May 21, 2024

PepsiCo Plans Higher Prices on Drinks and Snacks

Those increases, on top of other increases taken earlier this year, are helping the company stand by its full-year earnings growth target, despite a smaller-than-expected boost from foreign exchange rates.

The company — whose brands include Pepsi-Cola, Frito-Lay snacks and Quaker oatmeal — also reported slightly better-than-expected third-quarter earnings on Wednesday.

The company cited a lower tax rate and cost savings from acquisitions, which are helping it endure higher costs for commodities like corn and wheat and weak consumer spending.

PepsiCo executives also sought to quell recent speculation on Wall Street about a possible breakup of the company, saying it had considered that option and did not find it to be in shareholders’ best interest.

In addition to price increases put through in the third quarter, PepsiCo said it would impose more in the fourth quarter, primarily on Gatorade and single-serve bags of Frito-Lay snacks, but also on select products sold overseas.

PepsiCo stood by its full-year outlook, which calls for 2011 earnings to grow at a high single-digit rate. Because of a recent strengthening of the dollar, that forecast now only includes a rise of one percentage point from foreign exchange, whereas the company earlier expected a two-point increase.

PepsiCo still expects to see a rise in commodity costs this year at the high end of a $1.4 billion to $1.6 billion range.

The company reported that its third-quarter net income rose to $2 billion, or $1.25 a share, from $1.92 billion, or $1.19 a share a year earlier. Excluding one-time items, earnings were $1.31 a share, topping analysts’ average estimate by a penny, according to Thomson Reuters.

Revenue climbed to $17.58 billion from $15.51 billion a year ago. Analysts on average were expecting $17.18 billion.

Total sales volume rose 8 percent in the snacks business and 4 percent in the drinks business.

Volume in the Americas Foods business rose 1 percent as gains of 1 percent at Frito-Lay North America and 3.5 percent in Latin America offset a 4.5 percent decline at Quaker Foods North America.

PepsiCo Americas Beverages volume was flat. Net revenue in that business rose 1.5 percent, helped by price increases.

The company’s shares were up nearly 3 percent, or $1.75, to $62.70.

Coca-Cola will report earnings next Tuesday.

Article source: http://feeds.nytimes.com/click.phdo?i=aa6741bc847bf08da311665c243fc360