Celsius Holdings, Inc.
Case Overview
32 Days Left to Seek Lead Plaintiff
Lead Plaintiff Deadline: | Lead Plaintiff Deadline: 01/21/2025 |
Status: | Status: Investigating |
Company Name: | Company Name: Celsius Holdings, Inc. |
Court: | Court: Southern District of Florida |
Case Number: | Case Number: 9:24cv81472 |
Class Period: | Class Period: 2/29/2024-9/4/2024 |
Ticker: | Ticker: CELH |
Related Attorneys: | Lead Attorneys: Thomas W. Elrod |
Related Practices: | Related Practices: Securities |
The lawsuit alleges that on May 27, 2024, the price of Celsius stock declined materially as analysts and investors digested some of the latest retail store trends reported by Nielsen, a global data and analytics company. Morgan Stanley noted that Celsius’ sales growth slowed sequentially in weekly retail data – slowing to 39% year-over-year in the week ended May 18, 2024, down from 50% in the week ended May 4, 2024. Morgan Stanley warned that Celsius faced difficult sales comparisons over the next several quarters as it rolled over the anniversary of its Distribution Agreement with PepsiCo, Inc. (“Pepsi”). Similarly, Stifel warned that sales could be dramatically diminished as Pepsi reduced the amount of Celsius inventory it held. The price of Celsius shares declined by $12.23 per share, or approximately 13%, from $95.15 on May 24, 2024, to close at $82.92 on May 28, 2024.
Then, on September 4, 2024, Celsius CEO John Fieldly presented at the Barclays 17th Annual Global Consumer Staples Conference. During the conference, Fieldly discussed the Company’s Distribution Agreement with Pepsi, and revealed that Celsius’ sales to Pepsi had decreased by “roughly around $100 million to $120 million … from what Pepsi ordered last quarter.” Fieldly added Celsius was “still seeing these inventory levels being reduced.” Additionally, it was noted that Celsius’ prior sales to Pepsi far outstripped market demand for Celsius products, and Pepsi was drawing down excess inventory from its warehouses. On this news, the price of Celsius shares declined by $4.25 per share, or approximately 12%, from $36.64 on September 3, 2024, to close at $32.39 on September 4, 2024.
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Celsius materially oversold inventory to Pepsi far in excess of demand, and faced a looming sales cliff during which Pepsi would significantly reduce its purchases of Celsius products; (2) as Pepsi drew down significant amounts of inventory overstock, Celsius sales would materially decline in future periods, hurting Celsius financial performance and outlook; (3) Celsius sales rate to Pepsi was unsustainable and created a misleading impression of Celsius financial performance and outlook; and (4) as a result, Celsius business metrics and financial prospects were not as strong as indicated in Defendants’ Class Period statements.
Then, on September 4, 2024, Celsius CEO John Fieldly presented at the Barclays 17th Annual Global Consumer Staples Conference. During the conference, Fieldly discussed the Company’s Distribution Agreement with Pepsi, and revealed that Celsius’ sales to Pepsi had decreased by “roughly around $100 million to $120 million … from what Pepsi ordered last quarter.” Fieldly added Celsius was “still seeing these inventory levels being reduced.” Additionally, it was noted that Celsius’ prior sales to Pepsi far outstripped market demand for Celsius products, and Pepsi was drawing down excess inventory from its warehouses. On this news, the price of Celsius shares declined by $4.25 per share, or approximately 12%, from $36.64 on September 3, 2024, to close at $32.39 on September 4, 2024.
The complaint alleges that, throughout the Class Period, Defendants made false and/or misleading statements and/or failed to disclose that: (1) Celsius materially oversold inventory to Pepsi far in excess of demand, and faced a looming sales cliff during which Pepsi would significantly reduce its purchases of Celsius products; (2) as Pepsi drew down significant amounts of inventory overstock, Celsius sales would materially decline in future periods, hurting Celsius financial performance and outlook; (3) Celsius sales rate to Pepsi was unsustainable and created a misleading impression of Celsius financial performance and outlook; and (4) as a result, Celsius business metrics and financial prospects were not as strong as indicated in Defendants’ Class Period statements.