Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.
is a major beverage company specializing in both packaged beverages and single-serve coffee systems. It operates as a diversified beverage powerhouse, uniquely combining a strong brand portfolio with a leading position in the North American coffee and soft drink markets.
Updated: January 14, 2026, 16:00 EST
Of course. Here is a consolidated analysis and recommendation for KDP.
KDP presents an interesting case of a fundamentally sound company trading at a discount. Recent price weakness has pushed the stock near oversold levels, creating a potential entry point. The company's defensive nature (low beta), strong brand portfolio, and improving profitability are positive signs. However, investors should be mindful of its recent significant drawdown and some liquidity constraints.
Financially, KDP is healthy with manageable debt and impressive gross margins above 54%. Its valuation is mixed; the forward P/E of around 13 suggests reasonable value, but a high EV/EBITDA ratio warrants caution. The very low PEG ratio of 0.58 indicates the market may be undervaluing its growth prospects relative to its earnings.
Based on this analysis, KDP appears to be a BUY for investors seeking a defensive, value-oriented consumer staples stock. The current price, near the lower end of its 52-week range, offers a favorable risk-reward profile for a company with strong brands and improving margins. While short-term volatility may persist, its solid fundamentals and attractive forward earnings multiple support a positive long-term outlook. This recommendation is for reference only and not investment advice.
Based on the provided analysis, here is a 12-month outlook for Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP):
12-Month Outlook for KDP:
The 12-month outlook for KDP is cautiously optimistic, with its current valuation presenting a potential entry point. Key positive catalysts include its defensive portfolio of staple beverages, which should provide stability, and its improving profitability with gross margins exceeding 54%. The primary risk is the potential for the stock's recent weakness and significant drawdown to persist due to ongoing market concerns, possibly reflected in its high EV/EBITDA ratio. Without a specific analyst target, the stock's appeal is driven by its discounted price relative to its forward P/E of ~13 and a notably low PEG ratio of 0.58, suggesting a target price range that implies moderate upside from the current $27.72 as these valuation gaps potentially narrow.
Most Wall Street analysts are optimistic about KDP's 12-month outlook, with consensus target around $28.12, indicating expected upside potential.
Overall, KDP has investment potential but also faces challenges. Here are key factors to weigh before investing.
KDP has demonstrated modest relative strength despite trading well below its 52-week highs due to significant volatility over the past year.
Short-term performance shows recent weakness with a nearly 6% decline over one month, but this is offset by solid three-month gains of 7.23%, which notably outperform the broader market by 3.86 percentage points. The stock's low beta of 0.349 confirms its defensive nature and lower volatility compared to market indices.
KDP currently trades near the lower end of its 52-week range, approximately 23% above its low but significantly below its high, appearing oversold following its maximum drawdown of -29.15% over the past year. This positioning suggests potential room for recovery if company fundamentals improve.
| Period | KDP Return | S&P 500 |
|---|---|---|
| 1m | -4.7% | +1.3% |
| 3m | +8.9% | +5.7% |
| 6m | -16.4% | +10.6% |
| 1y | -9.2% | +16.5% |
| ytd | +1.4% | +1.1% |
Revenue & Profitability KDP demonstrated sequential revenue growth from $4.16B to $4.31B quarter-over-quarter, with net profit margins improving from 13.1% to 15.4%. The company maintains strong gross margins above 54%, indicating effective cost control in its core operations despite inflationary pressures.
Financial Health The company maintains a manageable debt profile with a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.69 and interest coverage of 5.3x, suggesting comfortable debt servicing capability. However, the current ratio of 0.62 and quick ratio of 0.38 indicate potential liquidity constraints in meeting short-term obligations without additional financing.
Operational Efficiency KDP shows moderate operational efficiency with an ROE of 2.6% and asset turnover of 0.08, reflecting challenges in generating returns from its asset base. The negative cash conversion cycle of -16.7 days demonstrates efficient working capital management, as the company collects from customers before paying suppliers.
