Although PepsiCo Inc. (NYSE: PEP) reported that its fiscal first-quarter earnings declined 4.6% due to restructuring costs and increased spending on advertising and charge linked to devaluation of Venezuelan currency, shares of the beverage Company climbed on Thursday as adjusted earnings and revenue edged past Street’s estimate.
Lately, the Company has been persistently trying to sell its products at higher prices drifting away from its discount driven sales strategy. While this strategy did put some pressure on the top line growth as sale volume declined initially, company’s margin improved significantly which in turn is driving up the bottom line.
Besides, the Company has also increased its spending on advertising and started to focus more on top 12 brands. Thanks to its turnaround plan, the Company’s organic growth (excluding the sale impact from acquisitions, divesture and foreign exchange fluctuation) has been impressive, in the recent past.
Commenting over the results, PepsiCo’s Chairman and Chief Executive, Indra Nooyi said in a statement, “We delivered solid organic revenue growth and double-digit core EPS growth in the first quarter, driven by our balanced food and beverage product and global geographic portfolio.”
PepsiCo, which makes brands such as Tropicana Juices Frito-Lay snacks, reported net income of $1.08 billion or 69 cents a share in the recently concluded quarter compared to a profit of $1.13 billion or 71 cents a share, in the same quarter of last year.
Excluding onetime items such as restructuring charges, an impact from Venezuelan currency devaluation and other items, non-GAAP or adjusted earnings came at 77 cents a share.
Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters were expecting earnings of 71 cents a share.
Revenue during the period rose around 1% to $12.58 billion.
Looking ahead at fiscal 2013, the Company expects earnings to grow 7% , which is in-line with its earlier guidance. In fiscal 2012, full-year earnings came at $4.10 a share.
In fiscal 2012, PepsiCo’s profits came under pressure due to what the Company described it as a “transition year”, resulting in higher marketing and advertising costs.
Geographically, the AMEA (Asia, the Middle East and Africa) pushed the growth in the beverage segment, where operating profit climbed 24%.
In foods segment, operating profit jumped 18% in Latin America. Overall, foods revenue rose 5.3% in Americas to $5.12 billion, while beverages revenue declined 0.6% in Americas to $4.42 billion.
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