Monster Beverage Shares Outperform Market Amid Broader Weakness

Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST), based in Corona, California, is a prominent American beverage company. The firm, originally established as Hansen’s in 1935, rebranded as Monster Beverage in 2012 to emphasize its specialization in energy drinks. Currently, with a market cap of $58.6 billion, Monster operates through various segments, including Monster Energy Drinks, Strategic Brands, Alcohol Brands, and Other segments.

Over the last year, Monster’s shares have outperformed the broader market. MNST stock has increased by 12.5% in the past 52 weeks and 14.3% year-to-date. In comparison, the S&P 500 Index ($SPX) returned 12.3% over the same period but has fallen by 3.3% in 2025.

Focusing more closely on market segments, Monster has outshined the Nasdaq Food & Beverage ETF (FTXG), which saw a 6.8% decline over the past 52 weeks and a slight drop this year.

Despite broader market headwinds, Monster Beverage has shown resilience as a defensive play in the food and beverage sector. On April 3, shares rose over 1%, reflecting strong investor interest in stable, non-cyclical businesses that boast recession-resistant fundamentals.

For the fiscal year ending December 2025, analysts forecast EPS for MNST to increase by 13.6% year-over-year to $1.84. However, it is noteworthy that Monster has fallen short of analysts’ consensus estimates in each of the last four quarters.

Out of 20 analysts covering Monster stock, the consensus rating stands at “Moderate Buy.” This assessment consists of 10 “Strong Buy” ratings, one “Moderate Buy,” seven “Hold,” and two “Strong Sell” recommendations.

This rating configuration reflects a less bullish sentiment than a month earlier, when the stock had 11 “Strong Buy” ratings.

On April 23, Truist Financial Corporation’s analyst Bill Chappell increased the price target for Monster Beverage from $40 to $50, although he maintained a “Sell” rating.

Presently, MNST trades above its average price target of $59.03, while the highest target on Wall Street stands at $71, indicating an upside potential of 18.2% from current price levels.

On the date of publication, Kritika Sarmah did not have (either directly or indirectly) positions in any of the securities mentioned in this article. All information and data in this article are solely for informational purposes. For more information, please view the Barchart Disclosure Policy here.

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