Pepsi is on a hiring spree as it re-launches digital efforts under new leadership

This story originally appeared at Thinknum Media here.

Pepsi ($NYSE:PEP) looks like a company that has come out through the other side after a senior executive transition - and could be poised to grow. 

Our first chart tracks job openings globally — and, for Pepsi, it has seen open roles more than double so far this year, to a little more than 2,600. As Pepsi will be one of the companies to kick off the second quarter earnings reports season on Tuesday, July 9 with a morning announcement, analysts tracked by Zacks Investment Research are anticipating EPS of $1.49 per share.

But Pepsi could be poised to post a beat. 

Pepsi undertook a leadership transition that could have derailed years of growth at the New York-based snacks and beverage company. Last August, Pepsi CEO Indra Nooyi announced she would step down in October 2018, being replaced by Ramon Laguarta. But, now, key segments of Pepsi's US business are growing to levels not seen before Nooyi's departure. First, is Pepsi's Engineering, Manufacturing and Utilities job postings which rose from 380 at the beginning of this year to 754 as of early July - a 98% rise. 

Our next chart is another example of how Pepsi's strategy seems to have shifted under Laguarta. Hiring in eCommerce has risen substantially - although, at 36 job postings, it only reflects a four-fold increase in staffing under the new CEO.

Last but not least - in looking at Pepsi's data pre-earnings, we have to take into account its largest global competitor, Coca Cola ($NYSE:KO) - and as the chart shows, Coke's hiring hasn't kept up with Pepsi's pace (in fact, Coke is cutting open positions so far this year). As both companies are set to report earnings shortly, and as both see shares hovering around all-time highs, Pepsi's alternative data (just like the soda) is a little bit sweeter than Coke's. 

About the Data: 

Thinknum tracks companies using information they post online - jobs, social and web traffic, product sales and app ratings - and creates data sets that measure factors like hiring, revenue and foot traffic. Data sets may not be fully comprehensive (they only account for what is available on the web), but they can be used to gauge performance factors like staffing and sales. 

Further Reading: 

• PepsiCo is hiring in Mexico after $4 billion investment south of the border
• What you need to know about Yum Brands China before it reports first-quarter earnings
• PepsiCo hiring down by more than half over past two months as layoffs arrive