Donaldson Capital Adds 3,850 PepsiCo Shares, Analysts Adjust Price Targets
Donaldson Capital Management boosted its PepsiCo stake by 1.9%, adding 3,850 shares to reach 202,258 shares valued at $28.4 million. Piper Sandler lifted PepsiCo’s price target to $172 while UBS trimmed its target from $172 to $170, backing a consensus Hold rating with a $159.29 average target.
1. Q4 Earnings Preview
PepsiCo is scheduled to report fourth-quarter results before the opening bell on Tuesday, Feb. 3. Analysts project earnings of $2.24 per share, up from $1.96 in the year-ago period, and revenue of $28.97 billion versus $27.78 billion a year earlier. This anticipated year-over-year growth of 14.3% in EPS and 4.3% in revenue reflects continued strength in both beverage and snack segments, driven by pricing actions and cost efficiencies implemented throughout the year.
2. Dividend Income Strategy
With an annual dividend yield of 3.70% and a quarterly payout of $1.4225 per share, investors seeking $500 per month (or $6,000 annually) in dividend income would need approximately 1,054 shares. A more modest target of $100 per month ($1,200 annually) requires roughly 211 shares. These calculations divide the desired annual income by the $5.69 total annual dividend. As both stock price and dividend payments fluctuate, actual yield may vary over time, underscoring the importance of monitoring payout ratios and sustainable free cash flow levels.
3. Institutional and Analyst Activity
In its latest 13F filing, Donaldson Capital Management LLC reported ownership of 202,258 shares of PepsiCo after acquiring 3,850 additional shares during the third quarter, representing a portfolio value of approximately $28.4 million. UBS analyst Peter Grom reiterated a Buy rating on Jan. 14, adjusting his price target from $172 to $170. Across the analyst community, one firm has issued a Strong Buy rating, nine have given Buy ratings, ten hold ratings, and one a Sell recommendation, resulting in a consensus price target of $159.29.