives that aim to accelerate organic revenue growth,” as the company laid out priorities for 2026. Source
PepsiCo said it preliminarily expects 2026 organic revenue growth of 2% to 4% and core earnings per share growth of about 5% to 7%. Organic revenue strips out currency swings and acquisitions, while “core” results adjust for items the company does not view as part of underlying performance.
The company also said it was cutting costs, including reducing nearly 20% of U.S. SKUs — stock-keeping units, or individual product varieties — by early 2026, while targeting at least 100 basis points of core operating margin expansion in aggregate over the next three fiscal years. A basis point is one-hundredth of a percentage point.
Before the close next week, income-focused investors have a cash catalyst. PepsiCo’s board declared a quarterly dividend of $1.4225 per share, payable on Jan. 6, according to a company release.
The next major test for the stock is PepsiCo’s fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 report on Feb. 3, when the company has said it will also outline total cash returns to shareholders.
Investors are likely to watch updates on price and promotional activity, demand trends across North America snacks and beverages, and whether productivity savings translate into better margins and cash generation.
Macro data could also steer the trade. A Reuters global markets roundup flagged the U.S. jobs report due on Jan. 9 as an early 2026 focal point for rate expectations — a key input for valuations in dividend-heavy consumer staples.
PepsiCo shares traded between $142.44 and $143.89 on the day, with the stock moving lower even as the sector edged higher.
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