Sign in

You're signed outSign in or to get full access.

VC

Vita Coco Company, Inc. (COCO)·Q1 2025 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q1 2025 beat on both revenue and EPS: net sales $130.9M vs S&P Global consensus $125.6M (+4.2%); diluted EPS $0.31 vs $0.19 (+$0.12), while gross margin contracted 550 bps YoY to 36.7% on elevated ocean freight and higher finished goods costs . Consensus values from S&P Global.*
  • Management reaffirmed FY25 outlook (net sales $555–$570M, GM 35–37%, Adjusted EBITDA $86–$92M) and now explicitly assumes the 10% baseline U.S. import tariff (excludes potential reciprocal tariffs); SG&A growth tightened higher to low-to-mid single digits (from low single digits) .
  • Category/category-leader momentum continued: Vita Coco Coconut Water net sales +25% YoY; robust U.S./U.K./Germany growth; Treats rolled out nationally late in Q1; Walmart reset headwinds easing with improving in-store execution and plans to re-win distribution .
  • Key 2H setup: planned price increases (one in Q2, additional in early Q3 tied to tariffs) and expected easing ocean freight support margin stabilization; inventory levels are materially stronger into summer, enabling a normal promo cadence and potential Q3 scan acceleration vs a tough service-lapse comp .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

What Went Well

  • Branded momentum and mix: Vita Coco Coconut Water net sales +25% YoY; Americas +24% and International +36% growth, with strong multi-pack and Treats contributions; “other” category +84% on Treats rollout .
  • Reaffirmed FY25 outlook despite tariffs: Net sales $555–$570M, GM 35–37%, Adjusted EBITDA $86–$92M; now assumes 10% baseline tariff but still held ranges; SG&A up low-to-mid single digits to support growth .
  • Strengthened balance sheet and capital return: Cash and cash equivalents $153.6M, no debt; buyback authorization raised to $65M with $10.1M repurchased YTD through 4/29/25 .

“Coconut water remains one of the fastest growing categories… which produced 25% Vita Coco Coconut Water net sales growth globally” – Michael Kirban .
“Our exceptionally strong shipment performance… benefited from very strong demand for Vita Coco Coconut Water… [and] the national roll out of Vita Coco Treats” – Martin Roper .

What Went Wrong

  • Margin pressure: Gross margin fell to 36.7% from 42.2% on higher ocean freight and elevated finished goods costs; mgmt expects full-year GM flat-ish with 2H stronger on pricing and likely lower freight .
  • Private label softness: Private label net sales declined (Americas -$3.1M YoY in Q1) and is expected to be visibly weaker in Q2 given lost regions and oil exit timing .
  • Walmart reset drag: Reduced SKUs and shelf changes created a mid-single-digit drag on scans, though velocity improved and mgmt expects to re-win distribution over time .

Financial Results

MetricQ3 2024Q4 2024Q1 2025Q1 2025 ConsensusBeat/(Miss)
Revenue ($M)$132.9 $127.3 $130.9 $125.6*+$5.3M / +4.2%*
Diluted EPS ($)$0.32 $0.06 $0.31 $0.1925*+$0.12*
Gross Margin (%)38.8% 32.4% 36.7%
Adjusted EBITDA ($M)$22.9 $7.7 $22.5
Net Income ($M)$19.3 $3.4 $18.9
  • YoY context (Q1): Revenue $130.9M vs $111.7M (+17%); Diluted EPS $0.31 vs $0.24; Gross margin 36.7% vs 42.2% .

Segment/product net sales (Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024):

Segment/ProductQ1 2024 ($M)Q1 2025 ($M)
Americas – Vita Coco Coconut Water$69.5 $86.1
Americas – Private Label$24.3 $21.2
Americas – Other$2.3 $5.3
International – Vita Coco Coconut Water$9.7 $13.2
International – Private Label$5.2 $4.8
International – Other$0.8 $0.4
Total Net Sales$111.7 $130.9

KPIs

  • Volume (CE) YoY change (Q1 2025 vs Q1 2024)
    • Vita Coco Coconut Water: Americas +23.5%, International +34.7%, Total +25.2%
    • Private Label: Americas -2.3%, International +13.5%, Total +0.7%
    • Other: Americas +187.8%, International -2.7%, Total +172.4%
  • Segment gross margin (%)
    • Americas: 37.6% (Q1’25) vs 42.5% (Q1’24); International: 31.5% vs 40.4%; Consolidated: 36.7% vs 42.2%
  • Balance sheet snapshot
    • Cash & cash equivalents: $153.6M (3/31/25) vs $164.7M (12/31/24)
    • Inventory: $88.3M (3/31/25) vs $83.6M (12/31/24)
  • Share repurchases: $10.1M YTD through 4/29/25; authorization raised to $65M

