PepsiCo shares are down about 10% in 2026; Coca-Cola is up nearly 25%, and the S&P 500 has gained 13%. The Motley Fool says PepsiCo’s weaker performance against Coca-Cola likely explains the gap: Q2 organic sales grew 2.4% at PepsiCo, versus 6% at Coca-Cola.
Inflation is raising costs across consumer staples, while tighter household spending is pressuring revenue. The article also cites consumers’ shift toward healthier choices as a headwind for snack and packaged-food makers such as PepsiCo.
PepsiCo shares are also down 33% from their 2023 high. The article says the sell-off has left the stock with a historically high 4.5% dividend yield; PepsiCo has increased its dividend for more than 50 consecutive years and is described as financially strong and profitable.
