PepsiCo's Surging Volume Ranks 60th as Earnings Beat and Dividend Hike Failed to Lift Shares

On July 30, 2025, PepsiCo (PEP) traded with a volume of 1.39 billion shares, a 54.84% increase from the prior day, ranking 60th in trading activity. The stock closed down 0.72%, despite a strong quarterly earnings report showing $2.12 per share, exceeding estimates by $0.09, and revenue of $22.73 billion. The company also announced a $1.4225 per share quarterly dividend, yielding 3.95% annually. Institutional investors, including Natixis Advisors LLC and several others, increased their stakes in the company during the first and fourth quarters, reflecting confidence in its long-term prospects.

Recent institutional purchases include Natixis Advisors LLC boosting its position by 18.4%, now holding 784,085 shares valued at $117.57 million. Other firms like Brighton Jones LLC, AIA Group Ltd, and Summit Financial LLC also increased holdings by double-digit percentages. These moves highlight continued institutional backing despite mixed sentiment around operational challenges, including a planned shutdown of manufacturing operations in Detroit, which may incur restructuring costs and disrupt local supply chains.

Analyst activity has been mixed. Wells Fargo & Company raised its price target to $154, while UBS Group cut its target to $169. Citigroup upgraded PEP with a $168 target and a “buy” rating. However, a downgrade due to tariff-related margin pressures and rising costs tempered some optimism. The stock’s 52-week range of $127.60 to $180.91 and a P/E ratio of 26.21 suggest valuation remains a key focus for investors.

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