PepsiCo revenue falls 3% as pandemic hits beverage sales but boosts snacks business

PepsiCo on Monday reported that its quarterly revenue fell as fewer consumers bought its drinks at restaurants or convenience stores as a consequence of the coronavirus pandemic.

The company did report growth for its food items, such as Cheetos and oatmeal, in the quarter.

Shares of the company rose 3.3% in premarket trading.

Pepsi said that it would not be providing an outlook for fiscal 2020 at this time, citing the continued volatility and uncertainty surrounding the pandemic.

Here’s what the company reported compared with what Wall Street was expecting, based on a survey of analysts by Refinitiv:

• Earnings per share: $1.32, adjusted, vs. $1.25 expected
• Revenue: $15.95 billion vs. $15.38 billion expected

In the second quarter ended June 13, Pepsi reported net income of $1.65 billion, or $1.18 per share, down from $2.04 billion, or $1.44 per share, a year earlier. CEO Ramon Laguarta said that the company spent nearly $400 million on costs related to the pandemic, including personal protective equipment for employees.

Excluding items, the company earned $1.32 per share, beating the $1.25 per share expected by analysts surveyed by Refinitiv.

Net sales dropped 3.1% to $15.95 billion, topping expectations of $15.38 billion. The company’s organic revenue, which strips out foreign currency, acquisitions and divestitures, fell 0.3%.

PepsiCo’s North American beverage unit saw its organic revenue fall 7%, despite growth at supermarkets and dollar stores. The closure of restaurants, movie theaters and sports stadiums weighed on the business, but not all of its drinks suffered. Pepsi Zero Sugar and Bubly saw double-digit revenue growth.

Quaker Foods North America reported organic revenue growth of 23% as consumers bought more oatmeal for breakfast and baking. Laguarta said that consumers continued to buy these items even as economies opened up at the end of the quarter. The company has crafted a marketing plan for the rest of the year to retain these sales, including the launch of Cheetos mac and cheese.

Frito-Lay North America saw organic sales growth of 6%.

Outside of North America, the company reported declining organic sales in its Europe and Africa, Middle East and South Asia segments. Latin America’s organic revenue was flat, while its Asia Pacific, Australia and New Zealand and China segment saw organic sales growth of 15%.

Laguarta said that the company saw signs of improvement in May and June as many economies began to reopen and consumers resumed some of their prior habits.