PepsiCo Shares Surge 3.5% on JPMorgan Upgrade and Elliott Investment Deal
PepsiCo's stock rallied sharply, closing at $149.70 after a 3.5% gain, as trading volume nearly doubled to 18.4 million shares. Institutional activity spiked following JPMorgan's upgrade to Overweight with a $164 price target and Elliott Investment Management's endorsement of the company's 2026 strategic plan.
The deal with Elliott, which holds a $4 billion stake, signals confidence in PepsiCo's turnaround strategy. Market sentiment appears cautiously optimistic, with after-hours trading showing minimal movement—suggesting the news was fully priced in during regular hours.
Investors are now scrutinizing dividend sustainability and operational changes like SKU reductions as the beverage giant executes its aggressive transformation roadmap. The lack of extended after-hours momentum implies Thursday's open will hinge on fresh interpretations of these developments rather than new catalysts.