Key Highlights
- CELH climbed approximately 6.3% in premarket activity following a strong Q1 earnings report
- First-quarter revenue reached an all-time high of $782.6 million, representing 138% growth compared to last year
- Adjusted earnings per share of $0.41 exceeded analyst expectations of $0.30 by $0.11
- Recent acquisitions of Alani Nu and Rockstar Energy were primary drivers behind the revenue explosion
- Gross profit margin contracted to 48.3% from the previous year’s 52.3%, reflecting lower profitability on newly acquired product lines
Celsius Holdings (CELH) experienced a premarket surge of roughly 6.3% on Thursday following the announcement of exceptional first-quarter results, with revenue totaling $782.6 million—a dramatic increase of 138% compared to the $329.3 million reported in the corresponding quarter of the previous year.
The company’s adjusted earnings per share reached $0.41, significantly outperforming the consensus estimate of $0.30 by $0.11. This substantial beat captured investor attention and drove the stock’s early morning gains.
The dramatic revenue expansion was primarily driven by strategic acquisitions completed in 2025—Alani Nu in April and Rockstar Energy in August. Alani Nu contributed an impressive $368.1 million to quarterly sales, while Rockstar Energy brought in an additional $66.6 million.
The flagship CELSIUS brand demonstrated solid performance as well, posting approximately 6% revenue growth versus the first quarter of 2025.
International operations generated $35.3 million in revenue, marking a 55% year-over-year increase, with particular strength in Nordic regions and other emerging markets.
Net income expanded 148% to reach $110.1 million. Diluted earnings per share doubled to $0.33, while adjusted EBITDA jumped 181% to $195.5 million.
Profitability Impact From Recent Acquisitions
Gross profit margin declined to 48.3% from 52.3% recorded in the same period last year. Management attributed this compression to the inherently lower margin characteristics of the Alani Nu and Rockstar Energy product lines.
On a more encouraging note, Celsius reported that fundamental raw material expenses showed improvement relative to the fourth quarter of 2025 as both newly acquired brands were incorporated into the company’s centralized procurement framework.
Selling, general, and administrative expenses decreased as a proportion of total revenue, demonstrating emerging operational efficiencies.
The company executed $24.1 million in share repurchases throughout the quarter.
Competitive Position and Channel Performance
The combined brand portfolio of Celsius Holdings—encompassing CELSIUS, Alani Nu, and Rockstar—captured approximately 20.9% dollar share of the domestic energy drink market during the first quarter.
This portfolio represented 45% of all growth within the zero-sugar energy segment in the United States during the reporting period.
Across monitored U.S. retail channels, consolidated portfolio sales increased 29.8% for the 13-week period concluding March 29, 2026.
The company continues to utilize PepsiCo’s extensive distribution infrastructure, leveraging this partnership for both domestic market penetration and international expansion initiatives.
CEO John Fieldly described Q1 as “a defining period,” highlighting the record-breaking revenue as validation of the diversified brand portfolio’s competitive strength.
The current analyst consensus rating on CELH stands at Hold with an established price target of $47.00.
