PepsiCo (PEP) is the world's second largest carbonated soft drink manufacturer and the largest packaged foods product manufacturer. PepsiCo's beverage division competes with Coca-Cola (KO) in virtually all subsegments of the beverage market. PepsiCo is best known for its namesake soft drink brand as well as its Frito Lay products (including Doritos and Cheetos).

We estimate that Pepsi brand operations constitute about 7% of the company's stock value, while Frito Lay products generate a more substantial 42%. Our price estimate for PepsiCo stock is $67.28, which is slightly ahead of the current market price. The company's healthy food products or its nutrition business, which includes our Gatorade, Tropicana, and Quaker Foods divisions together constitute around 31% of our price estimate.

The war between Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) and PepsiCo (NYSE: PEP) is becoming as fierce as the fight between the two monsters in the classic Japanese flick War of the Gargantuas (don't tell me you don't remember that one!).

This time, the conflict is over the duo's respective sports drinks. According to Bloomberg, PepsiCo believes that Coke has been promoting its Powerade beverage by issuing false claims against PepsiCo's Gatorade.

PepsiCo. Inc. (NYSE:PEP) is encroaching on Coca-Cola Co.'s (NYSE:KO) turf at McDonald's Corp. (NYSE:MCD).

Some McDonald's restaurants are selling Pepsi's Gatorade, Propel Fitness Water, Lipton Iced Tea, Tropicana orange juice, and Mountain Dew, according to the Associated Press. McDonald's had sold Coke's products exclusively since 1955, the AP said.

This is obviously a huge win for Pepsi. Demand for non-carbonated beverages is rising at a much faster pace than soda. It's the latest front in the cola wars. This will certainly help Pepsi over the long term.

Investors, though, continue to bet on Coke. Its shares have jumped 12 percent this year compared with 5 percent for Pepsi. Going forward, it's a different story.

Fourteen out of 16 analysts rate Pepsi shares either a buy or a strong buy. Two rate it a hold. Their median price target is $73 about $10 above were it currently trades.

Analysts are expecting on average for Coke to hit $53 in the next year, about $5 above its current price. Twelve out of 17 analysts rate Coke either a buy or strong buy and five consider it a hold.

Coca-Cola Co.'s (NYSE:KO) plans to disclose the caffeine levels in all of its products is a boon to consumers like myself who want to make sure that they aren't missing out.

I am not sure that life as we know can exist without caffeine. I know mine couldn't. My wife and I have a five-month-old son Jacob and as you can imagine sleep is a luxury. I doubt my posts would even be remotely coherent without my daily dose of coffee and my afternoon Coke Zero.

Caffeine may become the new front in the cola wars.

Pepsico Inc. (NYSE:PEP) plans to introduce a new a new version of Diet Pepsi with more caffeine called Diet Pepsi Max and I can't wait to try it out even though I am out of the target demographic of consumers 25-34.

I can't imagine how Coke will respond.

"Extreme Diet Coke?" "Diet Coke Hardcore?"

The possibilities are endless and I will sample them all.