Monster Beverage Corporation

We maintain a robust innovation pipeline. Our marketing messaging continues to resonate globally. Highlights from the second quarter include the continued successes of our sponsorship and endorsement activities, including our McLaren Formula One team sponsorship, UFC and MMA, Summer X Games, Supercross and Motocross, and Stagecoach Music Festival, among others. Relatedly, we successfully introduced Monster Energy Lando Nara Zero Sugar in select EMEA markets in the second quarter, with a broader introduction planned for the second half of the year. As an aside, the McLaren Formula One team won again this past weekend. Building on the successes of our billion-dollar ultra-brand family, we've introduced a new visual brand identity to differentiate and enhance visibility in stores. In particular, we have established new merchandising platforms, including insole coolers around the Zero Sugar Flavors Unleashed proposition. This will be followed by a digital media campaign in the third quarter, adding to the most recent viral explosion on social media for our flagship Zero Ultra energy drink. We also have further ultra innovations planned, including the launch of Ultra Wild Passion in the fourth quarter. During the second quarter of 2025, the impact of tariffs on our operating results is immaterial. In general, while our flavors and concentrates are manufactured both in the US and Ireland at the present time, production of our finished products takes place locally in our respective markets. Despite the immaterial impact on our business in the second quarter, the tariff landscape continues to be complicated and dynamic. We import some raw materials into the United States, export certain raw materials for local markets and export limited quantities of finished products. We do not believe, based on our business model, that the current tariffs will have a material impact on the company's operating results. However, we expect it will have a modest impact in the third quarter of 2025. We will continue to recognize tariffs on aluminum through the higher mid-risk premiums and continue to implement mitigation strategies across the business where possible. Turning to our Q2 2025 results, net sales were $2.11 billion for the 2025 second quarter, or 11.1% higher than net sales of $1.9 billion in the comparable 2024 second quarter. Net changes in foreign currency exchange rates had an unfavorable impact on net sales for the 2025 second quarter of $5 million. Net sales on a foreign currency adjusted basis increased 11.4% in the 2025 second quarter. Net sales excluding the alcohol brand segment on a foreign currency adjusted basis increased 11.8% in the 2025 second quarter, excluding the alcohol brand segment from our reported results is purely illustrative as it remains part of ongoing operations. Net sales for the company's Monster Energy Drink segment increased 11.2% to $1.94 billion for the 2025 second quarter from $1.74 billion for the 2024 second quarter. Net sales on a foreign currency adjusted basis for the Monster Energy Drink segment increased 11.4% in the 2025 second quarter. Net sales for the company's strategic brand segment increased 18.9% to $129.9 million for the 2025 second quarter from $109.2 million in the 2024 second quarter. Net sales on a foreign currency adjusted basis for the strategic brand segment increased 19.1% in the 2025 second quarter. Net sales for the alcohol brand segment decreased 8.6% to $38 million for the 2025 second quarter from $41.6 million in the 2024 second quarter. Gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the 2025 second quarter was 55.7% compared with 53.6% in the 2024 second quarter. The increase in gross profit as a percentage of net sales for the 2025 second quarter is primarily the result of pricing actions, supply chain optimization, and lower input costs, partially offset by geographical sales mix and higher promotional allowances. Distribution expenses for the 2025 second quarter were $82 million or 3.9% of net sales, compared with $87.4 million or 4.6% of net sales in the 2024 second quarter. Selling expenses for the 2025 second quarter were $196.9 million or 9.3% of net sales, compared with $192.1 million or 10.1% of net sales in the 2024 second quarter. General and administrative expenses for the 2025 second quarter were $265.9 million or 12.6% of net sales compared with $212.8 million or 11.2% of net sales for the 2024 second quarter. Stock-based compensation was $33.2 million for the 2025 second quarter compared with $18.8 million in the 