PepsiCo Inc (PEP): Today's Featured Food & Beverage Laggard

PepsiCo (PEP) pushed the Food & Beverage industry lower today making it today's featured Food & Beverage laggard. The industry as a whole closed the day down 0.4%. By the end of trading, PepsiCo fell 60 cents (-0.8%) to $71.80 on average volume. Throughout the day, 6.3 million shares of PepsiCo exchanged hands as compared to its average daily volume of 6.9 million shares. The stock ranged in price between $71.45-$72.26 after having opened the day at $72.11 as compared to the previous trading day's close of $72.40. Other company's within the Food & Beverage industry that declined today were: Central European Distribution (CEDC), down 21.3%, Inventure Foods (SNAK), down 15.4%, Le Gaga Holdings (GAGA), down 6.4%, and Central Garden & Pet Company (CENTA), down 5.4%.

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PepsiCo, Inc. engages in the manufacture and sale of snacks, carbonated and non-carbonated beverages, dairy products, and other foods worldwide. PepsiCo has a market cap of $113.19 billion and is part of the consumer goods sector. The company has a P/E ratio of 19.2, equal to the average food & beverage industry P/E ratio and above the S&P 500 P/E ratio of 17.7. Shares are up 9.1% year to date as of the close of trading on Wednesday. Currently there are 11 analysts that rate PepsiCo a buy, no analysts rate it a sell, and four rate it a hold.

TheStreet Ratings rates PepsiCo as a buy. The company's strengths can be seen in multiple areas, such as its notable return on equity, reasonable valuation levels, solid stock price performance and expanding profit margins. We feel these strengths outweigh the fact that the company has had sub par growth in net income.

• You can view the full PepsiCo Ratings Report.

On the positive front, Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (GMCR), up 26.5%, Smart Balance (SMBL), up 12%, Coffee Holding Company (JVA), up 8.6%, and Tianli Agritech (OINK), up 5.1%, were all gainers within the food & beverage industry with Smithfield Foods (SFD) being today's featured food & beverage industry leader.

• Use our food & beverage section to find industry-relevant news.
• Or find some new ideas from our top rated stocks lists.

For investors not wanting singular stock exposure, ETFs may be of interest. Investors who are bullish on the food & beverage industry could consider PowerShares Dynamic Food & Beverage (PBJ) while those bearish on the food & beverage industry could consider PowerShares DB Agriculture Sht ETN (ADZ).

• Find other investment ideas from our top rated ETFs lists.

For more information on PepsiCo Inc click any of the following:

• PepsiCo Inc Stock Price

• PepsiCo Inc Analyst Ratings

• PepsiCo Inc Key Stats & Profile

• PepsiCo Inc Earnings

• PepsiCo Inc Ratio Comparison

• PepsiCo Inc Growth Rates

• PepsiCo Inc Balance Sheet

• PepsiCo Inc Cash Flow

• PepsiCo Inc Income Statement