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Document and Entity Information - shares	3 Months Ended
Document and Entity Information - shares	Mar. 31, 2018	Apr. 26, 2018
Document and Entity Information
Entity Registrant Name	Monster Beverage Corp
Entity Central Index Key	0000865752
Document Type	10-Q
Document Period End Date	Mar. 31, 2018
Amendment Flag	false
Current Fiscal Year End Date	--12-31
Entity Current Reporting Status	Yes
Entity Filer Category	Large Accelerated Filer
Entity Common Stock, Shares Outstanding		562,681,834
Document Fiscal Year Focus	2018
Document Fiscal Period Focus	Q1

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CURRENT ASSETS:
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 511,360	$ 528,622
Short-term investments	585,222	672,933
Accounts receivable, net	525,463	449,476
Inventories	268,607	255,745
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	61,639	40,877
Prepaid income taxes	86,257	138,724
Total current assets	2,038,548	2,086,377
INVESTMENTS	3,497	2,366
PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, net	231,199	230,276
DEFERRED INCOME TAXES	85,748	92,333
GOODWILL	1,331,643	1,331,643
OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS, net	1,036,661	1,034,085
OTHER ASSETS	12,836	13,932
Total Assets	4,740,132	4,791,012
CURRENT LIABILITIES:
Accounts payable	226,063	245,910
Accrued liabilities	80,893	87,475
Accrued promotional allowances	155,992	137,998
Accrued distributor terminations	162	91
Deferred revenue	44,325	43,236
Accrued compensation	16,829	34,996
Income taxes payable	9,758	10,645
Total current liabilities	534,022	560,351
DEFERRED REVENUE	328,300	334,354
OTHER LIABILITIES	2,203	1,095
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES (Note 11)
STOCKHOLDERS' EQUITY:
Common stock - $0.005 par value; 1,250,000 shares authorized; 629,924 shares issued and 562,605 outstanding as of March 31, 2018; 629,255 shares issued and 566,298 outstanding as of December 31, 2017	3,150	3,146
Additional paid-in capital	4,170,565	4,150,628
Retained earnings	3,137,691	2,928,226
Accumulated other comprehensive loss	(13,721)	(16,659)
Common stock in treasury, at cost; 67,319 shares and 62,957 shares as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017, respectively	(3,422,078)	(3,170,129)
Total stockholders' equity	3,875,607	3,895,212
Total Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity	$ 4,740,132	$ 4,791,012

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (Parenthetical) - $ / shares shares in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS
Common stock, par value (in dollars per share)	$ 0.005	$ 0.005
Common stock, shares authorized	1,250,000	1,250,000
Common stock, shares issued	629,924	629,255
Common stock, shares outstanding	562,605	566,298
Common stock in treasury, shares	67,319	62,957

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME - USD ($) shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME
NET SALES	$ 850,921	$ 742,146
COST OF SALES	335,664	261,272
GROSS PROFIT	515,257	480,874
OPERATING EXPENSES	235,342	216,612
OPERATING INCOME	279,915	264,262
INTEREST and OTHER INCOME, net	1,805	658
INCOME BEFORE PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	281,720	264,920
PROVISION FOR INCOME TAXES	65,670	86,940
NET INCOME	$ 216,050	$ 177,980
NET INCOME PER COMMON SHARE:
Basic (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.31
Diluted (in dollars per share)	$ 0.38	$ 0.31
WEIGHTED AVERAGE NUMBER OF SHARES OF COMMON STOCK AND COMMON STOCK EQUIVALENTS:
Basic (in shares)	566,000	571,578
Diluted (in shares)	574,129	582,032

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF COMPREHENSIVE INCOME
Net income, as reported	$ 216,050	$ 177,980
Other comprehensive income:
Change in foreign currency translation adjustment	2,723	1,201
Available-for-sale investments:
Change in net unrealized gains	215	131
Net change in available-for-sale investments	215	131
Other comprehensive income	2,938	1,332
Comprehensive income	$ 218,988	$ 179,312

