New York, Jan 17, 2026, 15:57 EST — Market closed.
- PepsiCo shares ended Friday at $146.32, slipping roughly 0.2%.
- Barclays lifted its price target on PepsiCo to $148 from $144 but maintained an Equal Weight rating.
- After closing Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, U.S. markets will reopen Tuesday; all eyes turn to PepsiCo’s earnings report set for Feb. 3.
PepsiCo Inc shares slipped 0.2% to $146.32 on Friday, ending quietly as U.S. markets head into a holiday pause.
Markets will be closed Monday for Martin Luther King Jr. Day, pushing the next session to Tuesday. This often leads to lighter volume and more volatile price swings when trading resumes. (New York Stock Exchange)
PepsiCo is zeroing in on what’s ahead rather than the recent weekend action. With earnings just around the corner, traders are starting to adjust their bets. Meanwhile, the consumer-staples sector continues to behave like a safe haven whenever risk appetite wavers.
Barclays lifted its price target for PepsiCo on Friday, moving it from $144 to $148, while maintaining an Equal Weight rating on the stock. The bank noted some recent “enthusiasm” among investors as a “flight to safety,” but warned that challenges from oil prices and currency fluctuations might emerge in 2026. (TipRanks)
Wall Street closed almost flat on Friday after a volatile session as Q4 earnings season kicked off. Consumer staples stood out as one of the best-performing sectors in the S&P 500 for the week, Reuters reported. Bruce Zaro, managing director at Granite Wealth Management, noted, “Historically the middle part of January tends to be pretty choppy.” Anthony Saglimbene, chief market strategist at Ameriprise Financial, added that “most investors will take that as a win.” (Reuters)
PepsiCo plans to release its fourth-quarter and full-year 2025 results on Feb. 3, along with its annual report on Form 10-K. A live Q&A will follow at 8:15 a.m. EST. Back in December, the company forecasted 2026 organic revenue growth between 2% and 4% — excluding currency effects and acquisitions — and core constant-currency EPS growth of 4% to 6%, a key adjusted profit metric. CEO Ramon Laguarta said the focus is on “accelerat[ing] organic revenue growth” and boosting margins starting in 2026. (PepsiCo)
Investors are focused on how much growth PepsiCo reports from higher prices versus increased unit sales—a breakdown the company will reveal in its quarterly results. This distinction matters for food and beverage stocks as promotions start returning to some sections of the aisle.
Sentiment can shift fast based on remarks about North American snack demand, input costs, and currency impacts abroad—sometimes even if the stock seems steady before a report.
PepsiCo goes head-to-head with Coca-Cola in beverages and also faces off against various snack producers like Mondelez. Its earnings reports often shape forecasts for the wider consumer staples sector.
Still, the defensive tag only goes so far. If consumers start trading down or private-label products keep making headway, PepsiCo might need to rely more on discounts and smaller pack sizes. That would squeeze margins, even as costs head lower.
U.S. markets reopen Tuesday following the holiday break, and traders will be watching to see if the “safety” bid in staples sticks as earnings season ramps up. PepsiCo’s next major event comes Feb. 3, when it’s set to release results and provide an update on its 2026 goals.
