New licensing deal a plus for PepsiCo

Article Excerpt

PEPSICO INC. $61 (New York symbol PEP; Conservative Growth Portfolio, Consumer sector; Shares outstanding: 1.6 billion; Market cap: $97.6 billion; Price-to-sales ratio: 2.3; Dividend yield: 3.0%; WSSF Rating: Above Average) will pay $900 million for the right to make and distribute certain soft drinks in North America owned by Dr. Pepper Snapple Group Inc. (New York symbol DPS). The price is equal to 52% of the $1.7 billion, or $1.09 a share, that PepsiCo earned in the third quarter of 2009. This new 20-year contract replaces existing deals with PepsiCo’s two main bottlers, which the company is buying in 2010. Dr. Pepper drinks account for around one-third of the bottlers’ profits, so extending this licensing deal enhances their prospects. PepsiCo is a buy. buy…