Freedom Capital Markets Adjusts PepsiCo Rating to Hold and Reduces Price Target to $164
Written by Emily J. Thompson, Senior Investment Analyst
Updated: Oct 23 2025
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Source: Benzinga
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Analyst Views on PEP
Wall Street analysts forecast PEP stock price to rise
12 Analyst Rating
6 Buy
6 Hold
0 Sell
Moderate Buy
Current: 146.290
Low
144.00
Averages
161.90
High
172.00
Current: 146.290
Low
144.00
Averages
161.90
High
172.00
About PEP
PepsiCo, Inc. is a global beverage and convenient food company. The Company’s segments include PepsiCo Foods North America (PFNA), PepsiCo Beverages North America (PBNA), International Beverages Franchise (IB Franchise), Europe, Middle East and Africa (EMEA), Latin America Foods (LatAm Foods), and Asia Pacific Foods. PFNA segment includes all of its convenient food businesses in the United States and Canada. PBNA segment includes all of its beverage businesses in the United States and Canada. IB Franchise segment includes its international franchise beverage businesses, as well as its SodaStream business. EMEA segment includes its convenient food businesses and beverage businesses with Company-owned bottlers in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. LatAm Foods segment includes all of its convenient food businesses in Latin America. Asia Pacific Foods segment consists of its convenient food businesses in Asia Pacific, including China, Australia and New Zealand, as well as India.
About the author
Emily J. Thompson
Emily J. Thompson, a Chartered Financial Analyst (CFA) with 12 years in investment research, graduated with honors from the Wharton School. Specializing in industrial and technology stocks, she provides in-depth analysis for Intellectia’s earnings and market brief reports.
PepsiCo Named Among Best Dividend Stocks to Buy Now
- Dividend King Status: PepsiCo (PEP) has increased its dividends for over 50 consecutive years, earning the title of Dividend King, which attracts income-focused investors and demonstrates its strong financial resilience in uncertain markets.
- Price Adjustment Strategy: In response to pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, PepsiCo recently reduced prices on beverages and snacks by up to 15%, a move that, while contrary to industry trends, may help regain customer trust and market share.
- Quarterly Performance Recovery: Despite facing industry challenges, PepsiCo's recent quarterly results suggest that its pricing strategy may be gaining traction, indicating the company's potential for growth in a competitive market.
- Diversified Business Structure: PepsiCo operates across several segments, including North American Foods and Beverages, and International Beverages Franchise, with its strong diversification allowing it to maintain stable revenue streams across varying market conditions.
See More
Tesla Lays Foundation for 2026 Growth
- Revenue Forecast Analysis: Tesla's full self-driving, robotaxi, Semi truck, and Optimus robot are projected to contribute only 2% of total revenue by 2026, but their combined revenue growth will significantly increase in 2027 and 2028, accounting for 46% of overall company revenue growth.
- Full Self-Driving Transition: Tesla's full self-driving software has shifted to a subscription model with excellent uptake, and as more global approvals, particularly in Europe, are anticipated, revenue growth is expected to accelerate in 2026, despite a slow initial production ramp-up.
- Semi Truck Production: The Semi truck has been successfully deployed with clients like PepsiCo and has entered commercial production, although the initial production ramp-up will be very slow, laying the groundwork for future market expansion.
- Key Catalyst for Robotaxi: The rollout of Tesla's robotaxi relies on the validation and release of the v15 full self-driving software, expected by year-end; while the number of unsupervised robotaxis is increasing, widespread deployment still hinges on the successful launch of this software.
See More
Tesla's 2026 Growth Foundations Set
- Growth Expectations: Wall Street forecasts Tesla's total revenue to reach $103.406 billion in 2026, with the four new initiatives (FSD, robotaxi, Semi truck, and Optimus) contributing only 2% of revenue, yet expected to account for 46% of growth by 2028, indicating long-term potential.
- Product Progress: The Semi truck has successfully entered production and partnered with PepsiCo, and while initial production ramp-up is slow, this progress lays the groundwork for future market expansion, enhancing Tesla's competitiveness in the commercial EV sector.
- FSD Transition: Tesla's full self-driving software has shifted to a subscription model with good user uptake, and global approvals expected in 2026 will further drive revenue growth, although execution risks remain in the short term.
- Robotaxi Outlook: While the number of Tesla's robotaxis is increasing, the key catalyst for widespread deployment remains the validation and release of the FSD software, anticipated by the end of 2026, which will be crucial for achieving broader market acceptance.
See More
Defensive Strategies Amid Inflation and Rate Uncertainty in Stock Market
- Dividend Kings Performance: PepsiCo has increased its dividends for 54 consecutive years, currently yielding 3.9%, and its diverse portfolio of beverages and snacks is expected to drive revenue growth, especially as the global snack market is projected to rise from $719 billion in 2024 to $922 billion by 2030.
