PepsiCo (PEP) stock surged 5.12% in pre-market trading on Thursday after the beverage and snack giant reported better-than-expected second-quarter earnings and provided an improved outlook for the year. The company's resilience in a challenging environment and its ability to navigate global economic headwinds impressed investors.

For the second quarter, PepsiCo reported revenue growth of 1% to $22.73 billion, surpassing analysts' expectations of $22.27 billion. This came as a positive surprise, as Wall Street had anticipated a decline in sales. The company's core earnings per share (EPS) of $2.12 also beat the consensus estimate of $2.03, demonstrating PepsiCo's ability to maintain profitability despite market pressures.

PepsiCo's CEO Ramon Laguarta highlighted the company's strong performance, stating, "Our international business momentum continued, while our North America businesses improved their execution and competitiveness in key subcategories and channels." The company now expects a smaller drop in annual core earnings than previously forecasted, citing resilient demand for its products and a more favorable foreign exchange environment due to the weakening US dollar. PepsiCo maintained its full-year guidance, expecting core EPS to be approximately even with the previous year, which further boosted investor confidence.