2024 second quarter. The increase in stock-based compensation for the 2025 second quarter included $7.9 million related to certain equity awards granted late in the 2025 first quarter that contained a new retirement clause. In addition, general and administrative expenses for the 2025 second quarter included $30.8 million of litigation provisions. Operating expenses for the 2025 second quarter were $544.8 million, compared with $492.3 million in the 2024 second quarter. Adjusted operating expenses exclusive of the alcohol brand segment, the litigation provisions, and the change in stock-based compensation for the 2025 second quarter were $497.7 million, compared with $459.3 million in the 2024 second quarter. Operating expenses as a percentage of net sales for the 2025 second quarter were 25.8%, compared with 25.9% in the 2024 second quarter. Adjusted operating expenses as a percentage of net sales for the 2025 second quarter were 24.0%. Operating income for the 2025 second quarter increased 19.8% to $631.6 million from $527.2 million in the 2024 comparative quarter. Adjusted operating income for the 2025 second quarter, exclusive of the alcohol brand segment, the litigation provisions, and the change in stock-based compensation increased 21.5% to $667.9 million from $549.7 million in the 2024 second quarter. The effective tax rate for the 2025 second quarter was 24.4% compared with 22.9% in the 2024 second quarter. The increase in the effective tax rate was primarily attributable to higher income taxes in foreign tax jurisdictions. Net income for the 2025 second quarter increased 14.9% to $488.8 million from $425.4 million in the 2024 second quarter. Net income for the 2025 second quarter, exclusive to the alcohol brand segment, the litigation provisions, and the change in stock-based compensation increased 16.7% to $516.5 million from $442.7 million in the 2024 second quarter. The income per diluted share for the 2025 second quarter increased 21.1% to 50 cents from 41 cents in the second quarter of 2024. The income per diluted share for the 2025 second quarter exclusive of the litigation provisions and the accelerated stock-based compensation increased 25.2% to $0.51 from $0.41 in the second quarter of 2024. Net income per diluted share for the 2025 second quarter, exclusive of the alcohol brand segment, the litigation provisions and the accelerated stock-based compensation increased 23.0% to $0.52 from $0.43 in the second quarter of 2024. Turning now to the U.S. and North America sales, net sales in the U.S. and Canada in the 2025 second quarter increased by 8.6% in dollars over the same period in 2024. Growth for the quarter was led by the Monster Energy Ultra family. In the United States, according to the Nielsen reports for the 30 weeks ended July 19, 2025, The Monster Energy Ultra family was the third largest standalone energy drink brand in dollar sales in the energy drink category after Red Bull and Monster for all outlets combined, namely convenience, grocery, drug, and mass merchandisers, including energy shots. Innovation continues to drive performance with Monster Energy Ultra Blue Hawaiian and Monster Energy Ultra Vice Guava contributing to the Monster Energy Ultra brand family growth. Our two Monster Killer Brew skewers and Juice Monster Viking Berry also contributed to U.S. growth. Our revenue growth management team remains focused on long-term value creation opportunities and trade spend optimization. The pricing of energy drinks in the United States has increased at a slower rate than other NARTD beverages in the last decade, and we believe this provides for a favorable value proposition with consumers. To that end, we have initiated discussions with our botters and customers and are planning for selective price adjustments by package and channel, as well as reductions in promotional allowances in the United States effective during the 2025 fourth quarter. As communicated at our annual meeting, we're planning to launch two new full sugar Monster Energy flavors, Monster Energy Electric Blue and Monster Energy Orange Dreamsicle in the fall. We are also planning to introduce Juice Monster Bad Apple, which was introduced in select EMEA markets in 2024, as well as Monster Energy Ultra Wild Passion in the fall. Additionally, we are planning a strategic launch of Monster Energy Landonara Zero Sugar in Texas, Nevada, and California, leveraging the Formula One races in the United States later this year. Turning to sales internationally, Net sales to customers outside the United States on a foreign currency