What companies could Pepsi buy in the future?
Pepsi seems likely to continue to pursue its acquisition strategy of buying food and beverage brands.
Pepsi previously pursued the Vita Coco Company (COCO +1.01%), so it wouldn't be surprising to see it make another offer for that company, especially since its growth has been impressive, and coconut water is a growth category in the beverage industry.
On the food and snack front, there's a range of different directions that Pepsi could go in. Rival Hershey (HSY +2.54%) has pivoted towards protein-rich snacks due to slowing growth in candy, and Pepsi could make a similar move, acquiring a jerky brand or another protein-based snack that could complement its ownership of Muscle Milk.
It could also follow Coca-Cola into categories where it doesn't yet compete, like milk. Coke acquired Fairlife, a protein-fortified milk, and has grown it into a brand that generates $1 billion in revenue every year.
In the 1980s, PepsiCo owned restaurants, including Pizza Hut, Taco Bell, and KFC, which later became Yum! Brands (YUM +1.56%). It even owned Wilson Sporting Goods and North American Van Lines moving company but sold both in the 1980s.
Today, the company seems unlikely to venture outside of packaged food and beverages.