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PEPSICO INC (PEP) Q4 2024 Earnings Summary

Executive Summary

  • Q4 2024 revenue was $27.78B (-0.2% YoY) and Core EPS was $1.96 (+10% YoY), supported by margin expansion and strong international performance; GAAP EPS was $1.11 (+17% YoY) as PBNA absorbed impairment related to the Tropicana Brands Group investment and Juice Transaction receivables .
  • 2025 outlook: low-single-digit organic revenue growth and mid-single-digit Core constant-currency EPS growth, with ~3ppt FX headwind; core tax rate ~20%; total cash returns expected at ~$8.6B (dividends $7.6B; buybacks $1.0B) .
  • Dividend raised 5% to $5.69 annualized beginning June 2025 (53rd consecutive annual increase), following a separate declaration of $1.355 per share payable Mar 31, 2025; dividend cadence remains a key capital returns pillar .
  • Near-term U.S. snacks softness (FLNA volumes down; OP -11% YoY) reflects value-seeking consumers and deliberate reinvestment; management highlighted targeted price-pack architecture and “positive choices” innovation to reaccelerate growth in 2025, with international a continuing growth/margin lever .

What Went Well and What Went Wrong

  • What Went Well

    • International strength and profitability: Europe Core constant-currency OP +41% in Q4; AMESA +57% in Q4; APAC/ANZ/China +14% in Q4; full-year Europe OP +163% (lapping SodaStream impairments) .
    • Margin expansion despite muted topline: Q4 Core gross margin +23 bps YoY; Q4 Core operating margin +102 bps YoY; FY Core operating margin +83 bps .
    • Shareholder returns and confidence: 2025 plan for ~$8.6B returns and 5% dividend raise underscores cash generation and capital discipline .
  • What Went Wrong

    • FLNA softness and reinvestment: Q4 FLNA OP -11% (restructuring +5ppt headwind), with lower organic volume; management is prioritizing value packs, portion control, and away-from-home infrastructure to reignite volume .
    • PBNA impairment drove optics: PBNA Q4 OP swung to a $(109)M loss due to impairment and other charges tied to TBG and the Juice Transaction; Core OP remained positive on pricing and productivity .
    • Latin America indirect tax: Q4 LATAM OP -25% including a 31ppt indirect tax reserve; FX also weighed (14ppt) despite effective net pricing and productivity .

Financial Results

Headline results vs prior year and prior quarter

MetricQ4 2023Q3 2024Q4 2024
Revenue ($B)$27.85 $23.32 $27.78
GAAP Diluted EPS$0.94 $2.13 $1.11
Core EPS (non-GAAP)$1.78 $2.31 $1.96

Segment revenue and operating profit (Q4)

DivisionRevenue Q4 2023 ($B)Revenue Q4 2024 ($B)OP Q4 2023 ($M)OP Q4 2024 ($M)
Frito-Lay North America$7.47 $7.32 $1,840 $1,647
Quaker Foods North America$0.89 $0.87 $40 $170
PepsiCo Beverages North America$7.91 $7.91 $408 $(109)
Latin America$3.97 $3.69 $703 $528
Europe$4.22 $4.48 $(439) $469
AMESA$1.94 $2.03 $151 $208
APAC/ANZ/China$1.45 $1.48 $24 $93
Total$27.85 $27.78 $1,683 $2,250

Q4 organic revenue and volume (non-GAAP)

DivisionOrganic Revenue % (Q4)Organic Volume % (Q4)
Frito-Lay North America(2)% (3)%
Quaker Foods North America(2)% (6)%
PepsiCo Beverages North America0% (3)%
Latin America+4% ~0%
Europe+7% +2%
AMESA+14% +3%
APAC/ANZ/China+1% +5%
Total+2% (1)%

Margins (YoY performance change)

MetricQ4 2024 YoY ChangeFY 2024 YoY Change
Core Gross Margin (bps)+23 bps +72 bps
Core Operating Margin (bps)+102 bps +83 bps

Non-GAAP EPS bridge (Q4)

ItemEPS Impact
GAAP Diluted EPS$1.11
+ Restructuring & impairment+$0.17
+ Impairment & other charges+$0.38
+ Indirect tax impact+$0.16
+ Pension/retiree medical+$0.15
+ Acquisition/divestiture+$0.01
+/− Mark-to-market(−$0.02)
Core EPS$1.96

Guidance Changes

MetricPeriodPrevious GuidanceCurrent GuidanceChange
Organic Revenue GrowthFY 2025N/ALow-single-digit increase New
Core EPS Growth (cc)FY 2025N/AMid-single-digit increase New
Core Annual Effective Tax RateFY 2025N/A~20% New
FX Translation ImpactFY 2025N/A~3ppt headwind on reported revenue and Core EPS New
Total Cash ReturnsFY 2025~$8.2B (2024 guide) ~$8.6B ($7.6B dividends; $1.0B buybacks) Raised
Annual DividendFrom June 2025$5.42 (2024) $5.69 (+5%) Raised

Note: Company states FY25 Core EPS growth is mid-single-digit in constant currency; with ~3ppt FX headwind, implied reported Core EPS growth is low-single-digit versus FY24 Core EPS of $8.16 .

