Looking back on beverages, alcohol, and tobacco stocks’ Q4 earnings, we examine this quarter’s best and worst performers, including Monster (NASDAQ: MNST) and its peers.

These companies' performance is influenced by brand strength, marketing strategies, and shifts in consumer preferences. Changing consumption patterns are particularly relevant and can be seen in the rise of cannabis, craft beer, and vaping or the steady decline of soda and cigarettes. Companies that spend on innovation to meet consumers where they are with regards to trends can reap huge demand benefits while those who ignore trends can see stagnant volumes. Finally, with the advent of the social media, the cost of starting a brand from scratch is much lower, meaning that new entrants can chip away at the market shares of established players.

The 13 beverages, alcohol, and tobacco stocks we track reported a satisfactory Q4. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 2.1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was in line.

Amidst this news, share prices of the companies have had a rough stretch. On average, they are down 9.5% since the latest earnings results.

Monster (NASDAQ: MNST)

Founded in 2002 as a natural soda and juice company, Monster Beverage (NASDAQ: MNST) is a pioneer of the energy drink category, and its Monster Energy brand targets a young, active demographic.

Monster reported revenues of $2.13 billion, up 17.6% year on year. This print exceeded analysts’ expectations by 4.6%. Overall, it was a satisfactory quarter for the company with a solid beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a slight miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

Hilton H. Schlosberg, Chief Executive Officer, said, “The global energy drink category demonstrated solid growth in 2025, driven by increased consumer demand. We delivered a strong close to the year in both our domestic and international markets, with record 2025 fourth quarter net sales increasing 17.6 percent and crossing the $2.0 billion threshold for the first time in the Company’s history for a fiscal fourth quarter. Our net sales to customers outside the United States increased 26.9 percent in the 2025 fourth quarter to approximately 42 percent of total net sales. EMEA in particular, had a solid 2025 fourth quarter with increased net sales of 32.6 percent in dollars.

The stock is down 14.7% since reporting and currently trades at $73.96.

Is now the time to buy Monster? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Best Q4: Celsius (NASDAQ: CELH)

With its proprietary MetaPlus formula as the basis for key products, Celsius (NASDAQ: CELH) offers energy drinks that feature natural ingredients to help in fitness and weight management.

Celsius reported revenues of $721.6 million, up 117% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 13.5%. The business had an exceptional quarter with an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates and an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates.

Celsius pulled off the biggest analyst estimates beat and fastest revenue growth among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 21.1% since reporting. It currently trades at $39.93.

Is now the time to buy Celsius? Access our full analysis of the earnings results here, it’s free.

Weakest Q4: Altria (NYSE: MO)

Best known for its Marlboro brand of cigarettes, Altria (NYSE: MO) offers tobacco and nicotine products.

Altria reported revenues of $5.08 billion, flat year on year, exceeding analysts’ expectations by 1.1%. Still, it was a slower quarter as it posted a miss of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

Interestingly, the stock is up 2.3% since the results and currently trades at $64.59.

Read our full analysis of Altria’s results here.

Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP)

Born out of a 2018 merger between Keurig Green Mountain and Dr Pepper Snapple, Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ: KDP) is a consumer staples powerhouse boasting a portfolio of beverages including sodas, coffees, and juices.

Keurig Dr Pepper reported revenues of $4.50 billion, up 10.5% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 3.1%. More broadly, it was a mixed quarter as it also logged an impressive beat of analysts’ revenue estimates but a miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

The stock is down 10.7% since reporting and currently trades at $26.60.

Read our full, actionable report on Keurig Dr Pepper here, it’s free.

Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM)

Known for its flavorful beverages challenging the status quo, Boston Beer (NYSE: SAM) is a pioneer in craft brewing and a symbol of American innovation in the alcoholic beverage industry.

Boston Beer reported revenues of $385.7 million, down 4.1% year on year. This print met analysts’ expectations. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also produced an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but full-year EPS guidance missing analysts’ expectations.

The stock is down 1.1% since reporting and currently trades at $224.90.

Read our full, actionable report on Boston Beer here, it’s free.

Market Update

Late in 2025 into early 2026, there was hand wringing around artificial intelligence. For software companies, the fear was that AI would erode pricing power and compress margins as new tools made it easier to replicate what once required expensive enterprise platforms. Crypto investors had their own version of the same anxiety: if AI agents could trade, allocate capital, and manage wallets autonomously, what exactly was the long-term value of today’s crypto infrastructure?

These concerns triggered a noticeable rotation away from these sectors and into safer havens. But markets rarely dwell on one narrative for long. Spring 2026 came, and the focus shifted abruptly from technological disruption to geopolitical risk. The US’ conflict with Iran became the dominant driver of market psychology, and when geopolitics takes center stage, the script changes quickly. Investors stop debating growth rates and start worrying about oil supply, inflation, and global stability.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our Top 6 Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.