- Utility Stability: Black Hills, a utility stock, has raised its dividends for 56 years with a current yield of 3.7%, and plans to merge with NorthWestern Energy Group, which would expand its customer base to over 2 million, further solidifying its market position.
- Strong Sales Performance: Colgate-Palmolive reported $5.3 billion in net sales for Q1 2026, marking its fourth consecutive quarter of record sales, and despite facing rising packaging and material costs, its 63-year history of dividend increases demonstrates its resilience to uncertainty.
- Market Defensive Strategies: Amid rising inflation and interest rate uncertainty, investors are leaning towards companies with stable dividends to protect their portfolios, making PepsiCo, Black Hills, and Colgate-Palmolive ideal choices due to their strong dividend records, providing a safety margin during market fluctuations.
See More
Defensive Investments Amid Market Rally Concerns
- Importance of Defensive Investments: Amid current market rally concerns, investors are advised to include defensive assets in their portfolios to mitigate potential downturn risks, ensuring stable returns during economic fluctuations.
- Performance of Dividend Kings: Companies known as 'Dividend Kings', such as PepsiCo (PEP), Black Hills (BKH), and Colgate-Palmolive (CL), have consistently increased dividends for over 50 years, demonstrating strong business resilience and stable cash flows, making them suitable holdings during economic uncertainty.
- PepsiCo's Market Advantage: With a dividend yield of 3.9%, higher than Coca-Cola's 2.6%, PepsiCo's diverse product portfolio, including snacks and beverages, is expected to drive revenue growth in the coming years, particularly as consumers continue to opt for affordable luxuries during economic slowdowns.
- Black Hills' Merger Prospects: Black Hills has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years, currently yielding 3.7%, and plans to merge with NorthWestern Energy Group, which, if approved, will serve over 2 million customers, further strengthening its market position and revenue stability.
See More
Four High-Yield Dividend Stocks Recommended
- Coca-Cola's Stability: Coca-Cola (KO) raised its quarterly dividend from $0.51 to $0.53 this year, marking 64 consecutive years of increases, which underscores its status as a 'Dividend King'; the current yield stands at 2.6%, significantly above the S&P 500's 1.1%.
- PepsiCo's Growth: PepsiCo (PEP) announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.48 this month, having raised dividends for 54 consecutive years, with a current yield of 4%, nearly four times that of the S&P 500, reflecting its strong profitability and market competitiveness.
- Procter & Gamble's Long-Term Commitment: Procter & Gamble (PG) has paid dividends since 1890 and has raised them for 70 straight years, with the latest quarterly payout increased by 3% to $1.0885, yielding 3.1%, supported by over $11 billion in free cash flow that easily covers $7.6 billion in dividends.
- Realty Income's Appeal: Realty Income (O), a REIT, pays monthly dividends and recently raised its payout from $0.27 to $0.2705, yielding 5.2%, well above the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index's 3.7%, demonstrating its strong cash flow and distribution capacity.
See More
PepsiCo Named Among Best Dividend Stocks to Buy Now
- Dividend King Status: PepsiCo (PEP) has increased its dividends for over 50 consecutive years, earning the title of Dividend King, which attracts income-focused investors and demonstrates its strong financial resilience in uncertain markets.
- Price Adjustment Strategy: In response to pressure from activist investor Elliott Investment Management, PepsiCo recently reduced prices on beverages and snacks by up to 15%, a move that, while contrary to industry trends, may help regain customer trust and market share.
- Quarterly Performance Recovery: Despite facing industry challenges, PepsiCo's recent quarterly results suggest that its pricing strategy may be gaining traction, indicating the company's potential for growth in a competitive market.
- Diversified Business Structure: PepsiCo operates across several segments, including North American Foods and Beverages, and International Beverages Franchise, with its strong diversification allowing it to maintain stable revenue streams across varying market conditions.
See More
Tesla Lays Foundation for 2026 Growth
- Revenue Forecast Analysis: Tesla's full self-driving, robotaxi, Semi truck, and Optimus robot are projected to contribute only 2% of total revenue by 2026, but their combined revenue growth will significantly increase in 2027 and 2028, accounting for 46% of overall company revenue growth.
- Full Self-Driving Transition: Tesla's full self-driving software has shifted to a subscription model with excellent uptake, and as more global approvals, particularly in Europe, are anticipated, revenue growth is expected to accelerate in 2026, despite a slow initial production ramp-up.
- Semi Truck Production: The Semi truck has been successfully deployed with clients like PepsiCo and has entered commercial production, although the initial production ramp-up will be very slow, laying the groundwork for future market expansion.
