As the Q3 earnings season comes to a close, it’s time to take stock of this quarter’s best and worst performers in the beverages, alcohol, and tobacco industry, including MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:MGPI) and its peers.

These companies' performance is influenced by brand strength, marketing strategies, and shifts in consumer preferences. Changing consumption patterns are particularly relevant and can be seen in the rise of cannabis, craft beer, and vaping or the steady decline of soda and cigarettes. Companies that spend on innovation to meet consumers where they are with regards to trends can reap huge demand benefits while those who ignore trends can see stagnant volumes. Finally, with the advent of the social media, the cost of starting a brand from scratch is much lower, meaning that new entrants can chip away at the market shares of established players.

The 13 beverages, alcohol, and tobacco stocks we track reported a mixed Q3. As a group, revenues missed analysts’ consensus estimates by 1.9% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 2.7% below.

Thankfully, share prices of the companies have been resilient as they are up 6.8% on average since the latest earnings results.

MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:MGPI)

Headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ:MGPI) is a leading supplier of high-quality ingredients to the food and beverage industry

MGP Ingredients reported revenues of $161.5 million, down 23.7% year on year. This print was in line with analysts’ expectations, and overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a decent beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

“Our third quarter performance was in line with the preliminary results we provided on October 17. In response to the softening American whiskey category trends and elevated industry-wide barrel inventories, in 2025 we plan to further lower our net aging whiskey put away, scale down our whiskey production, and optimize our cost structure to mitigate lower production volumes. While current market dynamics will likely have an even greater impact on our Distilling Solutions segment sales and profitability in 2025, we believe that these actions will strengthen the long-term competitive positioning of our brown goods business. Over the longer term, we remain confident in our Distilling Solutions business as our whiskey inventories remain an important part of the still expanding American whiskey category,” said David Bratcher, CEO and president of MGP Ingredients.

Unsurprisingly, the stock is down 20.2% since reporting and currently trades at $44.92.

Is now the time to buy MGP Ingredients? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q3: Zevia (NYSE:ZVIA)

With a primary focus on soda but also a presence in energy drinks and teas, Zevia (NYSE:ZVIA) is a better-for-you beverage company.

Zevia reported revenues of $36.37 million, down 15.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6.8%. However, the business still had a strong quarter with EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and an impressive beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

The market seems happy with the results as the stock is up 154% since reporting. It currently trades at $2.76.

Is now the time to buy Zevia? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q3: Celsius (NASDAQ:CELH)

With its proprietary MetaPlus formula as the basis for key products, Celsius (NASDAQ:CELH) offers energy drinks that feature natural ingredients to help in fitness and weight management.

Celsius reported revenues of $265.7 million, down 30.9% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 0.7%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ adjusted operating income estimates.

Celsius delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. As expected, the stock is down 11.4% since the results and currently trades at $28.15.

Read our full analysis of Celsius’s results here.

Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ)

With a presence in more than 100 countries, Constellation Brands (NYSE:STZ) is a globally renowned producer and marketer of beer, wine, and spirits.

Constellation Brands reported revenues of $2.92 billion, up 2.9% year on year. This result came in 0.7% below analysts' expectations. Aside from that, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a miss of analysts’ organic revenue estimates.

The stock is down 6.5% since reporting and currently trades at $239.

Read our full, actionable report on Constellation Brands here, it’s free.

Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO)

A pioneer and behemoth in carbonated soft drinks, The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is a storied beverage company best known for its flagship soda of the same name.

Coca-Cola reported revenues of $11.95 billion, flat year on year. This number beat analysts’ expectations by 2.9%. It was a strong quarter as it also recorded a solid beat of analysts’ organic revenue estimates and a decent beat of analysts’ EPS estimates.

Coca-Cola scored the biggest analyst estimates beat among its peers. The stock is down 9.9% since reporting and currently trades at $62.60.

Read our full, actionable report on Coca-Cola here, it’s free.

Market Update

The Fed’s interest rate hikes throughout 2022 and 2023 have successfully cooled post-pandemic inflation, bringing it closer to the 2% target. Inflationary pressures have eased without tipping the economy into a recession, suggesting a soft landing. This stability, paired with recent rate cuts (0.5% in September 2024 and 0.25% in November 2024), has fueled a strong year for the stock market in 2024. The markets surged further after Donald Trump’s presidential victory in November, with major indices reaching record highs in the days following the election. Still, questions remain about the direction of economic policy, as potential tariffs and corporate tax changes add uncertainty heading into 2025.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Hidden Gem Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.

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