The end of the earnings season is always a good time to take a step back and see who shined (and who didn’t). Let’s take a look at how beverages, alcohol, and tobacco stocks fared in Q2, starting with MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ: MGPI).

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 Q2. As a group, revenues beat analysts’ consensus estimates by 1% while next quarter’s revenue guidance was 2.2% above.

In light of this news, share prices of the companies have held steady. On average, they are relatively unchanged since the latest earnings results.

MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ: MGPI)

Headquartered in Atchison, Kansas, MGP Ingredients (NASDAQ: MGPI) is a leading supplier of high-quality ingredients to the food and beverage industry

MGP Ingredients reported revenues of $124.4 million, down 14.5% year on year. This print fell short of analysts’ expectations by 0.7%, but it was still a very strong quarter for the company with a beat of analysts’ EPS and EBITDA estimates.

MGP Ingredients delivered the slowest revenue growth in the group. Investor expectations, however, were likely higher than Wall Street’s published projections, leaving some wishing for even better results (analysts’ consensus estimates are those published by big banks and advisory firms, not the investors who make buy and sell decisions). The stock is down 3.9% since reporting and currently trades at $17.98.

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

Best Q2: Vita Coco (NASDAQ: COCO)

Founded in 2004 followed by a 2021 IPO, The Vita Coco Company (NASDAQ: COCO) offers coconut water products that are a natural way to quench thirst.

Vita Coco reported revenues of $216.2 million, up 28.1% year on year, outperforming analysts’ expectations by 3%. The business had a stunning quarter with a beat of analysts’ EPS and gross margin estimates.

Vita Coco scored the highest full-year guidance raise among its peers. Although it had a fine quarter compared to its peers, the market seems unhappy with the results as the stock is down 15.9% since reporting. It currently trades at $62.60.

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

Weakest Q2: 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 $817.9 million, up 10.6% year on year, falling short of analysts’ expectations by 6.2%. It was a disappointing quarter as it posted a significant miss of analysts’ EBITDA and EPS estimates.

Celsius delivered the weakest performance against analyst estimates of the whole group. Interestingly, the stock is up 20.2% since the results and currently trades at $35.05.

Read our full analysis of Celsius’s results here.

Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP)

Sporting an impressive roster of iconic beer brands, Molson Coors (NYSE: TAP) is a global brewing giant with a rich history dating back more than two centuries.

Molson Coors reported revenues of $3.10 billion, down 3.3% year on year. This number met analysts’ expectations. Zooming out, it was a satisfactory quarter as it also recorded an impressive beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates but a significant miss of analysts’ gross margin estimates.

The stock is up 2.8% since reporting and currently trades at $43.03.

Read our full, actionable report on Molson Coors here, it’s free.

Zevia (NYSE: ZVIA)

With a primary focus on soda but also a presence in energy drinks and teas, Zevia (NYSE: ZVIA) is a better-for-you beverage company.

Zevia reported revenues of $45 million, up 1.1% year on year. This result topped analysts’ expectations by 1.8%. Overall, it was a very strong quarter as it also recorded EBITDA guidance for next quarter exceeding analysts’ expectations and a solid beat of analysts’ EBITDA estimates.

The stock is down 16.1% since reporting and currently trades at $1.43.

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

Market Update

Over the past year, investors have been forced to repeatedly answer the same question: what is the market’s biggest risk? The answer has changed several times, and each shift has reshaped market leadership.

Late in 2025 and early 2026, artificial intelligence became the market’s primary uncertainty. Investors questioned whether AI would erode software pricing power and weaken competitive moats as AI made it easier to replicate once-differentiated products.

By the spring, technology took a back seat to geopolitics. The U.S. conflict with Iran briefly became the market’s dominant narrative, raising concerns about oil prices, inflation, and global growth. But as energy markets remained orderly and fears of a prolonged supply disruption faded, investors quickly turned their focus back to fundamentals.

Want to invest in winners with rock-solid fundamentals? Check out our 9 Best Market-Beating Stocks and add them to your watchlist. These companies are poised for growth regardless of the political or macroeconomic climate.