- Key Catalyst for Robotaxi: The rollout of Tesla's robotaxi relies on the validation and release of the v15 full self-driving software, expected by year-end; while the number of unsupervised robotaxis is increasing, widespread deployment still hinges on the successful launch of this software.
See More
Tesla's 2026 Growth Foundations Set
- Growth Expectations: Wall Street forecasts Tesla's total revenue to reach $103.406 billion in 2026, with the four new initiatives (FSD, robotaxi, Semi truck, and Optimus) contributing only 2% of revenue, yet expected to account for 46% of growth by 2028, indicating long-term potential.
- Product Progress: The Semi truck has successfully entered production and partnered with PepsiCo, and while initial production ramp-up is slow, this progress lays the groundwork for future market expansion, enhancing Tesla's competitiveness in the commercial EV sector.
- FSD Transition: Tesla's full self-driving software has shifted to a subscription model with good user uptake, and global approvals expected in 2026 will further drive revenue growth, although execution risks remain in the short term.
- Robotaxi Outlook: While the number of Tesla's robotaxis is increasing, the key catalyst for widespread deployment remains the validation and release of the FSD software, anticipated by the end of 2026, which will be crucial for achieving broader market acceptance.
See More
Defensive Strategies Amid Inflation and Rate Uncertainty in Stock Market
- Dividend Kings Performance: PepsiCo has increased its dividends for 54 consecutive years, currently yielding 3.9%, and its diverse portfolio of beverages and snacks is expected to drive revenue growth, especially as the global snack market is projected to rise from $719 billion in 2024 to $922 billion by 2030.
- Utility Stability: Black Hills, a utility stock, has raised its dividends for 56 years with a current yield of 3.7%, and plans to merge with NorthWestern Energy Group, which would expand its customer base to over 2 million, further solidifying its market position.
- Strong Sales Performance: Colgate-Palmolive reported $5.3 billion in net sales for Q1 2026, marking its fourth consecutive quarter of record sales, and despite facing rising packaging and material costs, its 63-year history of dividend increases demonstrates its resilience to uncertainty.
- Market Defensive Strategies: Amid rising inflation and interest rate uncertainty, investors are leaning towards companies with stable dividends to protect their portfolios, making PepsiCo, Black Hills, and Colgate-Palmolive ideal choices due to their strong dividend records, providing a safety margin during market fluctuations.
See More
Defensive Investments Amid Market Rally Concerns
- Importance of Defensive Investments: Amid current market rally concerns, investors are advised to include defensive assets in their portfolios to mitigate potential downturn risks, ensuring stable returns during economic fluctuations.
- Performance of Dividend Kings: Companies known as 'Dividend Kings', such as PepsiCo (PEP), Black Hills (BKH), and Colgate-Palmolive (CL), have consistently increased dividends for over 50 years, demonstrating strong business resilience and stable cash flows, making them suitable holdings during economic uncertainty.
- PepsiCo's Market Advantage: With a dividend yield of 3.9%, higher than Coca-Cola's 2.6%, PepsiCo's diverse product portfolio, including snacks and beverages, is expected to drive revenue growth in the coming years, particularly as consumers continue to opt for affordable luxuries during economic slowdowns.
- Black Hills' Merger Prospects: Black Hills has increased its dividend for 56 consecutive years, currently yielding 3.7%, and plans to merge with NorthWestern Energy Group, which, if approved, will serve over 2 million customers, further strengthening its market position and revenue stability.
See More
Four High-Yield Dividend Stocks Recommended
- Coca-Cola's Stability: Coca-Cola (KO) raised its quarterly dividend from $0.51 to $0.53 this year, marking 64 consecutive years of increases, which underscores its status as a 'Dividend King'; the current yield stands at 2.6%, significantly above the S&P 500's 1.1%.
- PepsiCo's Growth: PepsiCo (PEP) announced a 4% increase in its quarterly dividend to $1.48 this month, having raised dividends for 54 consecutive years, with a current yield of 4%, nearly four times that of the S&P 500, reflecting its strong profitability and market competitiveness.
- Procter & Gamble's Long-Term Commitment: Procter & Gamble (PG) has paid dividends since 1890 and has raised them for 70 straight years, with the latest quarterly payout increased by 3% to $1.0885, yielding 3.1%, supported by over $11 billion in free cash flow that easily covers $7.6 billion in dividends.
- Realty Income's Appeal: Realty Income (O), a REIT, pays monthly dividends and recently raised its payout from $0.27 to $0.2705, yielding 5.2%, well above the FTSE Nareit All Equity REITs Index's 3.7%, demonstrating its strong cash flow and distribution capacity.
See More
