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PepsiCo to hike prices on some Doritos and Ruffles as costs rise. PepsiCo is set to increase prices across some of its snacking portfolio due to higher commodity, packaging and logistics costs. The company confirmed that prices on selected crisps will rise by a low-to-mid-single-digit percentage, in line with inflation. The increases are expected to affect grocery-sized packs from brands including Doritos and Ruffles, while some soft drinks could also become more expensive by the end of 2026 or in early 2027. However, PepsiCo said the new prices would remain below the levels seen before it cut prices earlier this year. In February, the manufacturer reduced prices by as much as 15 per cent on selected Lay's and Doritos products following consumer pushback against previous increases. The latest move comes as PepsiCo faces continued pressure from rising input costs and weaker demand among US consumers. The group has previously warned of higher commodity costs during the second half of the year, while its North American foods division recorded a two per cent decline in second-quarter sales. PepsiCo has also pointed to higher fuel prices as a factor weighing on consumer spending, while elevated oil prices have increased packaging and distribution costs across the wider food and beverage industry. The business has been attempting to revive volumes in its North American operations as shoppers become more price-conscious and increasingly shift towards healthier snacking options. PepsiCo is also facing pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, which holds a stake of around $4bn in the company and has called for changes aimed at improving the performance of its drinks business and wider portfolio.

Unilever showed underlying sales growth of 4.8% in the first half of 2026, driven mostly by volume, with an underlying operating margin of 20.3%. The board raised the quarterly dividend by 3% versus second-quarter 2025 to €0.4664 per share and completed a €1.5 billion share buyback earlier in the year. The company sells home and personal-care products that people use daily. Its dividend is supported by products that remain in demand across different market conditions. PepsiCo declared a quarterly dividend of $1.48 per share in July, a 4% increase, marking 54 consecutive years of annual dividend growth. The company is rolling out functional snacks, better-for-you beverages, and new mixing centres to lower delivery costs by integrating its snack and beverage distribution networks.

Monster Beverage vs. PepsiCo: which consumer goods stock is a better buy in 2026? An energy drink company posting record revenue across every geography faces off against a snack and soda giant navigating soft consumer spending in North America. By Sara Appino - Updated Sep 26, 2026 at 10:33AM EST Key points. * Monster Beverage delivers high growth and carries a clean balance sheet with zero debt. * PepsiCo provides a diversified portfolio across snacks and drinks that generates massive free cash flow. * Which beverage giant offers the best combination of growth and value for your portfolio in 2026? * Motley Fool Issues Rare "Total Conviction" Buy Alert" Investors often weigh the aggressive growth of energy drinks against the steady reliability of global snacks and soda. Deciding between Monster Beverage (MNST +1.03%) and PepsiCo (PEP +0.38%) requires looking past their logos. Monster Beverage focuses almost exclusively on high-octane energy drinks and has leveraged a massive distribution network to reach global markets. PepsiCo operates as a diversified giant, selling everything from potato chips to soft drinks across more than 200 countries. You should compare these two leaders to see which fits your 2026 investment goals. MNST & PEP: performance comparison. MNST (Monster Beverage) PEP (PepsiCo) Key financial metrics. MNST - Monster Beverage + 1.03 % (+ $ 0.44) PEP - PepsiCo + 0.38 % (+ $ 0.48) Market Cap 52wk Range $ 32.75 - $ 50.17 Gross Margin Dividend & Yield Market Cap 52wk Range $ 126.90 - $ 171.48 Gross Margin Dividend & Yield $5.80 (4.51%) The case for Monster Beverage. Monster Beverage develops and sells energy drink beverages, concentrates, and craft beers. It manages a portfolio of recognizable brands including Monster Energy and Reign, while also expanding into flavored malt beverages and hard seltzers. The company relies heavily on The Coca-Cola Company (KO -0.33%) as its primary global distribution partner. Since this partner also holds a roughly 20.9% stake in the company, customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business. In its latest annual report, filed for FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $8.3 billion, representing growth of approximately 10.7% over the previous year. This growth was accompanied by net income of close to $1.9 billion. The net margin expanded to roughly 23%, up from approximately 20.1% in the prior year, highlighting the strong profitability of its energy drink concentrates. As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the company carries a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.0x. This indicates that the company has no total debt relative to its shareholder equity. The current ratio, which measures the ability to pay short-term obligations with current assets, is approximately 3.7x. Free cash flow for the year was close to $2.0 billion, providing significant capital for