Waddell & Associates LLC Buys 4,158 Shares of PepsiCo, Inc. $PEP

Waddell & Associates LLC raised its position in shares of PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) by 74.7% in the 3rd quarter, HoldingsChannel reports. The institutional investor owned 9,723 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 4,158 shares during the quarter. Waddell & Associates LLC’s holdings in PepsiCo were worth $1,366,000 at the end of the most recent quarter.

Other institutional investors also recently modified their holdings of the company. Clayton Financial Group LLC purchased a new position in shares of PepsiCo in the 3rd quarter valued at approximately $872,000. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. boosted its holdings in shares of PepsiCo by 9.7% during the 2nd quarter. Pinnacle Associates Ltd. now owns 152,193 shares of the company’s stock valued at $20,096,000 after buying an additional 13,517 shares in the last quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. grew its position in shares of PepsiCo by 2.6% in the 2nd quarter. Avantax Advisory Services Inc. now owns 185,961 shares of the company’s stock worth $24,554,000 after buying an additional 4,627 shares during the period. Kathmere Capital Management LLC increased its stake in shares of PepsiCo by 122.6% in the 3rd quarter. Kathmere Capital Management LLC now owns 20,365 shares of the company’s stock worth $2,860,000 after acquiring an additional 11,217 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Invesco Ltd. lifted its position in PepsiCo by 11.7% during the 2nd quarter. Invesco Ltd. now owns 12,659,046 shares of the company’s stock valued at $1,671,500,000 after acquiring an additional 1,330,888 shares during the period. 73.07% of the stock is currently owned by hedge funds and other institutional investors.

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several equities analysts have recently issued reports on PEP shares. Royal Bank Of Canada reiterated a “sector perform” rating and set a $156.00 target price on shares of PepsiCo in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Jefferies Financial Group boosted their target price on PepsiCo from $163.00 to $164.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a report on Tuesday, December 9th. Wall Street Zen cut shares of PepsiCo from a “buy” rating to a “hold” rating in a research note on Saturday, December 27th. Rothschild & Co Redburn raised their price objective on shares of PepsiCo from $120.00 to $130.00 and gave the company a “sell” rating in a research note on Tuesday, February 10th. Finally, Evercore lifted their target price on shares of PepsiCo from $152.00 to $165.00 in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Eight investment analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have issued a Hold rating and one has assigned a Sell rating to the company. According to MarketBeat.com, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus price target of $168.00.

PepsiCo Price Performance

Shares of PEP opened at $169.54 on Wednesday. The firm has a market cap of $231.70 billion, a PE ratio of 28.26, a P/E/G ratio of 3.23 and a beta of 0.40. PepsiCo, Inc. has a 1-year low of $127.60 and a 1-year high of $171.48. The company has a current ratio of 0.85, a quick ratio of 0.67 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. The firm has a fifty day simple moving average of $151.97 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $148.37.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) last announced its earnings results on Monday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.24 by $0.02. PepsiCo had a return on equity of 57.92% and a net margin of 8.77%.The business had revenue of $29.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts’ expectations of $28.96 billion. During the same period last year, the firm posted $1.96 earnings per share. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. On average, equities analysts anticipate that PepsiCo, Inc. will post 8.3 EPS for the current year.

PepsiCo Dividend Announcement

The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be paid a dividend of $1.4225 per share. The ex-dividend date is Friday, March 6th. This represents a $5.69 dividend on an annualized basis and a dividend yield of 3.4%. PepsiCo’s payout ratio is 94.83%.

PepsiCo declared that its Board of Directors has approved a stock buyback plan on Tuesday, February 3rd that allows the company to repurchase $10.00 billion in outstanding shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to purchase up to 4.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase plans are usually a sign that the company’s leadership believes its shares are undervalued.

Key PepsiCo News

Here are the key news stories impacting PepsiCo this week:

• Positive Sentiment: PepsiCo raised its dividend again, extending a multi-decade streak and underscoring its cash-return commitment — a clear positive for income-focused investors and the stock’s yield narrative. PepsiCo raises dividend again to extend legendary streak
• Positive Sentiment: Analyst support: TD Cowen nudged its price target higher after management color on the turnaround strategy and 2026 outlook — small but supportive validation for the stock’s near-term thesis. TD Cowen Lifts PT on PepsiCo (PEP) to $165 From $162 – Here’s Why
• Positive Sentiment: Digital/AI momentum: coverage highlighting PepsiCo’s scaling of digital platforms and AI initiatives signals productivity and margin opportunities across marketing, supply chain and innovation — a strategic tailwind for growth and efficiency. PepsiCo’s Blueprint: How Scaling Digital Platforms Creates An AI Edge
• Positive Sentiment: Research report: a new enterprise-technology profile highlights PepsiCo’s tech initiatives, partnerships and e‑commerce growth opportunities — reinforcing the narrative that digital transformation can expand margins and address emerging channels. PepsiCo Enterprise Technology Analysis Report 2025
• Positive Sentiment: New product & brand extensions: launches like JACK LINK’S x DORITOS jerky, limited‑edition Super Mario Galaxy flavors, soups and other NPD broaden snack and beverage formats — helpful for RGM (revenue growth management) and shelf/occasion expansion. JACK LINK’S® AND PEPSICO® FOODS LAUNCH DORITOS® NACHO CHEESE FLAVORED BEEF JERKY AND MEAT STICKS
• Positive Sentiment: Sustainability-linked growth: partnerships (e.g., with National Geographic) and regenerative farming research support long-term COGS resilience and brand positioning in snacks — an ESG-driven growth signal. PepsiCo Ties Regenerative Farming Push To New Growth In Branded Snacks
• Neutral Sentiment: Functional products push: analyst pieces discuss PepsiCo’s move into functional snacks/drinks (health-forward SKUs) as a potential growth driver, but execution and scale will determine impact. Can Functional Snacks and Drinks Power PepsiCo’s Next Leg Up?
• Neutral Sentiment: Emerging market expansion: a retail partnership in Pakistan signals continued international distribution growth, a steady but incremental contributor to revenue. PepsiCo International Announces Strategic Partnership with Mehmood Pharmacy
• Negative Sentiment: Relative performance question: coverage noting PepsiCo has underperformed the Nasdaq over the past year could temper sentiment for growth-oriented investors and invites valuation comparisons to peers. Is PepsiCo Stock Underperforming the Nasdaq?

PepsiCo Profile

PepsiCo, Inc (NASDAQ: PEP) is a multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Purchase, New York. The company develops, manufactures, markets and sells a broad portfolio of branded food and beverage products, including carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, salty snacks, cereals, and other convenient foods. Its leading consumer brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana, Quaker, Lay’s, Doritos and Cheetos, among others.

Formed through the 1965 merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay, PepsiCo has grown into a global business with integrated manufacturing, distribution and marketing operations.