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
CASH FLOWS FROM OPERATING ACTIVITIES:
Net income	$ 216,050	$ 177,980
Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities:
Depreciation and amortization	13,991	11,183
Gain on disposal of property and equipment	(187)	(268)
Stock-based compensation	13,439	13,142
Deferred income taxes		1,862
Effect on cash of changes in operating assets and liabilities:
Accounts receivable	(72,699)	7,441
Distributor receivables	3,279	(951)
Inventories	(11,274)	(7,793)
Prepaid expenses and other current assets	(19,646)	(11,368)
Prepaid income taxes	52,410	25,601
Accounts payable	(22,616)	(19,317)
Accrued liabilities	(14,985)	6,788
Accrued promotional allowances	15,971	14,111
Accrued distributor terminations	71	315
Accrued compensation	(18,350)	(15,802)
Income taxes payable	(1,059)	(5,506)
Other liabilities	1,108
Deferred revenue	(6,592)	(4,454)
Net cash provided by operating activities	148,911	192,964
CASH FLOWS FROM INVESTING ACTIVITIES:
Sales of available-for-sale investments	334,216	71,553
Purchases of available-for-sale investments	(247,421)	(58,314)
Purchases of property and equipment	(13,049)	(19,093)
Proceeds from sale of property and equipment	3,397	452
Decrease (Increase) in intangibles	280	(848)
Increase in other assets	(1,549)	(52)
Net cash provided by (used in) investing activities	75,874	(6,302)
CASH FLOWS FROM FINANCING ACTIVITIES:
Principal payments on debt	(543)	(700)
Issuance of common stock	6,501	13,621
Purchases of common stock held in treasury	(251,950)	(64)
Net cash (used in) provided by financing activities	(245,992)	12,857
Effect of exchange rate changes on cash and cash equivalents	3,945	(764)
NET (DECREASE) INCREASE IN CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS	(17,262)	198,755
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, beginning of period	528,622	377,582
CASH AND CASH EQUIVALENTS, end of period	511,360	576,337
Cash paid during the period for:
Interest	16	19
Income taxes	$ 15,223	$ 66,094

CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS SUPPLEMENTAL DISCLOSURE OF NON-CASH ITEMS (Parenthetical) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS NON-CASH SUPPLEMENTAL DATA
Capital lease for acquisition of promotional vehicles	$ 0.1	$ 1.0
Accrued liabilities for intangibles	8.3	$ 6.2
Accounts receivable on short-term investments	$ 11.5

BASIS OF PRESENTATION	3 Months Ended
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	Mar. 31, 2018
BASIS OF PRESENTATION
BASIS OF PRESENTATION	1.BASIS OF PRESENTATION Reference is made to the Notes to Consolidated Financial Statements, in Monster Beverage Corporation and Subsidiaries (the “Company”) Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2017 (“Form 10-K”) for a summary of significant accounting policies utilized by the Company and its consolidated subsidiaries and other disclosures, which should be read in conjunction with this Quarterly Report on Form 10-Q (“Form 10-Q”). The Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements included in this Form 10-Q have been prepared in accordance with accounting principles generally accepted in the United States of America (“GAAP”) and Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”) rules and regulations applicable to interim financial reporting. They do not include all the information and footnote disclosures normally included in annual financial statements prepared in accordance with GAAP. The information set forth in these interim condensed consolidated financial statements for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, is unaudited and reflects all adjustments, which include only normal recurring adjustments and which in the opinion of management are necessary to make the interim condensed consolidated financial statements not misleading. Results of operations for periods covered by this report may not necessarily be indicative of results of operations for the full year. The preparation of financial statements in conformity with GAAP necessarily requires management to make estimates and assumptions that affect the reported amounts of assets and liabilities and disclosure of contingent assets and liabilities at the date of the financial statements and the reported amounts of revenues and expenses during the reporting periods. Actual results could differ from these estimates.