Earnings Call Themes & Trends

TopicQ2 2024 (prior-2)Q3 2024 (prior-1)Q4 2024 (current)Trend
U.S. Snacks (FLNA) value/volumeEmphasis on targeted value and A&M to restore volume; “consumer more price-conscious”; away-from-home focus Value levers (bonus packs, Tostitos/Doritos brand events), “positive choices” portfolio; category-wide softness, affordability headwinds Continued reinvestment; surgical price-pack architecture, portion control, away-from-home buildout; category volumes showing early improvement Stabilizing with targeted value; execution focus
PBNA profitability and growthMargin expansion in PBNA, innovation in functional hydration, Zero growth; better service levels March to mid-teens PBNA margin maintained; portfolio and execution improvements Mid-teens PBNA margin aspiration reiterated; energy a strategic pillar; Baja Blast expansion Margin roadmap intact; energy and flavors/Zero
International growthInternational as major growth engine; investments continue Growth resilient; some geopolitics/consumer softness; beverages outpacing foods ~$40B international business accretive; strong Europe; AMESA FX/commodity pressure Structural growth driver; mix/margin support
Health/“positive choices”Portion control, permissible snacks, Zero-sugar beverages; long-term shift Positive Choices scale; democratizing healthier options Pivoting A&M to permissible offerings; portion control core to strategy Sustained portfolio evolution
GLP-1 impactMinimal direct impact; broader value-conscious behavior dominates Not highlightedMinimal observed impact; monitor health/wellness narrative Low direct impact; messaging persists
Restructuring/Org designNot highlightedRealignment to focus international franchise beverages vs. foods; U.S. harmonization in technology/infrastructure Same themes reiterated; productivity funds reinvestment Productivity-enabled reinvestment

Management Commentary

  • “We expect to deliver low-single-digit organic revenue growth and mid-single-digit core constant currency EPS growth in 2025… We also announced a 5 percent increase in our annualized dividend per share beginning with the June 2025 payment” (R. Laguarta) .
  • On FLNA reinvestment: “We’re going to continue to invest… we reinvested most of the one-time gains in Q4 to get us off to a good start in 2025” (J. Caulfield; R. Laguarta) .
  • On pricing/value: “I wouldn’t assume… negative pricing… more surgical price-pack strategy that drives growth” (R. Laguarta) .
  • On PBNA/energy: “Energy remains a fundamental part of our beverage growth strategy in the U.S.” (R. Laguarta) .
  • On long-term growth: “We see our long-term organic sales growth at 4% to 6% and remain committed to translating that into high single-digit EPS” (R. Laguarta) .

Q&A Highlights

  • FLNA strategy and ROI: Investments funded by productivity and non-operating gains; focus on affordability (price partitions), portion control, and away-from-home to reignite category volume; early signs of stabilization .
  • Pricing posture: No intent for broad price rollbacks; surgical pack/price architecture to protect category economics while improving value accessibility .
  • EPS guide drivers: FX (~3.4x “set” with peso headwind), higher net interest from refinancings and higher debt (CFA, Sabra), higher pension expense; sector OP growth should exceed EPS growth in 2025 (J. Caulfield) .
  • Energy/Mountain Dew: Energy remains a growth pillar; Baja Blast now scaled (~$1B franchise retail + AFH), with Super Bowl and full-year plans to drive Gen Z penetration .
  • GLP-1: Minimal direct impact observed; broader health/wellness awareness addressed via portion control and “positive choices” portfolio .

Estimates Context

  • We attempted to retrieve S&P Global consensus estimates (EPS, revenue) for Q4 2024 and prior quarters, but access hit the provider’s daily rate limit, so consensus comparisons are unavailable. As a result, we cannot provide vs-consensus beat/miss analysis for this quarter (S&P Global request limit exceeded).

Key Takeaways for Investors

  • 2025 set-up is deliberately conservative on topline amid FX and macro, but productivity-driven reinvestment, international scale, and a disciplined value architecture should support Core EPS growth even with FX headwinds .
  • International remains the structural growth and margin lever; Europe’s turnaround (lapping impairments) and AMESA/APAC productivity leave room for further operating leverage .
  • North America snacks is the swing factor: execution of price-pack architecture, portion control, and “positive choices” innovation is critical to volume recovery; watch sequential FLNA volumes and elasticities in H1 2025 .
  • PBNA’s margin-improvement path and selective innovation (functional hydration, Zero sugar, energy, Baja Blast) provide portfolio diversification and earnings resilience .
  • Capital returns remain robust with a 5% dividend increase and ~$8.6B expected total returns in 2025; cash generation supports reinvestment and shareholder payouts .
  • Monitor non-GAAP adjustment cadence (restructuring, impairments, tax items) and FX translation (~3ppt headwind) to bridge Core to reported performance .
  • Without consensus comparisons this quarter, trading catalysts hinge on confidence in FLNA volume inflection, PBNA margin trajectory, and confirmation of international strength into 1H25 through intra-quarter updates .

Appendix: Additional Data Points

  • Q4 reported net revenue: $27.78B; FX translation headwind ~2% to revenue in quarter .
  • Q4 Core EPS $1.96 vs $1.78 prior year; Core constant-currency EPS +14% YoY in Q4 .
  • FY 2024 Core EPS $8.16 vs $7.62 in 2023; Core constant-currency EPS +9% .
  • Cash from operations FY 2024: $12.51B; capex $5.32B; dividends paid $7.23B; buybacks $1.0B .

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