Beyond Meat Inc. (BYND) is trying something new. The plant-based protein company launched Beyond Immerse on Friday, a functional beverage line that marks its first real push beyond food products. The drinks combine plant protein, fiber, antioxidants and electrolytes, positioning themselves somewhere between protein shakes and sports drinks.
The broader market isn't helping matters today, with the S&P 500 down 0.30% and the Nasdaq-100 falling 0.45%, creating a tough environment for stocks across the board.
What's In The Bottle
Beyond Immerse comes in three flavors: Peach Mango, Lemon Lime and Orange Tangerine. Each flavor offers two versions: a lighter option with 10g protein, 7g fiber and 60 calories, or a beefed-up version with 20g protein, 7g fiber and 100 calories. The company is positioning these as functional beverages targeting muscle health, gut health and immune function.
For now, you can only buy Beyond Immerse through Beyond's direct-to-consumer site, Beyond Test Kitchen, and availability is limited. This launch signals the company's strategy to diversify beyond plant-based meat alternatives and tap into the growing functional beverage market.
Technical Signals Point To Uncertainty
The stock is sitting 1.3% above its 20-day simple moving average, which sounds okay until you realize it's trading 40.7% below its 100-day SMA. That's a pretty clear sign of struggling momentum. Over the past year, shares have plummeted 76.52%, and they're currently hovering much closer to their 52-week lows than highs.
The technical indicators tell a mixed story. The RSI sits at 50.89, which is neutral territory, suggesting the stock isn't dramatically overbought or oversold. Meanwhile, the MACD is above its signal line, indicating bullish momentum, though it's not particularly strong. Together, these signals suggest the stock is caught in limbo. Key support sits at the $1.00 level, which is uncomfortably close to the current price.
What To Expect From Earnings
Investors have the company's next earnings report circled on their calendars for February 25. Analysts are expecting a loss of $0.11 per share, which would be a significant improvement from the $0.65 loss reported in the same quarter last year. Revenue, however, is expected to decline to $63.05 million from $76.66 million year-over-year.
Beyond Meat shares closed down 4.87% at 99 cents on Friday, putting the stock perilously close to that dollar support level.