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	3 Months Ended
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	Mar. 31, 2018
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS
RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS	2.RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS Recently issued accounting pronouncements not yet adopted In February 2018, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2018-02 (ASU No. 2018-02), “Income Statement—Reporting Comprehensive Income (Topic 220)”, which amends the previous guidance to allow for certain tax effects “stranded” in accumulated other comprehensive income, which are impacted by the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (the “Tax Reform Act”), to be reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive income into retained earnings. This amendment pertains only to those items impacted by the new tax law and will not apply to any future tax effects stranded in accumulated other comprehensive income. This standard is effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2018, and allows for early adoption. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2018-02 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-04, “Intangibles and Other (Topic 350): Simplifying the Test for Goodwill Impairment”, which eliminates the requirement to calculate the implied fair value of goodwill, but rather requires an entity to record an impairment charge based on the excess of a reporting unit’s carrying value over its fair value. This amendment is effective for annual or interim goodwill impairment tests in fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2017-04 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In June 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-13, “Financial Instruments - Credit Losses (Topic 326): Measurement of Credit Losses on Financial Instruments”. The accounting standard changes the methodology for measuring credit losses on financial instruments and the timing when such losses are recorded. ASU No. 2016-13 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2019. Early adoption is permitted for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2018. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-13 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In February 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-02, “Leases (Topic 842)”. This update is intended to increase transparency and comparability among organizations by recognizing lease assets and lease liabilities on the balance sheet and disclosing key information about leasing arrangements. This update is effective for annual and interim reporting periods beginning after December 15, 2018, including interim periods within those fiscal years. Early adoption is permitted. The Company is currently evaluating the impact of ASU No. 2016-02 on its financial position, results of operations and liquidity. Recently adopted accounting pronouncements In May 2017, the Financial Accounting Standards Board (the “FASB”) issued Accounting Standards Update (“ASU”) No. 2017-09, “Compensation–Stock Compensation (Topic 718): Scope of Modification Accounting”, clarifying when a change to the terms or conditions of a share-based payment award must be accounted for as a modification. The new guidance requires modification accounting if the fair value, vesting condition or the classification of the award is not the same immediately before and after a change to the terms and conditions of the award. The new guidance was effective for the Company on a prospective basis beginning on January 1, 2018, with early adoption permitted. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-09 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In January 2017, the FASB issued ASU No. 2017-01, “Business Combinations (Topic 805): Clarifying the Definition of a Business”, which clarifies the definition of a business with the objective of adding guidance to assist entities with evaluating whether transactions should be accounted for as acquisitions (or disposals) of assets or businesses. This amendment was effective for fiscal years beginning after December 15, 2017, and interim periods within those fiscal years. The adoption of ASU No. 2017-01 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In October 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-16, “Income Taxes (Topic 740): Intra-Entity Transfers of Assets Other Than Inventory”, in an effort to improve the accounting for the income tax consequences of intra-entity transfers of assets other than inventory. Current GAAP prohibits the recognition of current and deferred income taxes for an intra-entity asset transfer until the asset has been sold to an outside party. FASB ASU No. 2016-16 establishes the requirement that an entity recognizes the income tax consequences of an intra-entity transfer of an asset other than inventory when the transfer occurs. ASU No. 2016-16 was effective for financial statements issued for annual periods beginning after December 15, 2017 and interim periods within those annual periods. The Company adopted ASU No. 2016-16 effective January 1, 2018 on a modified retrospective basis, resulting in a $6.6 million reclassification of the unrecognized income tax effects related to assets transfers that occurred prior to the adoption from deferred income taxes to opening retained earnings. In August 2016, the FASB issued ASU No. 2016-15, “Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230)”. The new guidance is intended to reduce diversity in practice in how certain transactions are classified in the statement of cash flows. ASU No. 2016-15 is effective for fiscal years, and interim periods within those years, beginning after December 15, 2017. The guidance requires application using a retrospective transition method. The adoption of ASU No. 2016-15 did not have a material impact on the Company’s financial position, results of operations and liquidity. In May 2014, the FASB issued ASU No. 2014-09, “Revenue from Contracts with Customers (Topic 606)”, which superseded previous revenue recognition guidance. ASU No. 2014-09 and its amendments were included in Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 606 “Revenue from Contracts with Customers”. ASC 606 requires that a company recognize revenue at an amount that reflects the consideration to which the company expects to be entitled in exchange for transferring goods or services to a customer. The Company adopted ASC 606 effective January 1, 2018, using the modified retrospective approach, with no impact to the opening retained earnings. Results for periods beginning on or after January 1, 2018 are presented under ASC 606, while prior periods are not adjusted and continue to be reported in accordance with the prior accounting guidance under ASC 605 “Revenue Recognition”. See Note 3.

REVENUE RECOGNITION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

REVENUE RECOGNITION

REVENUE RECOGNITION

3.REVENUE RECOGNITION

The Company currently has three operating and reportable segments, (i) Monster Energy® Drinks segment (“Monster Energy® Drinks”), which is comprised of the Company’s Monster Energy® drinks, Monster Hydro® energy drinks and Mutant® Super Soda drinks, (ii) Strategic Brands segment (“Strategic Brands”), which is comprised of the various energy drink brands acquired from The Coca-Cola Company (“TCCC”) in 2015, and (iii) Other segment (“Other”), which is comprised of certain products sold by American Fruits & Flavors LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, to independent third-party customers.

