Jefferies raises Celsius stock price target to $72 on PepsiCo deal

Published 03/09/2025, 17:54
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Investing.com - Jefferies raised its price target on Celsius Holdings (NASDAQ:CELH) to $72.00 from $64.00 on Wednesday, while maintaining a Buy rating following the energy drink maker’s updated partnership with PepsiCo. The stock, which has delivered an impressive 133% return year-to-date according to InvestingPro data, currently trades at $61.36.

The revised outlook comes after Celsius announced it would acquire Rockstar from PepsiCo, adding approximately $250 million in annual revenue that will be phased through the third quarter of 2026. The deal also includes plans to begin distribution of Alani Nu through PepsiCo’s network in December 2025. With current annual revenue of $1.67 billion and analysts forecasting 75% revenue growth for FY2025, this acquisition further strengthens Celsius’s market position.

The transaction is expected to boost Celsius’s share of the U.S. energy drink market to approximately 20%, while PepsiCo will increase its ownership stake in Celsius to about 11%, strengthening the strategic alignment between the companies.

Jefferies noted the deal positions Celsius for faster growth and solidifies its role as PepsiCo’s energy "captain" in an increasingly competitive market. The firm also highlighted the long-term margin expansion opportunity for Celsius.

The acquisition deepens Celsius’s influence at retail locations and addresses previous concerns about the relationship between the two companies, according to Jefferies’ analysis of the partnership.

In other recent news, Celsius Holdings has seen significant developments. The company reported its second-quarter 2025 earnings, leading Truist Securities to raise its price target from $55 to $65, maintaining a Buy rating due to an optimistic outlook. Additionally, Celsius has expanded its strategic partnership with PepsiCo, which includes acquiring the Rockstar Energy brand in the U.S. and Canada. This expansion has prompted B.Riley to increase its price target for Celsius from $56 to $75, also maintaining a Buy rating. In a related move, PepsiCo plans to increase its stake in Celsius to 11% through a $585 million investment in convertible preferred stock. This deal will also transition Alani Nu, a brand recently acquired by Celsius, to PepsiCo’s distribution network in the U.S. and Canada. Furthermore, Michael Del Pozzo from PepsiCo has joined the Celsius Board of Directors under an existing agreement between the two companies. Lastly, TD Cowen has raised its price target for Celsius from $60 to $72, citing the company’s role as PepsiCo’s "energy drink captain" as a growth accelerator.

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