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PepsiCo Inc.: Q3 FY2026 earnings call

What management said about Q3 FY2026, from the documents filed with the SEC on 8 October 2026: press release. Guidance figures: 3 raised, 3 lowered, 3 kept. The quarter’s numbers.

Key takeaways

  • Net revenue rose 5.6 percent: Net revenue was $25,274 million against $23,937 million. Organic growth of 3.1 percent, a 1.7-point net acquisition benefit and a 0.7-point foreign exchange benefit contributed. Source
  • Core operating profit rose 3 percent: Core operating profit was $4,277 million against $4,137 million. Core operating margin was 16.9 percent, against 17.3 percent a year earlier. Source
  • EPS rose 17 percent: Diluted EPS was $2.23 against $1.90. Core EPS was $2.34 against $2.29, up 2 percent. Source
  • Core segment profit fell only in PFNA: Core operating profit: PFNA down 12 percent; PBNA up 4, IB Franchise up 10, EMEA up 16, LatAm Foods up 20 and Asia Pacific Foods up 14 percent. Source
  • Convenient foods improved sequentially in North America: PFNA convenient foods net revenue improved sequentially on savory snacks volume growth and higher volume market share, offset by lower effective net pricing. Source
  • Productivity and tariff refunds lifted profit: Management attributed core operating profit to productivity savings, effective net pricing and a 4-point favorable impact from tariff refunds. Source
  • North America investment and execution focus: Management said it is acting with urgency to improve North America performance through investment in innovation, brand building and channel execution. Source

“Our third-quarter results featured strong net revenue growth, an acceleration in organic revenue growth with organic volume growth across both global beverages and convenient foods.”

Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta

Guidance

AreaPeriodFigureAgainst last quarter
Organic revenue SourceFiscal 2026Approximately +3%
Foreign exchange translation SourceFiscal 2026Approximately +1.5% to net revenue and core EPS growthRaised from Approximately +1% to net revenue and core EPS growth
Acquisitions, net of divestitures SourceFiscal 2026Approximately +1.5% to net revenue growthRaised from Approximately +1% to net revenue growth
Net revenue SourceFiscal 2026Approximately +6%Raised from +4% to +6%
Core annual effective tax rate SourceFiscal 2026Approximately 21%Lowered from Approximately 22%
Core constant currency EPS growth SourceFiscal 2026+1% to +2%Lowered from Low-end of +4% to +6%
Core EPS growth SourceFiscal 2026+2.5% to +3.5%Lowered from Low-end of +5% to +7%
Capital spending SourceFiscal 2026Below 5% of net revenueKept
Free cash flow conversion ratio SourceFiscal 2026At least 80 percentKept
Cash returns to shareholders SourceFiscal 2026$8.9 billionKept

What changed from last quarter

  • Guidance raised: Net revenue growth guidance now approximately 6 percent, against 4 to 6 percent previously. Source
  • Guidance raised: Foreign exchange translation contribution raised to approximately 1.5 percent from approximately 1 percent. Source
  • Guidance raised: Acquisitions net of divestitures contribution raised to approximately 1.5 percent from approximately 1 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Core constant currency EPS growth guidance now 1 to 2 percent, against a previous low end of 4 to 6 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Core EPS growth guidance now 2.5 to 3.5 percent, against a previous low end of 5 to 7 percent. Source
  • Guidance lowered: Core annual effective tax rate guidance now approximately 21 percent, against approximately 22 percent previously. Source
  • Guidance kept: Capital spending, free cash flow conversion and cash returns guidance are the same as previously. Source
  • New: Additional structural cost reduction actions are being identified, to be implemented in the coming months. Source

Quarter results and drivers

  • Net revenue rose 5.6 percent: Net revenue was $25,274 million against $23,937 million. Organic growth of 3.1 percent, a 1.7-point net acquisition benefit and a 0.7-point foreign exchange benefit contributed. Source
  • Operating profit rose 19 percent: Operating profit was $4,260 million against $3,569 million. Operating margin was 16.9 percent, up 195 basis points. Source
  • Core operating profit rose 3 percent: Core operating profit was $4,277 million against $4,137 million. Core operating margin was 16.9 percent, against 17.3 percent a year earlier. Source
  • EPS rose 17 percent: Diluted EPS was $2.23 against $1.90. Core EPS was $2.34 against $2.29, up 2 percent. Source
  • Year-to-date revenue rose 6.7 percent: Year-to-date net revenue was $68,898 million against $64,582 million: organic growth 2.7 percent, foreign exchange 2.0 points and net acquisitions 2.0 points. Source
  • Year-to-date profit reflects prior-year impairments: Year-to-date operating profit was $11,496 million, up 45 percent, mainly because of prior-year impairment charges for the Rockstar and Be & Cheery brands. Source

Segment revenue and profit

  • Revenue grew in most segments: Reported net revenue rose 8 percent in IB Franchise and EMEA, 10 percent in Asia Pacific Foods, 14 percent in LatAm Foods and 5 percent in PBNA. PFNA was flat. Source
  • Core segment profit fell only in PFNA: Core operating profit: PFNA down 12 percent; PBNA up 4, IB Franchise up 10, EMEA up 16, LatAm Foods up 20 and Asia Pacific Foods up 14 percent. Source
  • PBNA growth reflects 2025 acquisitions: PBNA net revenue grew 5 percent, primarily reflecting acquisitions made in 2025. PBNA core operating profit rose 4 percent. Source

“Looking ahead, we remain focused on building upon the strength of the International business”

