SodaStream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA) has a good problem. The demand for its products is rising at a higher pace than anticipated. The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) and PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) would love to trade places with it.
But the beverage giants have had their days of growth and now they have matured gracefully. They have built tremendous brands and emerged as global powerhouses. And they are still aiming for more. Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA) has miles to go before it can get anywhere close. But the journey promises to be exciting.
The company is getting ready to provide its quarterly report card tomorrow. Meanwhile, let us get our facts and figures ready so that we can decide whether it has passed the test or not.
Demand is a given
And this is due to constant product innovation, tapping of new markets, and entering into strategic tie-ups. Not to mention the company’s “razor/razor blade” business model by virtue of which sales of the basic soda maker creates future demand for consumables like CO2 refills, flavors, etc.
Table 1: Product wise revenue break-up
| 2011 | 2012 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (‘000$) | Y-O-Y Growth | Revenue (‘000$) | Y-O-Y Growth | |
| Soda makers and CO 2 cylinders | 125,595 | 44% | 185,875 | 48% |
| Consumables | 156,959 | 38% | 241,922 | 54% |
| Other | 6,399 | -19% | 8,519 | 33% |
| Total | 288,953 | 39% | 436,316 | 51% |
Source: SodaStream 20F
Table 2: Geography wise revenue break-up
| 2011 | 2012 | |||
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Revenue (‘000$) | Y-O-Y Growth | Revenue (‘000$) | Y-O-Y Growth | |
| The Americas | 83,894 | 105% | 157,705 | 88% |
| Western Europe | 153,174 | 18% | 204,332 | 33% |
| Asia-Pacific | 21,010 | 64% | 42,367 | 102% |
| CEMEA | 30,875 | 22% | 31,912 | 3% |
| Consolidated | 288,953 | 39% | 436,316 | 51% |
Source: SodaStream 20F
What’s next?
After the launch of the new “Source” and “Revolution” models, the next big thing that the company is debuting is SodaCaps. These are single-serve disposable capsules. One would just empty the “Cap” contents into carbonating bottles and sparkling soda would be ready.
The company is also talking about new bottle designs that would come out later in the year and new Source models made out of wood that would make their appearance next year.
It all boils down to the fact that Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA) has created an extremely trendy and stylish product range suited for different markets and varying needs. In the US itself the offerings vary from a basic plastic model with plastic carbonation bottle costing around $80 up to the high-end Penguin model with fancy steel components and glass carbonation bottles that fetch $200.
We would watch for the latest updates in the upcoming earnings release.
Focus is on margins
So we know that revenues will grow nicely. Analysts estimate revenue growth of no less than 28.70% in the first quarter. It is the margins that would be under the scanner. Analysts are expecting earnings of $0.54 per share compared to $0.48 a year ago.
Margins have been under pressure especially in the fourth quarter as the company had to resort to subcontracting some of the work to meet the high demand.
Table 3: Quarterly Gross Profit margins
| 2012 | 2011 | |
|---|---|---|
| 1st Quarter | 55% | 53.5% |
| 2nd Quarter | 54.4% | 53% |
| 3rd Quarter | 54.2% | 53.5% |
| 4th Quarter | 53% | 57.3% |
Source: SodaStream 20F
Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA) is already building a new manufacturing facility in Israel and also increasing capacity in its existing plants. The company insists that it has the existing capability in place to meet the demand for this year and next.
What could be near-term boosts for the margins is the increase in proportion of consumables in the sales mix. This is where Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA)’s tie-ups with the likes of Kraft Foods, Campbell Soup, and Ocean Spray, to bring to the market exclusive flavors will come into play. The flavors and other consumables contain higher margins than the base soda makers.
The proportion of US sales will also be a key factor for the margins on account of two reasons. Firstly, the company directly distributes its products in the US as opposed to engaging third party distributors that it does in some other markets.
Secondly, matured markets yield more profits on account of higher proportion of consumables sale. The US is the company’s single largest market, where a quarter of the total 60,000 stores that sell its products are based.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) and PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) are also looking towards growth
Both the beverage giants have reported their earnings couple of weeks back and both of them have handily beaten analyst expectations.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) earned $0.46 per share on revenue of $11.04 billion. Analysts at Thomson Reuters were expecting $0.45 per share on revenue of $10.94 billion. The company saw higher volumes in Thailand, India, Russia, Mexico and Brazil, which fuelled a 3% growth in global volumes.
The company is currently focusing on growing core brand in emerging countries which still have low penetration of the company’s products. It is also looking for growth in non-carbonated “still beverages” segment to offset the declining soda sales in the US. The US accounts for almost half of the company’s total sales.
PepsiCo, Inc. (NYSE:PEP) earned $0.77 per share on revenue of $12.58 billion against street estimates of $0.71 per share on revenue of $12.53. Like The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO), it also gained mostly from its emerging and developing markets which make up around one third of the total revenue. Globally snack volumes were up 4% and beverage volumes 3%.
The company’s food business provides a good buffer to counter the waning demand for soda in the US. Flagship Pepsi cola has recently lost market share to Coke.
Last words
We look forward to Sodastream International Ltd (NASDAQ:SODA)’s earnings release to find out more about the growth initiatives that are perpetually fueling demand for its products. The company’s journey has just begun. It still holds less than 1% global market share in the carbonated beverages category. This creates a world of possibilities for the company to explore.
Eshna De has no position in any stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Coca-Cola, PepsiCo, and SodaStream. The Motley Fool owns shares of PepsiCo and SodaStream.
The article Looking Forward To SodaStream’s Results originally appeared on Fool.com.
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