Nine Beverage Stocks for a Thirsty Portfolio

A thirsty portfolio might find a pick-me-up in one or more of these beverage stocks. All have had healthy momentum over the past year, though some have stumbled a bit with the recent market swings.
 
Coffee Stocks
 
Green Mountain Coffee Roasters (NASDAQ: GMCR) is up about 160% from a year ago, despite pulling back more than 16% in the past week. This company was added to the Nasdaq 100 in May and yesterday announced the appointment of a new chief accounting officer. Based in Vermont, Green Mountain has a market cap of $13.1 billion and a long-term EPS growth forecast of 41.2%. Year to date, the stock has outperformed Starbucks (NASDAQ: SBUX) and the Nasdaq.
 
Peet’s Coffee & Tea (NASDAQ: PEET) shares are trading more than 50% higher year over year, up more than 26% year to date. Peet’s recently reported better-than-expected second-quarter results and boosted its revenue guidance. The company also introduced a line of medium-roast coffees available in grocery stores. It has a market cap of $680.5 million and a long-term EPS growth forecast of 17.6%. The stock also has outperformed Starbucks year to date.
 
Soft Drink Stocks
 
Hansen Natural (NASDAQ: HANS) is up about 73% from a year ago. This California-based purveyor of sodas, juices, energy drinks and other beverages posted strong second-quarter results, driven by the popularity of its Monster brand energy drink. Its market cap is $7.1 billion and its return on equity of 31.3%. The stock has rebounded from a recent pullback and is again trading in the vicinity of its all-time high. It has outperformed Pepsico (NYSE: PEP) year to date.
 
National Beverage (NYSE: FIZZ) shares are trading about 41% higher year over year, near an all-time high. Its brands include LaCroix, Everfresh and Shasta, and it has topped earnings expectations in recent quarters. The market cap is $693.5 million, the P/E ratio is in line with the industry average, and the return on equity is 35.2%. Year to date, the stock has outperformed competitor Dr Pepper Snapple (NYSE: DPS) and the broader markets.
 
Coca-Cola FEMSA (NYSE: KOF) is up more than 31% from a year ago and again approaching its all-time high. The company is based in Mexico and produces and distributes Coca-Cola brands in Central and South America. This joint venture between Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and FEMSA has a market cap of $7. 4 billion and a dividend yield of 2.2%. The long-term EPS growth forecast is 10.4%. The stock has outperformed Coca-Cola over the past six months.
 
Brewery Stocks
 
Companhia de Bebidas Das Americas (NYSE: ABV), also known as AmBev, is up almost 59% year over year, as well as up almost 3% in the past month. Higher prices and stronger profit margins drove robust second-quarter results for the fourth largest beer producer in the world. This Brazilian company has a market cap of $102.5 billion and its dividend yield is 0.5%. The stock has outperformed competitor Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) over the past six months.
 
Fomento Económico Mexicano (NYSE: FMX) shares are trading more than 37% higher than a year ago and are on the upswing following the recent pullback. Like AmBev, the company markets nonalcoholic beverages as well as beer. Its revenues are up more than 70% year over year. Its market cap is $120.4 billion, the dividend yield is 1.7% and the long-term EPS growth forecast is 14.2%. The stock has outperformed SABMiller year to date.
 
Wine and Spirits Stocks
 
Brown-Foreman (NYSE: BF-B) is up almost 13% year over year but is still down about 10% in the past month. This Louisville, Ky.-based maker of Jack Daniels acquired the Maximus Vodka brand earlier this summer. Net income more than doubled in the most recent quarter. This S&P 500 component has a market cap of $9.9 billion and a long-term EPS growth forecast of 10.0%. The stock has outperformed competitor Fortune Brands (NYSE: FO) year to date.
 
Diageo (NYSE: DEO) has not yet recovered from the recent sell-off and so shares are in the same neighborhood as at the beginning of the year. The world’s largest liquor maker has been shifting its focus to emerging markets, including the recent acquisition of a baijiu maker in China. The market cap of this London-based company is $46.2 billion. Its dividend yield is 3.4% and the return on equity is 41.5%. The stock has outperformed the broader markets over the past six months.