The Company’s Monster Energy® Drinks segment generates net operating revenues by selling ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks primarily to bottlers and full service beverage distributors. In some cases, the Company sells directly to retail grocery and specialty chains, wholesalers, club stores, mass merchandisers, convenience chains, drug stores, food service customers and the military.

The Company’s Strategic Brands segment primarily generates net operating revenues by selling “concentrates” and/or “beverage bases” to authorized bottling and canning operations. Such bottlers generally combine the concentrates and/or beverage bases with sweeteners, water and other ingredients to produce ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks. The ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks are then sold to other bottlers and full service distributors and to retail grocery and specialty chains, wholesalers, club stores, mass merchandisers, convenience chains, food service customers, drug stores and the military. To a lesser extent, our Strategic Brands segment generates net operating revenues by selling certain ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks to bottlers and full service beverage distributors.

The majority of the Company’s revenue is recognized when it satisfies a single performance obligation by transferring control of its products to a customer. Control is generally transferred when the Company’s products are either shipped or delivered based on the terms contained within the underlying contracts or agreements. Certain of the Company’s bottlers/distributors may also perform a separate function as a co-packer on the Company’s behalf. In such cases, control of the Company’s products passes to such bottlers/distributors when they notify the Company that they have taken possession or transferred the relevant portion of the Company’s finished goods. The Company’s general payment terms are short-term in duration. The Company does not have significant financing components or payment terms. The Company did not have any material unsatisfied performance obligations as of March 31, 2018 or December 31, 2017.

The Company excludes from revenues all taxes assessed by a governmental authority that are imposed on the sale of its products and collected from customers.

Distribution expenses to transport the Company’s products, where applicable, and warehousing expense after manufacture are accounted for within operating expenses.

There were no changes to the Company’s accounting for variable consideration under ASC 606. Promotional and other allowances (variable consideration) recorded as a reduction to net sales, primarily include consideration given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors or retail customers including, but not limited to the following:

		discounts granted off list prices to support price promotions to end-consumers by retailers;
		reimbursements given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors for agreed portions of their promotional spend with retailers, including slotting, shelf space allowances and other fees for both new and existing products;
		the Company’s agreed share of fees given to bottlers/distributors and/or directly to retailers for advertising, in-store marketing and promotional activities;
		the Company’s agreed share of slotting, shelf space allowances and other fees given directly to retailers;
		incentives given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors and/or retailers for achieving or exceeding certain predetermined sales goals;
		discounted or free products;
		contractual fees given to the Company’s bottlers/distributors related to sales made by the Company direct to certain customers that fall within the bottlers’/distributors’ sales territories; and
		certain commissions paid based on sales to the Company’s bottlers/distributors.

The Company’s promotional allowance programs with its bottlers/distributors and/or retailers are executed through separate agreements in the ordinary course of business. These agreements generally provide for one or more of the arrangements described above and are of varying durations, ranging from one week to one year. The Company’s promotional and other allowances are calculated based on various programs with bottlers/distributors and retail customers, and accruals are established during the year for its anticipated liabilities. These accruals are based on agreed upon terms as well as the Company’s historical experience with similar programs and require management’s judgment with respect to estimating consumer participation and/or distributor and retail customer performance levels. Differences between such estimated expense and actual expenses for promotional and other allowance costs have historically been insignificant and are recognized in earnings in the period such differences are determined.

Upon adoption of ASC 606, commissions paid to TCCC based on sales to certain of the Company’s bottlers/distributors who are (i) consolidated subsidiaries of TCCC (the “TCCC Subsidiaries”), (ii) accounted for under the equity method by TCCC (the “TCCC Related Parties”) and (iii) those not included in (i) or (ii) (the “TCCC Independent Bottlers”) are accounted for as follows:

	Three-Months Ended March 31, 2018
Commissions Related To:	As Reported	Without Adoption of ASC 606
TCCC Subsidiaries	Reduction to net sales	Reduction to net sales
TCCC Related Parties	Reduction to net sales	Operating expenes
TCCC Independent Bottlers	Operating expenses	Operating expenes

The impact of the adoption of ASC 606 on the Company’s condensed consolidated statement of income for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 was as follows:

	Three-Months Ended March 31, 2018
	As Reported		Without Adoption of ASC 606		(Decrease) Increase due to Adoption of ASC 606
Net Sales	$	850,921	$	860,861	$	(9,940)	1
Operating Expenses	$	235,342	$	245,282	$	(9,940)	1

1 TCCC Commissions based on sales to the TCCC Related Parties. There were no other identified changes to our revenue recognition policies as a result of the adoption of ASC 606.

