Key Takeaways
- Shares of Celsius Holdings (CELH) climbed more than 8% during after-hours trading following a strong presentation at the CAGNY 2026 investor conference.
- The energy drink maker disclosed $5.2 billion in total portfolio retail sales and now commands a 20% share of the domestic energy drink sector.
- Retail shelf allocations are projected to expand by more than 17%, while Alani Nu aims to double its presence in convenience retail.
- The company welcomed two new PepsiCo-nominated directors to its board, highlighting the deepening strategic alliance.
- Following a 74% rally in 2025 driven by the Alani Nu acquisition, CELH is currently down roughly 4% in 2026.
Shares of Celsius Holdings rallied over 8% in extended trading Thursday following the company’s investor presentation at the Consumer Analyst Group of New York (CAGNY) 2026 conference. The market reacted positively to management’s commentary on expanding retail distribution and accelerating energy drink consumption trends.
Should this rally hold into Friday’s regular session, it would represent the stock’s strongest single-day performance since August 2025. The move would also extend CELH’s gains to two consecutive sessions, even as shares remain approximately 4% lower year-to-date in 2026.
This year’s modest decline follows an impressive 2025 run that saw the stock climb 74%. The previous year’s rally was largely attributed to the strategic acquisition of Alani Nu and expanding consumer appetite for better-for-you beverage alternatives.
During the conference presentation, CEO John Fieldly highlighted the company’s competitive positioning. He disclosed that the combined Celsius brand portfolio achieved $5.2 billion in retail sales over the past year, establishing it as one of the three largest energy drink portfolios in the market.
“Celsius is winning not in particular pockets, but winning at scale and across categories that matter,” Fieldly said.
Energy drinks currently account for 20% of all liquid refreshment beverage sales throughout the United States, a notable increase from approximately 14% just five years earlier. This category expansion is prompting retailers to dedicate additional merchandising space to energy products.
Celsius reported that shelf space dedicated to its brands has already expanded by more than 25%. Looking ahead, the company anticipates distribution footprint and shelf presence to grow by over 17%.
Alani Nu, the brand acquired during 2025, is positioned for particularly aggressive expansion. The company projects shelf space for Alani Nu to double, with a targeted 100% increase specifically within convenience store channels. This retail segment represents 60% of total energy drink category sales.
Strategic PepsiCo Alliance Accelerates Market Access
COO Eric Hanson highlighted how the partnership with PepsiCo enables rapid and efficient product distribution. By integrating the complete Celsius brand portfolio into PepsiCo’s established direct store delivery infrastructure, the company secures expedited placement in both shelf and refrigerated sections.
“Celsius creates the strategy and provides PepsiCo with category and consumer insights, brand priorities, and executable playbooks,” Hanson said.
The collaboration received a governance enhancement recently when Celsius announced the addition of two directors to its board, both nominated by PepsiCo. Christy Jacoby serves as CFO of PepsiCo North America Operations, while John Short holds the position of SVP of Strategic Partnerships at PepsiCo.
Sales velocity across the entire brand portfolio has increased by 6%, with Celsius products now available through more than 250,000 retail locations. The company indicates it accounted for 33% of overall category expansion.
Shifting Consumer Behaviors Support Growth
Customer loyalty metrics remain strong. Celsius reports that 52% of returning customers make five or more purchases of its products.
Female consumers are emerging as an increasingly important growth driver, while male consumers continue to form a substantial portion of the customer base. Approximately 32% of consumers now consume energy drinks across a broader range of daily occasions compared to prior periods.
Celsius also highlighted that 37% of its customers consume products alongside meals, with 33% drinking them during social gatherings, indicating a move beyond traditional performance-focused consumption patterns.
The company achieved 99.5% all-commodity volume coverage through the PepsiCo distribution network, representing a significant operational achievement for the beverage maker.
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