Chairman and CEO Ramon Laguarta

North America convenient foods and beverages

  • Convenient foods improved sequentially in North America: PFNA convenient foods net revenue improved sequentially on savory snacks volume growth and higher volume market share, offset by lower effective net pricing. Source
  • Year-to-date volume and share gains: Year-to-date, North America convenient foods organic volume and volume market share rose, aided by innovation and affordability initiatives. Source
  • Year-to-date beverages growth of 7 percent: PBNA year-to-date net revenue grew 7 percent, mainly from 2025 acquisitions, with organic revenue up 1 percent. Source

Costs, margins and tax

  • Core gross margin rose: Core gross margin was 54.4 percent, against 53.9 percent a year earlier. Source
  • Productivity and tariff refunds lifted profit: Management attributed core operating profit to productivity savings, effective net pricing and a 4-point favorable impact from tariff refunds. Source
  • Core SG&A rose to $9,471 million: Core selling, general and administrative expenses were $9,471 million, against $8,767 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cost increases and marketing partly offset gains: Management said certain operating cost increases and higher advertising and marketing expenses partly offset the gains. Source
  • Core tax rate was 21.2 percent: Core effective tax rate was 21.2 percent for the quarter, against 19.4 percent a year earlier. Source

Volume and demand trends

  • Organic volume by segment in Q3: Q3 organic volume change: total 0.5 percent; PFNA 0.5, PBNA minus 3, IB Franchise 5.5, EMEA 1, LatAm Foods 2.5, Asia Pacific Foods 11 percent. Source
  • International volume aided growth: International segments' net revenue growth was aided by organic volume growth in Asia Pacific Foods, IB Franchise and LatAm Foods. Source
  • Year-to-date volume growth: Year-to-date organic volume change: total 0.5 percent; PFNA 1, PBNA minus 3, IB Franchise 4, EMEA 3, Asia Pacific Foods 10 percent. Source

Capital, cash and shareholder returns

  • Operating cash flow rose year-to-date: Year-to-date net cash from operating activities was $7,950 million, against $5,468 million. Capital spending was $2,182 million against $2,499 million. Source
  • Dividends and buybacks paid year-to-date: Year-to-date cash dividends paid were $5,935 million and share repurchases $739 million, against $5,692 million and $752 million a year earlier. Source
  • Acquisition spending was lower: Year-to-date spending on acquisitions and related investments was $148 million, against $3,176 million a year earlier. Source
  • Cash rose while short-term debt increased: Cash and cash equivalents were $10,675 million at September 5, 2026, against $9,159 million at December 27, 2025. Short-term debt obligations were $9,223 million, against $6,861 million. Source

Strategy and cost actions

  • North America investment and execution focus: Management said it is acting with urgency to improve North America performance through investment in innovation, brand building and channel execution. Source
  • International scale and channel presence: Management linked the quarter to international scale, ongoing portfolio evolution and an improved presence in underpenetrated channels and occasions. Source
  • Structural cost actions to fund investment: Management is identifying additional structural cost reductions to fund investments and mitigate rising input cost inflation. Source

Other items affecting comparability

  • Pension line moved to expense: Other pension and retiree medical benefits were an expense of $114 million for the quarter, against income of $26 million a year earlier. Source
  • Prior-year impairment charges, mostly Rockstar: The prior-year quarter and year-to-date periods included impairment charges, primarily related to the Rockstar brand, which affect the reported comparison. Source
  • Net interest expense declined: Net interest expense and other was $242 million for the quarter, against $264 million a year earlier. Source

Coming up, as management said on 8 October 2026

  • Structural cost actions in coming months: Management said further structural cost reduction actions will be implemented in the coming months, to help fund investments and mitigate input cost inflation. Source
  • Live question and answer session: A live question and answer session with investors and analysts was scheduled for 8:15 a.m. Eastern on October 8, 2026, after prepared remarks posted at about 6:00 a.m. Source

Figures management reported

FigureReported
Organic volume change, total, Q3 2026 Source0.5%
Organic volume change, PFNA, Q3 2026 Source0.5%
Organic volume change, PBNA, Q3 2026 Source-3%
Organic volume change, IB Franchise, Q3 2026 Source5.5%
Organic volume change, EMEA, Q3 2026 Source1%
Organic volume change, LatAm Foods, Q3 2026 Source2.5%
Organic volume change, Asia Pacific Foods, Q3 2026 Source11%
Organic volume change, total, year-to-date 2026 Source0.5%

Risks management discussed

  • Demand: North America performance is named as needing sustained improvement, and convenient foods effective net pricing was lower. Source
  • External: Rising input cost inflation is cited as the pressure that the cost actions aim to mitigate. Source
  • Financial: Core operating margin contracted 35 basis points, and certain cost increases and marketing spend partly offset gains. Source
  • External: Guidance is given on a non-GAAP basis because management cannot predict foreign exchange translation and commodity mark-to-market impacts. Source
  • Regulatory: Core annual effective tax rate guidance includes the anticipated impact of global minimum tax regulations. Source

Earlier plans management reported on

  • Not stated: Restructuring charges relate to the productivity plan announced in 2019, which was extended through the end of 2030. Source
  • Not stated: The $8.9 billion cash returns plan for fiscal 2026 comprises dividends and share repurchases. Source

Other quarters

Summarised with AI from the documents the company filed with the SEC. Every point is checked against the filing before it is shown: management’s own words word for word, figures against the line or table row they come from. A point that fails the check is left out. Source opens the filing at that line.