Disaggregation of Revenue

The following table disaggregates the Company’s revenue by geographical markets and reportable segments:

	Three-Months Ended March 31, 2018
Net Sales	U.S. and Canada		EMEA1		Asia Pacific		Latin America and Caribbean		Total
Monster Energy® Drinks	$	588,817	$	110,929	$	47,431	$	33,328	$	780,505
Strategic Brands	39,724		19,313		5,548		1,174		65,759
Other	4,657		-		-		-		4,657

Total Net Sales	$	633,198	$	130,242	$	52,979	$	34,502	$	850,921

1Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”)

Contract Liabilities

Amounts received from certain bottlers/distributors at inception of their distribution contracts or at the inception of certain sales/marketing programs are accounted for as deferred revenue. As of December 31, 2017, the Company had $377.6 million of deferred revenue, which is included in current and long-term deferred revenue in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $372.6 million of deferred revenue, which is included in current and long-term deferred revenue in the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheets. During the three-months ended March 31, 2018, $11.2 million of deferred revenue was recognized in net sales. See Note 10.

INVESTMENTS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

INVESTMENTS

INVESTMENTS

4.INVESTMENTS

The following table summarizes the Company’s investments at:

March 31, 2018	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position greater than 12 Months
Available-for-sale
Short-term:
Commercial paper	$	42,288	$	-	$	-	$	42,288	$	-	$	-
Municipal securities	441,360		-		508		440,852		508		-
U.S. government agency securities	74,773		-		107		74,666		107		-
Variable rate demand notes	27,416		-		-		27,416		-		-
Long-term:
Municipal securities	527		-		-		527		-		-
U.S. government agency securities	2,973		-		3		2,970		3		-

Total	$	589,337	$	-	$	618	$	588,719	$	618	$	-

December 31, 2017	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position greater than 12 Months
Available-for-sale
Short-term:
Commercial paper	$	81,026	$	-	$	-	$	81,026	$	-	$	-
Certificates of deposit	11,869		-		-		11,869		-		-
Municipal securities	469,604		1		740		468,865		740		-
U.S. government agency securities	61,307		-		88		61,219		88		-
Variable rate demand notes	49,954		-		-		49,954		-		-
Long-term:
U.S. government agency securities	2,369		-		3		2,366		3		-

Total	$	676,129	$	1	$	831	$	675,299	$	831	$	-

During the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, realized gains or losses recognized on the sale of investments were not significant.

The Company’s investments at March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 in commercial paper, certificates of deposit, municipal securities, U.S. government agency securities and/or variable rate demand notes (“VRDNs”) carried investment grade credit ratings. VRDNs are floating rate municipal bonds with embedded put options that allow the bondholder to sell the security at par plus accrued interest. All of the put options are secured by a pledged liquidity source. While they are classified as marketable investment securities, the put option allows the VRDNs to be liquidated at par on a same day, or more generally, on a seven-day settlement basis.

The following table summarizes the underlying contractual maturities of the Company’s investments at:

	March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017

	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Less than 1 year:
Commercial paper	$	42,288	$	42,288	$	81,026	$	81,026
Municipal securities	441,360		440,852		469,604		468,865
U.S. government agency securities	74,773		74,666		61,307		61,219
Certificates of deposit	-		-		11,869		11,869
Due 1 -10 years:
Municipal securities	527		527		-		-
U.S. government agency securities	2,973		2,970		2,369		2,366
Variable rate demand notes	6,622		6,622		6,366		6,366
Due 11 - 20 years:
Variable rate demand notes	18,542		18,542		28,377		28,377
Due 21 - 30 years:
Variable rate demand notes	2,252		2,252		15,211		15,211

Total	$	589,337	$	588,719	$	676,129	$	675,299

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

5.FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Accounting Standards Codification (“ASC”) 820 provides a framework for measuring fair value and requires disclosures regarding fair value measurements. ASC 820 defines fair value as the price that would be received on the sale of an asset or paid to transfer a liability in an orderly transaction between market participants at the measurement date. ASC 820 also establishes a fair value hierarchy which requires an entity to maximize the use of observable inputs, where available. The three levels of inputs required by the standard that the Company uses to measure fair value are summarized below.