adjusted basis increased 16.5% to $869.3 million in the 2025 second quarter. Reported net sales to customers outside the United States were $864.2 million, 41% of total net sales in the 2025 second quarter, compared to 746% million or 39% of total net sales in the corresponding quarter in 2024. Foreign currency exchange rates had a negative impact on net sales in US dollars of approximately 5 million in the 2025 second quarter. Turning to EMEA, net sales in EMEA in the 2025 second quarter increased by 26.8% in dollars and increased 23.7% on a currency neutral basis over the same period in 2024. Gross profit in this region as a percentage of net sales for the 2025 second quarter was 36.1% versus 34.7% in the same period in 2024. Energy drink category growth remains healthy with Monza outperforming the category in many EMEA markets. According to Nielsen, in all major channels in Western Europe, excluding Iceland, the Monster Energy brand is now the seventh largest FMCG brand by value. According to Nielsen, for the most recent 13-week period, the Monster brand is now the number one energy drink in Norway. Our affordable brands continue to grow and gain share in their respective markets. Within EMEA, we are also seeing growth of Fury in Egypt and Predator in Kenya and Nigeria. Innovation continues to drive performance in the region with Juiced Monster Rio Punch and Monster Energy Ultra Strawberry Dreams contributing to the growth in the quarter. In addition, we launched Monster Energy Lando Norris Zero Sugar in five markets at the end of the second quarter. We will continue its rollout throughout the second half of 2025 in 33 additional markets in the MEA. We're especially excited about the launch of this product due to its unique package design, appealing melon yuzu flavor, and strong activation by our sales teams and our Coca-Cola bottling partners. We will be launching various Monster Energy strategic brands and affordable brand products in additional markets in EMEA throughout the rest of 2025, including the rollout of Monster Energy, Valentino Rossi Zero Sugar in a number of countries. Turning to Asia Pacific, net sales in Asia Pacific in the 2025 second quarter increased 11.6% both in dollars and on a currency neutral basis over the same period in 2024. Gross profit in this region as a percentage of net sales for the 2025 second quarter was 41.0% versus 45.4% in the same period in 2024. The decrease in gross profit margins as a percentage in net sales was primarily the result of higher promotional answers and geographic sales mix. Net sales in Japan in the 2025 second quarter increased 6.1% in dollars and increased 1% on a currency neutral basis. We're planning to launch two skews of rainstorm in Japan in the 2025 third quarter. Mid-sales in South Korea in the 2025 second quarter increased 22.4% in dollars and increased 28.9% on a currency neutral basis as compared to the same quarter in 2024. Mid-sales in China in the 2025 second quarter increased 19.5% in dollars and and increased 20.2% on a currency neutral basis as compared to the same quarter in 2024. Mid-sales in India in the 2025 second quarter increased 12.4% in dollars and increased 16.0% on a currency neutral basis as compared to the same quarter in 2024. During the second quarter, sales growth of the Monster Energy brand remain solid with predator growing meaningfully ahead of the energy drink category, in part reflecting its ongoing rollout into new markets and increased production capacity for the Coca-Cola bottles in India. Overall, we remain optimistic about the long-term prospects for our brands in Asia-Pacific and are excited about the incremental expansion of our affordable brands in China and India. In Oceania, which includes Australia, New Zealand, Tahiti, French Polynesia, New Caledonia, Papua New Guinea, and Guam, net sales increased 8.3% in dollars and increased 11.9% on a currency-neutral basis. Turning to Latin America and the Caribbean, net sales in Latin America, including Mexico and the Caribbean, in the 2025 second quarter decreased 7.8% in dollars and increased 1.7% on a currency neutral basis over the same period in 2024. Slower growth in the region on a currency neutral basis was primarily attributable to a change to the operating model in Argentina, lower net sales in certain countries, primarily due to production challenges and adverse weather in the region, particularly in Brazil. Gross profit in this region as a percentage of net sales was 45.2% for the 2025 second quarter, versus 45.8% in the 2024 second quarter. Net sales in