PepsiCo forecasts surprise drop in 2019 adjusted profit

BENGALURU: PepsiCo Inc forecast a surprise drop in full-year profit on Friday, hit by a stronger dollar, increased investments in its business and a higher tax bill. Operating profit at Pepsi’s North America beverages unit declined 12% in the quarter as it spent heavily on marketing Diet Pepsi and Pepsi Zero, to combat arch rival Coca-Cola’s low-sugar offerings. The company expects 2019 adjusted profit per share to drop 3% to $5.50, while analysts on average had expected a 3.5% rise in profit to $5.86 per share, according to IBES data from Refinitiv. Foreign exchange losses hurt reported net revenue performance, Chief Executive Officer Ramon Laguarta said in his maiden quarterly report. Laguarta, however, said he expects the company to return to high-single-digit core constant currency earnings per share growth in 2020.