JPMorgan Chase & Co. Cuts PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) Price Target to $172.00

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) had its target price lowered by equities research analysts at JPMorgan Chase & Co. from $176.00 to $172.00 in a research note issued on Wednesday,MarketScreener reports. The brokerage presently has an “overweight” rating on the stock. JPMorgan Chase & Co.‘s price target would suggest a potential upside of 12.26% from the company’s current price.

Other equities research analysts also recently issued reports about the company. Citigroup lifted their target price on PepsiCo from $170.00 to $182.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Wall Street Zen upgraded PepsiCo from a “hold” rating to a “buy” rating in a research report on Saturday, March 7th. Wells Fargo & Company raised their price target on PepsiCo from $154.00 to $165.00 and gave the company an “equal weight” rating in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. BNP Paribas Exane set a $191.00 price objective on PepsiCo in a report on Wednesday, February 4th. Finally, Evercore lifted their price target on shares of PepsiCo from $152.00 to $165.00 in a research report on Wednesday, February 4th. Eight research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating, eleven have given a Hold rating and one has issued a Sell rating to the company’s stock. According to data from MarketBeat, the company currently has an average rating of “Hold” and an average target price of $168.58.

PepsiCo Price Performance

PEP opened at $153.21 on Wednesday. PepsiCo has a 12-month low of $127.60 and a 12-month high of $171.48. The company has a quick ratio of 0.67, a current ratio of 0.85 and a debt-to-equity ratio of 2.06. The firm has a market capitalization of $209.43 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.54, a PEG ratio of 3.03 and a beta of 0.40. The stock has a fifty day moving average of $160.21 and a 200-day moving average of $150.85.

PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP) last announced its quarterly earnings data on Monday, February 2nd. The company reported $2.26 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $2.24 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $29.34 billion during the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $28.96 billion. PepsiCo had a return on equity of 57.92% and a net margin of 8.77%.The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 5.6% on a year-over-year basis. During the same period in the prior year, the business earned $1.96 EPS. Equities analysts forecast that PepsiCo will post 8.3 EPS for the current fiscal year.

PepsiCo announced that its Board of Directors has initiated a stock repurchase program on Tuesday, February 3rd that allows the company to repurchase $10.00 billion in shares. This repurchase authorization allows the company to purchase up to 4.7% of its stock through open market purchases. Stock repurchase programs are typically a sign that the company’s board of directors believes its shares are undervalued.

Institutional Trading of PepsiCo

Several hedge funds have recently bought and sold shares of PEP. Gunpowder Capital Management LLC dba Oliver Wealth Management bought a new position in PepsiCo during the 4th quarter worth about $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. acquired a new position in shares of PepsiCo in the second quarter valued at $27,000. JCIC Asset Management Inc. bought a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Swiss RE Ltd. acquired a new stake in shares of PepsiCo during the fourth quarter worth $28,000. Finally, MH & Associates Securities Management Corp ADV bought a new stake in shares of PepsiCo in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. 73.07% of the stock is currently owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

Trending Headlines about PepsiCo

Here are the key news stories impacting PepsiCo this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Technical/analyst note that the stock “sets up for a tactical bounce” into Q1 earnings on improving momentum, suggesting a potential short‑term rebound if results match expectations. PepsiCo (PEP) Sets Up for a Tactical Bounce into Q1 Earnings
• Positive Sentiment: UBS trimmed its price target slightly but kept a “buy” rating, signaling continued analyst conviction and upside from current levels despite near‑term noise. Benzinga Coverage of UBS PT Change
• Neutral Sentiment: Bank of America and other brokers expect Q1 results to be largely in line with consensus; investors will focus on PFNA affordability progress, PBNA growth initiatives and geopolitical risks. In‑line earnings could limit downside but won’t resolve the pricing/volume debate. PepsiCo seen posting in-line Q1 as analysts flag North America turnaround
• Neutral Sentiment: Analyst model updates show a modest fair‑value reset with mixed price target moves — some raises and some cuts — indicating divergent views on how quickly price/affordability actions will show in results. Investment Narrative Is Shifting
• Negative Sentiment: Multiple reports say steep Doritos price increases (up ~50% since 2021) prompted consumer backlash and a subsequent price‑cut strategy that cost PepsiCo significant sales/market value — the headlines are weighing on sentiment. Doritos at $7 a bag ended up costing PepsiCo billions
• Negative Sentiment: In‑depth coverage highlights that delayed price corrections at Frito‑Lay contributed to large market‑cap losses and intensified investor concern about revenue/volume tradeoffs in snacks. Doritos prices jumped 50% in four years and PepsiCo waited until it lost billions
• Negative Sentiment: Distribution/brand risk: reports that Marriott is shifting away from Pepsi in favor of Coca‑Cola for hotel placements amplify concerns about lost shelf/venue presence and brand momentum. Marriott Dumps Pepsi
• Negative Sentiment: Market reaction includes headlines noting the stock slipped as Frito‑Lay price cuts “failed to please customers,” reinforcing the narrative that pricing and affordability are near‑term execution risks. PEP slips as price cuts fail to please

PepsiCo Company Profile

PepsiCo, Inc (NASDAQ: PEP) is a multinational food and beverage company headquartered in Purchase, New York. The company develops, manufactures, markets and sells a broad portfolio of branded food and beverage products, including carbonated and noncarbonated soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, ready-to-drink teas and coffees, salty snacks, cereals, and other convenient foods. Its leading consumer brands include Pepsi, Mountain Dew, Gatorade, Tropicana, Quaker, Lay’s, Doritos and Cheetos, among others.

Formed through the 1965 merger of Pepsi-Cola and Frito-Lay, PepsiCo has grown into a global business with integrated manufacturing, distribution and marketing operations.