Note: Consensus values from S&P Global.*

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious Guidance (Feb 26, 2025)Current Guidance (Apr 30, 2025)Change
Net SalesFY 2025$555–$570M $555–$570M Maintained
Gross MarginFY 202535–37% 35–37% Maintained
SG&A YoYFY 2025Low single digits vs 2024 Low-to-mid single digits vs 2024 Raised
Adjusted EBITDAFY 2025$86–$92M $86–$92M Maintained
Branded VC Coconut Water GrowthFY 2025Mid-teens Mid-to-high teens Raised
Tariff AssumptionFY 2025No tariff impact included Includes baseline 10% U.S. tariff; excludes reciprocal tariffs Methodology update

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ3 2024 (Q-2)Q4 2024 (Q-1)Q1 2025 (Current)Trend
Supply chain & ocean freightContainer shortages constrained Q3 shipments; freight well above historical; exploring capacity commitments Elevated freight hitting Q4; availability improving; margins pressured Freight still elevated YoY but expected to soften 2H; secured capacity for 2025–26 Improving availability; cost easing in 2H
Tariffs & pricingWatching potential tariffs; would price if needed FY25 guide excluded tariffs Assuming 10% baseline tariff; plan incremental pricing in early Q3 on top of Q2 pricing Active mitigation with pricing
Product performanceMultipacks, Coconut Juice, Treats strong; 1L convenience success Momentum continued into Q4 set-up VC Coconut Water +25% YoY; Treats national rollout late Q1; “Other” +84% Accelerating branded growth
Retail execution (Walmart)Reset reduced promos/ACV in Q3 Inventory rebuild into year-end Velocity up on remaining SKUs; expect re-win of lost distribution; mid-single-digit drag currently Gradual recovery
InternationalU.K. and Germany leading; build-out in W. Europe Capacity adds for 2025–26 International VC +36%; stepping up boots-on-ground + marketing Expanding investment

Management Commentary

  • “We believe this growth is being fueled by our focused investment as the category leader… together with the benefits of a stronger inventory position to start the year.” – Michael Kirban
  • “We believe we have secured sufficient capacity to support our growth expectations, which should enable us to operate with some excess capacity during the second half of the year.” – Martin Roper
  • “We expect gross margins to be relatively flat through the year with the second half being stronger than Q2 due to our planned pricing increases and expected lower ocean freight rates.” – Corey Baker
  • “We are confident that we will improve our current Walmart trends, and we believe we will see this customer return as a growth engine… once we re-win our lost points of distribution.” – Martin Roper

Q&A Highlights

  • Tariff mitigation and pricing cadence: Healthy starting inventory delays near-term impact; cost savings and supplier sharing under evaluation; Q2 base price increase followed by additional early Q3 pricing if baseline 10% tariff persists .
  • Gross margin cadence: Relatively flat intra-year; 2H uplift from pricing and expected lower freight; multiple moving parts (tariffs, freight) .
  • Walmart update: Trends “improved slightly”; confidence in regaining SKUs and points of distribution; mid-single-digit scan drag currently .
  • Multipacks and demand: Multipacks remain a growth driver; some value-seeking behavior possible; broader data set effects noted .
  • International investments: Stepping up marketing and in-market teams (U.K., Germany, broader Europe) to accelerate category penetration .

Estimates Context

MetricQ1 2025 ConsensusQ1 2025 ActualSurprise
Revenue ($M)$125.6*$130.9 +$5.3M / +4.2%*
Diluted EPS ($)$0.1925*$0.31 +$0.12*
  • Beat drivers: strong branded coconut water growth, Treats contribution, and higher other income (derivative MTM gain) offsetting gross margin compression from elevated ocean freight and finished goods costs .
    Note: Consensus values from S&P Global.*

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • Clean beat and maintained FY25 ranges despite tariff headwinds; updates now explicitly include baseline 10% tariff, de-risking guidance methodology .
  • Branded engine remains robust (VC Coconut Water +25% YoY), with Treats scaling nationally; segment mix supportive for revenue durability even as private label softens .
  • Margin path hinges on 2H levers: price increases (Q2 and early Q3) and potential freight normalization; monitor tariff developments and reciprocal-tariff risk .
  • Retail execution tailwind building: Walmart reset headwinds easing; mgmt expects re-win of distribution, positioning scans to improve into summer/Q3 .
  • Balance sheet strength and buybacks offer downside protection and capital allocation flexibility (cash $153.6M, no debt; $65M authorization) .
  • Near-term trading: Positive reaction plausible on beat + guidance hold; watch Q2 private label visibility and Q2 gross margin (flat-ish) ahead of 2H inflection .
  • Medium-term thesis: Category penetration runway (U.S./U.K./Germany), stepped-up international investment, and capacity adds (2025–26) support sustained mid-teens branded growth algorithm .

Additional context

  • Marketing/innovation boosts brand heat: Treats national rollout and experiential marketing (NYC ‘Nostalgia Mall’), plus new Coconut Juice Piña Colada flavor ahead of summer .

Footnotes:

  • Adjusted EBITDA is non-GAAP; see company’s reconciliation and definitions in the release .
  • Consensus values from S&P Global.*