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PepsiCo (PEP) Reports Second-Quarter Beat on Snack Strength

By U.S. News & World Report

PepsiCo, Inc. (ticker: PEP) investors got some good news on Tuesday morning when the company reported earnings and revenue beats for the most recent quarter and raised its earnings guidance for the full year. PepsiCo’s strong quarter was driven by higher North American soda and snack prices.

[See: 20 Awesome Dividend Stocks for Guaranteed Income.]

PEP stock reported second quarter earnings per share (excluding items) of $1.50 on revenue of $15.71 billion. Both numbers topped consensus Wall Street forecasts of $1.40 and $15.60 billion, respectively.

In addition, PepsiCo raised its full-year EPS guidance from $5.09 to $5.13 and said the company will not be hit as hard by foreign exchange headwinds as previously feared.

CEO Indra Nooyi says the company’s second-quarter results were in line with expectations and that PepsiCo is well on its way to meeting its full-year goals.

“The power and durability of our brand and product portfolios, strong marketplace execution, and the balance of our geographic footprint enabled us to deliver strong operating results in the midst of pockets of macroeconomic challenges and increasingly dynamic retail and consumer landscapes,” Nooyi says.

PepsiCo and rival Coca-Cola Co ( KO) have been combating slumping soda demand by raising prices and focusing on higher-margin products in major developed markets. PepsiCo reported that North American beverage sales volume was flat on the quarter, but net pricing was up 1 percent.

PepsiCo has an extra layer of protection from softening soda demand because of its snack business. North American Frito-Lay revenue was up 3 percent in the quarter. Jefferies recently reported that PepsiCo’s snack business is growing between 5 and 6 percent annually, while its beverage business is growing at only a 2 percent pace.

PepsiCo’s snack business is what makes the company’s performance stand out among its peer group, UBS analyst Stephen Powers said on CNBC Tuesday.

“They beat on the top line — they put up 3.1 percent organic growth, which was probably a point better than feared — and it was driven by snacks. Frito-Lay North America was up 3.5 percent. I think relative to any U.S. food company that’s going to be best-in-class, and it is what separates Pepsi from its peers,” Powers said.

[See: 6 Reliable Dividend Stocks Paying Out for 100 Years or More.]

Despite the across-the-board earnings beat, investors demonstrated a muted initial reaction to PepsiCo’s earnings report. PEP stock opened Tuesday’s session down 0.4 percent.

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PepsiCo (PEP) Reports Second-Quarter Beat on Snack Strength originally appeared on usnews.com

Don’t Settle for Student Loans to Pay for Online Education

By WTOP Staff
Online college programs are becoming a more popular choice for prospective students, with one study finding that more than 6 million students enrolled in at least one online course in fall 2015. The popularity of these courses can be attributed in part to their flexibility with working adults' schedules, students' ability to progress more quickly through online programs and, oftentimes, cheaper tuition. [See 10 low-cost online bachelor's programs for out-of-state students.]Online degrees can be beneficial to many college students, but some studies have shown online learners complete their programs at lower rates than students at traditional brick-and-mortar campuses. Individuals with student loans but no degree comprise two-thirds of defaulted borrowers. Though these numbers are not encouraging, just like for traditional programs, there are ways to reduce how much you'll need to borrow for an online program to ensure you won't become one of these statistics. Don't just settle on borrowing student loans to cover the whole cost of your program and living expenses. Instead, start thinking about how to cut costs and cover your balance in different ways, such as the following. -- Grants and scholarships: Even though you are taking an online course, you can still apply and receive grants and scholarships. But your first step should be to complete the Free Application for Federal Student Aid, commonly referred to as the FAFSA, which will allow you to receive a Pell Grant if your expected family contribution is low enough. The EFC criteria and award amounts are adjusted annually, but the 2017-2018 academic year awards range from $606 to $5,920, which could significantly lower the amount you borrow annually. Your next step is to apply for scholarships. You can start by checking online scholarship search engines, such as the Salt Scholarship Search, College Board's BigFuture and Peterson's. But don't forget to take advantage of local organizations and your school's financial aid office. Both may offer scholarships that you can't find with a national scholarship search. [Review these 10 sites to kick off your scholarship search.]For instance, organizations like the Elks Club, Knights of Columbus or the Rotary Club typically offer scholarships annually to local students. Just because you're going to school online doesn't mean you're ineligible. Visit your local library for scholarship listings, and ask around town. You might be surprised how many local organizations offer scholarships. While these scholarships typically aren't large, every little bit counts. Each dollar you receive in a scholarship is a dollar you don't have to borrow and pay interest on. -- Work-study: Another option for online students may be work-study awards. Not all students enrolled in online programs are eligible, but students at some schools -- including, for example, SUNY Empire State College and Liberty University -- are. Work-study awards are not given upfront like scholarships and grants. In most cases, they are an offer to earn up to the awarded amount if you secure an eligible work-study job. While there is a misconception that all work-study jobs must be on campus, students can work for off-campus, nonprofit or public employers as long as the work is in the public's interest. You may be able to work for a for-profit employer if the job is relevant to your course of study. No matter who the outside employer is, it will need to have an established agreement with your college for you to receive work-study funds. Remember, to be eligible for federal financial aid, you must be enrolled and pursuing a degree or certificate. If you're not working toward a credential, Pell Grants and work-study won't be option, but you may still be able to take advantage of private scholarships -- just be sure to read the eligibility criteria carefully. [Explore what to know about financial aid in online programs.]-- Pay as you go: One of the great benefits to enrolling online is the flexible schedule, which can allow you to complete your college coursework around your responsibilities. But prospective students often overlook using their part- or full-time job earnings as an option for paying for college. Almost 80 percent of college students in 2015 worked at least part time while attending classes, according to the National Center for Education Statistics. By budgeting and thinking strategically about your college costs, you can likely reduce your dependence on student loans by paying a portion out of pocket. Many -- but not all -- online programs are less expensive than traditional programs and often have shorter payment periods. Six, eight or 10 weeks are common course durations. Because of the frequency of payments in an online setting, you may be well-placed to pay as you go and possibly avoid borrowing altogether. Attending college online and avoiding student loans may be challenging, but if you are willing to put in the effort, you can limit the amount you need to borrow. More from U.S. News Q&A: Understanding Student Loan Discharge Eligibility Student Loan Refinancing Isn't Right for All Borrowers
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