Brazil in the second quarter decreased 1.3% in dollars, but increased 10.4% on a currency-neutral basis. We're planning to launch two swans, so rear punch in the 2025 third quarter. Net sales in Chile in the 2025 second quarter increased 4.6% in dollars, and 4.2% on a currency neutral basis. We're planning to launch Juice Monster Pipeline Punch in the 2025 third quarter. Net sales in Argentina in the 2025 second quarter decreased 33.9% in dollars and 30.2% on a currency neutral basis. The net sales decrease in Argentina was partially due to lower per case revenues as a result of a change to operating model late in the first quarter of 2025 with the objective to better manage our foreign currency exposure. Net sales in Mexico decreased 7.0% in dollars and increased 10.8% on a currency-neutral basis in the 2025 second quarter. In the third quarter, we're planning to launch Monster Energy Ultra Strawberry Dreams and Predator Wild Berry. Turning to Monster Brewing, Monster Brewing results improved relative to the first quarter of 2025, but continue to face challenges in the second quarter. During the 2025 second quarter, we reduced headcount as part of our cost reduction plans. Net sales for the alcohol brand segment were $38 million in the 2025 second quarter, a decrease of approximately $3.6 million, or 8.6% lower than the 2024 comparable quarter. We continue to plan for the launch of the beast in certain international markets subject to regulatory approvals. We are also planning further innovation in Mont-Saint-Bring in the coming months. For example, a new hard lemonade line, Blind Lemon and Blinder Lemon, began shipping nationally in July. During the 2025 second quarter, no shares of the company's common stock were repurchased. As of August 6, 2025, approximately $500 million remained available for repurchase under the previously authorized repurchase program. Now turning to our July 2025 sales, we estimate that July 2025 sales on a non-foreign currency-adjusted basis were approximately 24.3% higher than the comparable July 2024 sales and 24.9% higher on a non-foreign currency adjusted basis excluding the alcohol brand segment. We estimate that on a foreign currency adjusted basis, July 2025 sales were approximately 22.2% higher than the comparable July 2024 sales and 22.8% higher on a foreign currency adjusted basis excluding the alcohol brand segment. July 2025 had the same number of selling days as July 2024. In this regard, we caution, again, that sales over a short period are often disproportionately impacted by various factors, such as, for example, selling days, days of the week in which holidays fall, timing of new product launches, the timing of price increases and promotions in retail stores, distributing incentives, as well as shifts in the timing of production. In some instances, our bottlers are responsible for production and determine their own production schedules. This affects the dates on which we invoice such bottlers. Furthermore, our bottling and distribution partners maintain inventory levels according to their own internal requirements, which they may alter from time to time for their own business reasons. We iterate that sales over a short period such as a single month should not necessarily be imputed to or regarded as indicative of results for a full quarter or any future period. In conclusion, I would like to summarize some recent positive points. Our record quarterly net sales crossed the $2 billion threshold for the first time in the company's history. In addition, the percentage growth rates in reported gross profit, operating income, net income, and earnings per share all outpaced our growth rate in net sales. The energy drink category continues to grow globally. We believe that household penetration continues to increase in the energy drink category. Growth opportunities in household penetration for capital consumption, along with consumers' need for energy, are positive factors for the category. We continue to expand our sales in non-Nielsen tract channels. Globally, as measured by scanner data, consumer demand remains strong. In the United States, the energy drink category, as measured by Nielsen, accelerated in the 2025 second quarter compared to the 2025 first quarter, with growth remaining strong in July. Monster sales and retail have followed a similar trend. We continue to review opportunities for price increases domestically and internationally. We are excited for our innovation pipeline for 2025 and beyond. I would now like to open the floor to questions about the quarter.