expansion or share repurchases. The case for PepsiCo. PepsiCo is a global leader in both the beverage and convenient food industries. Its massive portfolio includes brands like Pepsi, Lay's, Gatorade, and Quaker. The company reaches consumers through direct-store-delivery and warehouse networks, making it a staple among beverage stocks worldwide. Its largest customer, Walmart (WMT +0.36%), accounted for approximately 14% of consolidated net revenue in 2025, and customer concentration like this adds a layer of risk to the business. In FY 2025, revenue reached nearly $93.9 billion, a growth of roughly 2.3% compared to the prior fiscal year. Net income for the period was close to $8.2 billion. While the net margin of approximately 8.8% is lower than its energy-focused peer, it reflects the different cost structures of a massive snacks and food operation. As of its December 2025 balance sheet, the debt-to-equity ratio was roughly 2.4x. This means that total liabilities exceed shareholder equity, representing a more leveraged financial structure. The current ratio stands at approximately 0.9x, indicating current liabilities slightly exceed current assets. Despite this, the company generated nearly $7.7 billion in free cash flow during the year, which supports its dividend and capital investments. Risk profile comparison. Monster Beverage faces significant operational risk due to its deep dependency on the distribution network of The Coca-Cola Company. Its primary business in the energy drink category is subject to intense competitive pressure from global beverage companies and new entrants. The company is also exposed to supply chain vulnerabilities, particularly regarding aluminum can sourcing and co-packer consolidation. Additionally, the company faces substantial regulatory and litigation risks related to the health perceptions of energy drink ingredients and increasing taxation. Where to invest $1,000 right now. When its analyst team has a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, Stock Advisor's total average return is 937% - a market-crushing outperformance compared to 214% for the S&P 500. They just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... *Stock Advisor returns as of September 21, 2026 PepsiCo faces risks related to evolving consumer preferences and the potential for reduced demand due to health trends or taxes on sugar. Operational risks include potential supply chain disruptions and commodity price volatility for raw materials. The company is subject to significant regulatory and legal risks, including antitrust litigation and class action lawsuits concerning advertising practices. Furthermore, the company must successfully navigate digital transformation and manage its reputation in response to social and environmental issues to maintain its market standing against rivals like Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP +3.46%). Valuation comparison. PepsiCo currently offers a much lower entry point for investors based on both earnings and sales multiples compared to the premium valuation of Monster Beverage. | Metric | Monster Beverage | PepsiCo | | Forward P/E | 37.1x | 15.0x | | P/S ratio | 9.1x | 1.8x | Valuation metrics sourced from Financial Modeling Prep (FMP) and may differ from other data providers. The Forward P/E ratio compares the stock price to future earnings estimates for the next year. The P/S ratio measures the market value of the company against its sales over the past twelve months. Which stock would I buy in 2026? I'd go with Monster Beverage. Its most recent quarter was extraordinary: The company crossed $2.5 billion in revenue for the first time, with double-digit growth across every geographic region simultaneously. International markets now account for nearly half the business, and that runway keeps expanding into countries where energy drinks are still gaining household penetration. Monster has been compounding for decades, and the results keep showing up. PepsiCo is no slouch. Its international snack and beverage business is holding up well, and the brand portfolio has few rivals in terms of global reach and shelf space. For investors who prioritize a reliable dividend and steady cash flows, it's one to consider. But North American consumers are pulling back on discretionary snack spending, and PepsiCo signaled that full-year earnings may come in toward the lower end of its guidance range. That cautious tone from a company investors typically count on for predictability is worth noting. Monster is the faster-growing, more focused bet. If you're building a long-term portfolio, Monster's growth trajectory is one you'll want to own right now. Is Monster Beverage a smart long-term play? Before you buy stock in Monster Beverage, consider this: The Motley Fool Stock Advisor analyst team just identified what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy now... and Monster Beverage wasn't one of them. The 10 stocks that made the cut could produce monster returns in the coming years. Consider when Netflix made this list on December 17, 2004... if you invested $1,000 at the time of its recommendation, you'd have $383,680!* Or when Nvidia made this list on April 15, 2005... if you invested $1,000 at the time of its recommendation, you'd have $1,382,954!* Now, it's worth noting Stock Advisor's total average return is 937% - a market-crushing outperformance compared to 214% for the S&P 500. 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