What PepsiCo's Earnings Mean for Mutual Fund Investors (PEP)

Before the opening bell on Wednesday, PepsiCo (PEP) released its fourth quarter financial results. Here’s what the results mean for mutual fund investors.

Earnings

The company reported earnings of $1.31 billion, or 87 cents per share, down from $1.74 billion, or $1.12 per share, a year ago. Adjusted earnings were $1.12 per share – above analysts’ estimate of $1.08 per share.

Revenue
Revenue dropped to $19.948 billion from $20.12 billion. Analysts expected to see revenue of $19.66 billion.

Outlook
PepsiCo expects to see earnings growth of 7% for FY2015. Analysts expect to see EPS of $4.75.

While PepsiCo was negatively impacted by the strengthening dollar and restructuring charges, these expenses were offset by stronger sales of Frito-Lay snacks. From a valuation standpoint, PEP is trading at 21x 2015 earnings estimates, which is a bit pricey for investors, considering its flat revenue growth. Despite its sluggish sales, PEP may be an attractive stock for income-focused investors with its 2.87% dividend yield. With its earnings announcement today, the company announced that it will boost its dividend payout by 7.3%.

Investors interested in PEP may also consider a mutual fund as an alternative to owning the individual stock. The funds below currently hold the largest stakes in PEP.

The funds listed above allow investors to gain exposure to PEP while remaining diversified. Investors interested in PEP may also be interested in Coca-Cola (KO) or Dr Pepper Snapple (DPS).