Thank you. We will now begin the question and answer session. To ask a question, you may press star then 1 on your telephone keypad. If you're using a speaker phone, we ask that you please pick up your handset before pressing the keys. If at any time your question has been addressed, you'd like to adjourn your question, please press star then 2. In the interest of time, we ask that you please limit yourself to a single question. Today's first question comes from Dara Mushinen with Morgan Stanley. Please go ahead.

Hey, good afternoon. Hey, Dara. The gross margin performance is particularly strong in Q2. Can you just talk about how sustainable some of those drivers might be going forward? You mentioned some modest tariff pressure going forward, so just Any thoughts around higher aluminum costs and the impact going forward? And if you could just clarify, you mentioned some U.S. pricing in Q4. Is that more selective tactical adjustments or are you looking more at a broad type of price increase? Thanks.

Well, I think we mentioned that the price increase that is currently being explored will depend on package and channel. so it's still a little premature to say exactly where it will fall out, but we are in discussions with our bottlers and customers. Turning to gross margins, I've always been very passionate about gross margins and where the gross margins can end up in the company, but as we look at where we are in Q2, and we look forward into Q3. And we don't give guidance, so I've got to be careful what I say, otherwise I'll get into trouble here with the lawyers. But we do see some modest pressures coming from tariffs in Q3. And in Q4, if the price increase does not materialize, but we think it will, we will see You know, it's some reduction through tariffs, but we do believe that the price increase will go some way towards, you know, overcoming that. And as I mentioned previously on many calls, that we have a hedging strategy in place, so we are not totally exposed to the vicissitudes and changes in pricing in the LME, but we are... we are hedged to a limited extent in the Midwest premium, which is where we'll see the impact of the tariffs.

Thank you. And our next question today comes from Bonnie Herzog with Goldman Sachs. Please go ahead.

All right. Thank you. Hi, Hilton. Hi, everyone. Maybe a quick follow-up. question on that just in terms of your supply chain optimization efforts because Hilton I know you've been working on that so if you have any color that you can share with us and sort of where you're at in that process and then I'd love to hear some color on the category because it's been very strong recently especially in the U.S. you know up double digits so if you could touch on some of the the drivers of the recent strength and how sustainable this might be for the rest of the year and maybe into next thanks

Okay, so let's talk first about supply chain optimization. What we've been able to achieve is a good balance between our own production, which now accounts for probably just around 10% of our sales in the U.S., and a very well-balanced co-packing model. Our objective always has been to get the lowest delivered price to our customers. And that's been an objective and is one of the reasons why we are not producing more in our Phoenix facility, because we've got such a great balance of co-packers that are able to achieve that objective of the lowest landed cost price to our customers. So that's supply chain. Let's talk a little bit about the category. You know, as we said earlier when we spoke about July sales, sales trends in the category remain strong. You know, per scanner data, the category is up 13.2% in the last four weeks. Monster is up 12%. And our MEC share, unfortunately, has been impacted by the other brands, not Monster. And really we've seen strong increases across all regions. You know, we look at where we are. in July, and all of our regions are increasing nicely. So why has the market changed? At the end of the day, what we look at is that the pricing of our products at retail are very much competitive with comparable CSDs. And traditionally there was a gap, historically there was a gap, but now that gap is starting to close and there's a strong appetite from consumers for functionality and a move towards our products and our competitors' products. So overall innovation has driven the growth in the category and in our own sales. Also, there's this whole move that alcohol is not as appealing as historically it's been, and we believe that's creating more opportunities for energy and certainly more space for energy in customers' coolers. There's nothing really more that I can add other than we're excited to be part of this And everyone was kind of concerned last year. And I think at the time we said that our belief was that there's a strong motivation, strong acceleration in the category, and you're now seeing it. So I'm not sure I can add any more color, Bonnie.

Thank you. And our next question today comes from Chris Carey at Wells Fargo Securities. Please go ahead.

Hey, everyone. Hope that you're all doing well. I wanted to follow up just on the quarter-to-date number. Exceptionally strong. Hilton, you just said all regions are growing. Is there any pull forward that you're seeing ahead of those pricing discussions? Any timing dynamic that we should be thinking about that's driving some of that strength? And then if I could just... follow up on this broader topic of the energy drink category. You know, it's been a really strong year, and certainly we're already looking forward to next year and the sustainability of the category. Clearly, you're going to potentially have this pricing in Q4. But can you just, you know, talk about maybe what happened last year, you know, you know, why you think the category slowed, whether it was a lack of innovation, lack of pricing, and how you're starting to think about, you know, the next 12 months between, you know, strength of innovation, obviously you're going to have pricing, and any other, you know, tidbits that you might give us to, you know, lessen some of the anxiety as we start, you know, lapping the really strong performance. So thanks for the clarification on the quarter date, and sorry for the longer-winded question going into next year. Thanks.