Get real-time data, AI-driven personalized investment analysis to make smarter investment decisions
Try Now & Get Tesla Stock RewardConsidering KDP's trailing PE ratio of 23.79 against a forward PE of approximately 13.09, the valuation appears to indicate a significant expected improvement in earnings. This forward multiple suggests the stock may be reasonably valued, especially given its Price-to-Sales (PS) ratio of 2.33 and Price-to-Book (PB) ratio of 1.49, which imply moderate pricing relative to fundamental sales and asset bases. Moreover, a PEG ratio well below 1 at approximately 0.58 highlights strong growth prospects relative to the current earnings multiple, indicating potential undervaluation. However, the notably high EV/EBITDA ratio of about 41.48 raises concerns about enterprise value relative to operational cash flow, signaling possible overvaluation on this metric.
For a peer comparison, analysis is limited as specific industry average data is unavailable; however, KDP's forward PE of around 13 is generally below typical averages for stable consumer staples firms, which often trade in the mid-teens. The PB ratio of 1.49 is conservative compared to sector norms, suggesting potential undervaluation relative to book value, while the PS ratio of 2.33 appears aligned with industry standards for branded goods companies. Overall, without precise benchmarks, KDP's metrics suggest a mixed but leaning favorable valuation when contextualized against broad sector expectations.
Volatility Risk: KDP demonstrates exceptionally low volatility risk, with a beta of 0.349 indicating its price movements are significantly less pronounced than the broader market. However, the stock has experienced a substantial 1-year maximum drawdown of -29.15%, revealing a notable vulnerability to specific sell-offs despite its generally stable profile. This suggests that while daily fluctuations are muted, the stock is not immune to significant downturns.
Other Risks: The absence of short interest signals that professional investors do not currently perceive a compelling bearish thesis or imminent downside catalyst for KDP. This alleviates the risk of a short squeeze but does not eliminate fundamental risks related to its core business, such as intense competition in the beverage sector and potential commodity cost pressures, which could impact its valuation and growth trajectory.
Bullish. KDP appears attractive for long-term investors due to improved fundamentals, a compelling forward P/E of ~13 suggesting earnings growth, and its defensive low-beta profile. However, its weak short-term momentum and tight liquidity require patience. Suitable for dividend-focused and patient investors seeking stable consumer staples exposure.
KDP appears fairly valued to slightly undervalued based on current metrics. The forward PE of 13.1 is attractive compared to consumer staples averages (typically mid-teens), while the PEG ratio of 0.58 indicates strong growth potential relative to earnings valuation. Key metrics show improvement - the forward PE's significant discount to trailing PE (23.8) reflects earnings growth expectations, supported by expanding profit margins (15.4%) and efficient working capital management. Although the EV/EBITDA ratio appears stretched at 41.5, the combination of reasonable multiples and strong fundamentals suggests the stock is reasonably priced.
Based on the provided information, here are the key risks of holding Keurig Dr Pepper (KDP) stock, ordered by importance:
1. Liquidity Risk: The company faces potential short-term financial strain, as indicated by a current ratio of 0.62 and a quick ratio of 0.38, which suggest difficulty in covering immediate obligations without additional cash flow or financing. 2. Significant Drawdown Risk: Despite low daily volatility (beta of 0.349), the stock has proven vulnerable to sharp declines, evidenced by a substantial maximum drawdown of -29.15% over the past year. 3. Operational Efficiency Risk: A low Return on Equity (ROE) of 2.6% and a low asset turnover of 0.08 indicate challenges in generating strong returns from the company's equity and asset base. 4. Industry Competition & Cost Risk: The company operates in the highly competitive beverage sector and remains exposed to potential commodity cost pressures that could impact its profitability and growth trajectory.
Based on current fundamentals and industry dynamics, KDP's forecast through 2026 points to moderate growth. The target price range is $33-$38 (base case to bull case), driven by market share gains in premium beverages, sustained pricing power, and margin expansion from cost-saving initiatives. Key assumptions include stable consumer demand, successful integration of acquisitions, and no major recession. This forecast is subject to significant uncertainty from inflation, competitive pressures, and potential shifts in consumer spending.