WS Investor
08 May 2026, 06:54
Monster Beverage Jumps Nearly 6% After Hours as Record Quarter Stuns on Every Metric
Corona, May 7, 2026 — Shares in Monster Beverage rose nearly 6% in after-hours trading yesterday after the energy drink giant delivered a first quarter that shattered expectations, with net sales crossing the $2 billion threshold for the first time in the company's history for a single first quarter.
Net sales surged 26.9% to $2.35 billion, or 22.1% on a foreign currency adjusted basis — a meaningful beat that reflected strong demand both domestically and internationally. Operating income rose 28.1% to $730 million and net income jumped 28.6% to $569.5 million. EPS of $0.58 per diluted share increased 27.6% year-over-year and topped analyst estimates comfortably.
The standout was the international business. Net sales to customers outside the United States grew 44.9% to $1.06 billion, representing approximately 45% of total net sales — the highest proportion of international revenue in the company's history for a single quarter. CEO Hilton Schlosberg highlighted this milestone directly, framing it as evidence of Monster's global expansion strategy bearing fruit across markets where energy drink penetration continues to grow. On a foreign currency adjusted basis, international sales still grew a robust 32.7%.
The Monster Energy Drinks segment, which includes the flagship brand alongside Reign, Bang, and newer wellness-oriented lines, drove the bulk of the results with a 27.6% revenue increase to $2.19 billion. Strategic Brands grew 28.9%. The only drag was the small Alcohol Brands segment, which declined 5.9% — but at just $32.7 million in revenue, it is immaterial to the overall story.
The one note of caution in the report was a slight gross margin compression, with gross profit as a percentage of sales falling to 55.0% from 56.5% a year ago, driven by higher aluminum can and freight costs from out-of-orbit production needed to meet surging demand. Investors appear willing to accept that trade-off given the scale of the revenue and earnings outperformance.
Corona, May 7, 2026 — Shares in Monster Beverage rose nearly 6% in after-hours trading yesterday after the energy drink giant delivered a first quarter that shattered expectations, with net sales crossing the $2 billion threshold for the first time in the company's history for a single first quarter.
Net sales surged 26.9% to $2.35 billion, or 22.1% on a foreign currency adjusted basis — a meaningful beat that reflected strong demand both domestically and internationally. Operating income rose 28.1% to $730 million and net income jumped 28.6% to $569.5 million. EPS of $0.58 per diluted share increased 27.6% year-over-year and topped analyst estimates comfortably.
The standout was the international business. Net sales to customers outside the United States grew 44.9% to $1.06 billion, representing approximately 45% of total net sales — the highest proportion of international revenue in the company's history for a single quarter. CEO Hilton Schlosberg highlighted this milestone directly, framing it as evidence of Monster's global expansion strategy bearing fruit across markets where energy drink penetration continues to grow. On a foreign currency adjusted basis, international sales still grew a robust 32.7%.
The Monster Energy Drinks segment, which includes the flagship brand alongside Reign, Bang, and newer wellness-oriented lines, drove the bulk of the results with a 27.6% revenue increase to $2.19 billion. Strategic Brands grew 28.9%. The only drag was the small Alcohol Brands segment, which declined 5.9% — but at just $32.7 million in revenue, it is immaterial to the overall story.
The one note of caution in the report was a slight gross margin compression, with gross profit as a percentage of sales falling to 55.0% from 56.5% a year ago, driven by higher aluminum can and freight costs from out-of-orbit production needed to meet surging demand. Investors appear willing to accept that trade-off given the scale of the revenue and earnings outperformance.
