Stocks for Big 3 Soda Makers All Gained While Trailing the S&P 500.
Investors Push Up Retailer Stocks as Elevated Pandemic Demand Sticks.

While most US-traded beverage stocks tracked by BD increased in value last year, few beat the almost +27% growth posted by the S&P 500 index. Franchise bottler Coca- Cola Consolidated was an exception, posting a banner 2021 with shares that grew +57%. The company’s revenues and gross profit surged despite soaring labor, transportation, and material costs that have clawed beverage manufacturers. Mexico-based franchise bottler Coca-Cola Femsa posted an almost +19% gain, while Coca-Cola Europacific Partners shares grew more than +12%. That’s in stark contrast to the height of the pandemic in 2020, when Consolidated, Europacific, and Coca-Cola Femsa all declined as the S&P 500 index grew +16%. Meanwhile, Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and Keurig Dr Pepper also notched market gains in 2021, with the latter two hitting a double-digit percentage increase. None of the Big 3 US soda makers exceeded the S&P 500 index, however.

RETAILERS. A number of retail stocks tracked by BD managed to beat the broader market last year. Those included Costco, Sprouts, Kroger, Target, and Walgreens. All are brick and mortar-led businesses, whose sales have been helped by elevated demand as consumers continue to spend more time at home through various stages of the pandemic. Walmart, which has leaned heavily into its online business, was an exception, gaining less than +1%. Online retailer Amazon posted a +2.4% gain. In 2020, Walmart shares increased +21% and Amazon’s jumped +76%, with each beating the broader market gain.