Okay, well, let's start with the longer question for next year. So there's an easy answer. We don't give guidance. So it's really hard for us to talk about 2026 other than to say that we've got a very strong innovation pipeline, and we're really excited about what will happen in the fall with our innovation, what's happening internationally with our inflation, and what could happen in 2026 with our innovation program. Talking about what happened last year, it's kind of difficult because I don't think anyone knows. We surmised at the time that there were lots of issues. It was pre-election, consumers, you know, there was high inflation, there was high gas prices, consumers were, you know, holding back. But we've always said, and this, you know, we passionately believe that energy offers a neat state. It's a, you know, it's a functional beverage. And we continue to see increased household penetration. You know, we regard energy drinks as an affordable luxury. We're seeing a lot of growth of diets versus full sugar. I mentioned the NARTD price comparison, and there's been a big opportunity with the trend in coffee and the pricing trends in coffee, and also the impact on the coffee industry of the cold brews, which didn't do as successful as people expected. So there's a whole move towards why we believe this category is a good category and why we think it will continue to grow.

Thank you. And our next question today comes from Steve Powers at Deutsche Bank. Please go ahead.

Thank you. Good evening. Well, case growth this quarter notably outpaced realized revenue growth, which, you know, obviously resulted in a lower all-in price per case in the quarter. I was hoping you could maybe break that apart a bit. You mentioned higher promotional investments this quarter, but obviously we've also got mixed factors, both geographic and within the segments, you know, Just a little bit of, if you could just dissect the different drivers of the lower price per case and just call it anything that may be anomalous or unique to this quarter versus something that is more extrapolatable. Thank you. Thank you.

I think you answered your own question, to be honest, because as we look at the quarter, 41% of sales internationally is kind of a first, and you know the impact of gross margin of international versus domestic. Secondly, we are internationally sending a significant amount now of affordable brands. And you correctly spoke about the strategic brand segment growing faster than the Monster Energy drink segment in the quarter. So all of those factors, geographic mix, product mix, sales mix, all contributed to the results that you're talking about.

Thank you. And our next question today comes from Rob Artenstein with Evercore. Please go ahead.

Great. Thank you very much. Hilton, early on in the call, you mentioned, I couldn't quite follow, you mentioned something about I thought changing the visual identity on the Ultraline and then there was something about Unleashed and I somehow it came in and out and I didn't quite follow exactly what you're saying but if maybe you could talk in a little bit more detail on what you are doing and why you're doing it given that the Ultraline has been so successful.

The Ultraline has been very successful and it of late it's becoming even more successful and all it is is an objective to establish the ultra line given a separate identity with a silver claw very similar to what we have today but have separate coolers to be able to better merchandise the products So it'll have a new visual identity. It'll have better space through increased cooler capacity and its own coolers. And again, promotional stacks on stores, cases on the floor. And we are great believers in that part of the business. And I think you've probably noticed, as probably a lot of our investors have noticed, a lot of our analysts, is there's a whole... kind of viral campaign on Zero Ultra in EMEA that's carried through to the U.S., and there's a significant amount of passion that we're using to build upon to really market that line more effectively.

Thank you. This concludes our question and answer session. I'd like to turn the conference back over to Hilton Schlossberg for closing remarks.

Thank you. On behalf of Monster, I'd like to thank everyone for their continued interest in the company. I remain confident in the strength of our brands and the talent of not only our executive management team, but also our entire family, Monster family, throughout the world. And I'm excited to be working with them all. We continue to believe in the company and our growth strategy. and remain committed to continue to innovate, develop, and differentiate our brands and expand the company both at home and abroad, and in particular, capitalizing on our relationship with the Coca-Cola bottle system. We believe that we are well-positioned in the beverage industry and continue to be optimistic about the future of our company. Thank you for your attendance.

Thank you. This concludes today's conference call. We thank you all for attending today's presentations. You may now disconnect your lines and have a wonderful day.