5 Things SodaStream Wants You to Know

Three years into its rebound plan and things have never looked better for SodaStream (NASDAQ: SODA). Its pivot to a focus on sparkling water has returned the company to healthy sales growth while cost cuts powered record profitability in 2017.

In a recent conference call with Wall Street analysts, CEO Daniel Birnbaum said he sees room to expand on those gains in 2018, including by taking on global water giant Perrier on its home turf. Below are a few highlights from that chat (all quotes are Birnbaum's).

Sparkling growth

Sales growth improved to a 20% pace in the holiday quarter compared to 13% in the third quarter and 10% in the second quarter. The company sold 25% more sparkling water machines, which allowed overall revenue to climb 14% for the year and edge past management's 13% target.

Higher margins

SodaStream enjoyed improving gross profitability even though the sales mix tilted heavily toward new machines that generate lower margins than its flavorings and carbon dioxide canister refill sales. That success is a testament to the company's improved manufacturing efficiencies and higher selling prices.

Standout regions

Western Europe stood out by delivering more than half of SodaStream's revenue gain for the quarter on booming demand in Germany and easily offset sluggish growth in France. Sales in Canada surged, too, and the U.S. segment posted decent gains with help from an effective advertising campaign.

A big user base

SodaStream posted an 11% increase in canister refill sales, which is evidence of both a growing user base and continued active machine usage by existing customers. The expansion solidified the company's position as the world's biggest water brand, by volume.

Plans for 2018

Management's growth plan includes a new one touch machine launch set for the second quarter of 2018 and a fresh lineup of flavoring options aimed at getting that segment back to growth.

SodaStream has aggressive plans to increase distribution. Its recent acquisition of its French distributor, for example, will allow it to compete more directly with sparkling water giant Perrier in its home market. Executives are hoping that new focus will help SodaStream bring its current 4% penetration rate closer to the double-digit rate it enjoys in some of its best markets.

Overall, sales are predicted to rise 12% in 2018, which would mark its first return to record revenue since the turnaround plan launched in 2015. Its far higher profitability, meanwhile, should result in operating income of about $89 million, or 80% above its previous record set in 2013.

10 stocks we like better than SodaStreamWhen investing geniuses David and Tom Gardner have a stock tip, it can pay to listen. After all, the newsletter they have run for over a decade, Motley Fool Stock Advisor, has tripled the market.*

David and Tom just revealed what they believe are the 10 best stocks for investors to buy right now... and SodaStream wasn't one of them! That's right -- they think these 10 stocks are even better buys.

Click here to learn about these picks!

*Stock Advisor returns as of February 5, 2018

Demitrios Kalogeropoulos has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool owns shares of SodaStream. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy.