Dimensional Fund Advisors LP Has $1.12 Billion Stock Position in PepsiCo, Inc. $PEP

Dimensional Fund Advisors LP lowered its position in PepsiCo, Inc. (NASDAQ:PEP) by 2.6% in the third quarter, according to the company in its most recent 13F filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission. The institutional investor owned 7,948,033 shares of the company’s stock after selling 212,620 shares during the period. Dimensional Fund Advisors LP’s holdings in PepsiCo were worth $1,116,211,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.

Other hedge funds and other institutional investors have also recently added to or reduced their stakes in the company. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of PepsiCo in the second quarter worth about $27,000. JCIC Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in PepsiCo during the 3rd quarter worth approximately $27,000. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC raised its holdings in PepsiCo by 107.1% during the 2nd quarter. Vermillion & White Wealth Management Group LLC now owns 234 shares of the company’s stock worth $31,000 after buying an additional 121 shares during the period. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC lifted its stake in PepsiCo by 667.7% in the third quarter. Halbert Hargrove Global Advisors LLC now owns 238 shares of the company’s stock valued at $33,000 after buying an additional 207 shares in the last quarter. Finally, Manning & Napier Advisors LLC acquired a new position in shares of PepsiCo in the third quarter valued at approximately $37,000. 73.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors.

PepsiCo Trading Down 1.4%

NASDAQ PEP opened at $164.91 on Wednesday. PepsiCo, Inc. has a 12 month low of $127.60 and a 12 month 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 stock has a 50 day moving average of $153.98 and a 200-day moving average of $149.07. The company has a market cap of $225.37 billion, a PE ratio of 27.49, a PEG ratio of 3.21 and a beta of 0.39.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) last posted its quarterly 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. The firm had revenue of $29.34 billion for the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $28.96 billion. PepsiCo had a net margin of 8.77% and a return on equity of 57.92%. The company’s quarterly revenue was up 5.6% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the prior year, the firm posted $1.96 earnings per share. On average, equities research analysts anticipate that PepsiCo, Inc. will post 8.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PepsiCo Announces Dividend

The firm also recently declared a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Tuesday, March 31st. Investors of record on Friday, March 6th will be issued 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 yield of 3.5%. PepsiCo’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 94.83%.

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

Wall Street Analysts Forecast Growth

PEP has been the topic of several research reports. Morgan Stanley boosted their price objective on shares of PepsiCo from $165.00 to $180.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Wells Fargo & Company lifted their price target on PepsiCo from $154.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, February 4th. HSBC upped their price objective on PepsiCo from $152.00 to $175.00 and gave the stock a “hold” rating in a research report on Thursday, February 5th. Citigroup lifted their target price on PepsiCo from $170.00 to $182.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Weiss Ratings reaffirmed a “hold (c)” rating on shares of PepsiCo in a research report on Friday, January 9th. 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. Based on data from MarketBeat, the stock has an average rating of “Hold” and a consensus target price of $168.50.

PepsiCo News Roundup

Here are the key news stories impacting PepsiCo this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Launched product innovation — PepsiCo unveiled a protein‑packed Doritos SKU, which supports the company’s strategy to pursue higher‑value, better‑for‑you snacking and could help volume/mix over time. PepsiCo unveils protein-packed Doritos
• Positive Sentiment: Legal win on benefits issue — PepsiCo beat a would‑be class action over a health plan smoker fee, removing one near‑term legal overhang and avoiding potential payouts or liability. PepsiCo Beats Would-be Class Suit Over Health Plan’s Smoker Fee
• Positive Sentiment: Strategic/financial tailwinds highlighted — coverage and commentary (Zacks, and other outlets) continue to portray PEP as a strong growth stock based on diversification and brand strength; that supports longer‑term investor demand. Here’s Why PepsiCo (PEP) is a Strong Growth Stock
• Neutral Sentiment: Capital allocation/price target update — RBC raised its price target to $165 but kept a “sector perform” rating, signaling limited near‑term upside even as some analysts tweak estimates. PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) Given New $165.00 Price Target at Royal Bank Of Canada
• Neutral Sentiment: Management moves — an internal marketing promotion (Rajat Paul elevated to marketing manager, global canisters & imports) is a routine corporate update that has limited direct stock impact but signals continuity in brand execution. PepsiCo elevates Rajat Paul to marketing manager- Global canisters & imports
• Negative Sentiment: New shareholder litigation/investigation — an investor alert says law firm Scott+Scott is investigating PepsiCo’s directors and officers for alleged breach of fiduciary duties, a development that raises governance risk and potential legal costs or distraction. PEPSICO, INC. INVESTOR ALERT: Scott+Scott Attorneys at Law LLP Investigates PepsiCo, Inc.’s Directors and Officers for Breach of Fiduciary Duties – PEP
• Negative Sentiment: Regulatory/regime uncertainty fueling lawsuits — recent reporting on a shift in SEC enforcement policy has coincided with more investor lawsuits (PepsiCo named among targets), increasing regulatory uncertainty and the risk of additional shareholder actions. Analysis-Trump’s SEC gave companies more power over investors. Lawsuits pushed them back
• Negative Sentiment: Industry demand risk flagged — coverage of peers (MarketBeat on SJM) highlights investor concern around GLP‑1 weight‑loss drugs and potential structural pressure on indulgent snack volumes, a thematic risk that investors are watching for PepsiCo’s snacks franchise. SJM Surges 9%, But Hostess Weakness Clouds Outlook (PEP)

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.