Level 1: Quoted prices in active markets for identical assets or liabilities.

Level 2: Observable inputs other than Level 1 prices, such as quoted prices for similar assets or liabilities, quoted prices in markets that are not active, or other inputs that are observable or can be corroborated by observable market data for substantially the full term of the related assets or liabilities.

Level 3: Unobservable inputs that are supported by little or no market activity and that are significant to the fair value of the assets or liabilities.

ASC 820 requires the use of observable market inputs (quoted market prices) when measuring fair value and requires a Level 1 quoted price to be used to measure fair value whenever possible.

The following tables present the fair value of the Company’s financial assets and liabilities that are recorded at fair value on a recurring basis, segregated among the appropriate levels within the fair value hierarchy at:

March 31, 2018	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Cash	$	394,221	$	-		$	-	$	394,221
Money market funds	39,228		-			-		39,228
Certificates of deposit	-		16,985			-		16,985
Commercial paper	-		60,825			-		60,825
Variable rate demand notes	-		27,416			-		27,416
Municipal securities	-		481,250			-		481,250
U.S. government agency securities	-		80,154			-		80,154
U.S. Treasuries	-		-			-		-
Foreign currency derivatives	-		(95		)	-		(95		)

Total	$	433,449	$	666,535		$	-	$	1,099,984


Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	433,449	$	77,911		$	-	$	511,360
Short-term investments	-		585,222			-		585,222
Accounts receivable, net	-		208			-		208
Investments	-		3,497			-		3,497
Accrued liabilities	-		(303		)	-		(303		)

Total	$	433,449	$	666,535		$	-	$	1,099,984


December 31, 2017	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total

Cash	$	310,885	$	-		$	-	$	310,885
Money market funds	112,848		-			-		112,848
Certificates of deposit	-		15,720			-		15,720
Commercial paper	-		99,903			-		99,903
Variable rate demand notes	-		49,954			-		49,954
Municipal securities	-		529,984			-		529,984
U.S. government agency securities	-		81,230			-		81,230
U.S. Treasuries	-		3,397			-		3,397
Foreign currency derivatives	-		(1,484		)	-		(1,484		)

Total	$	423,733	$	778,704		$	-	$	1,202,437


Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	423,733	$	104,889		$	-	$	528,622
Short-term investments	-		672,933			-		672,933
Accounts receivable, net	-		95			-		95
Investments	-		2,366			-		2,366
Accrued liabilities	-		(1,579		)	-		(1,579		)

Total	$	423,733	$	778,704		$	-	$	1,202,437

All of the Company’s short-term investments are classified within Level 1 or Level 2 of the fair value hierarchy. The Company’s valuation of its Level 1 investments, which include money market funds, is based on quoted market prices in active markets for identical securities. The Company’s valuation of its Level 2 investments, which include municipal securities, commercial paper, certificates of deposit, VRDNs, U.S. Treasuries and U.S. government agency securities, is based on other observable inputs, specifically a market approach which utilizes valuation models, pricing systems, mathematical tools and other relevant information for the same or similar securities. The Company’s valuation of its Level 2 foreign currency exchange contracts is based on quoted market prices of the same or similar instruments, adjusted for counterparty risk. There were no transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 measurements during the three-months ended March 31, 2018 or the year ended December 31, 2017, and there were no changes in the Company’s valuation techniques.

- Definition

The entire disclosure for the fair value of financial instruments (as defined), including financial assets and financial liabilities (collectively, as defined), and the measurements of those instruments as well as disclosures related to the fair value of non-financial assets and liabilities. Such disclosures about the financial instruments, assets, and liabilities would include: (1) the fair value of the required items together with their carrying amounts (as appropriate); (2) for items for which it is not practicable to estimate fair value, disclosure would include: (a) information pertinent to estimating fair value (including, carrying amount, effective interest rate, and maturity, and (b) the reasons why it is not practicable to estimate fair value; (3) significant concentrations of credit risk including: (a) information about the activity, region, or economic characteristics identifying a concentration, (b) the maximum amount of loss the entity is exposed to based on the gross fair value of the related item, (c) policy for requiring collateral or other security and information as to accessing such collateral or security, and (d) the nature and brief description of such collateral or security; (4) quantitative information about market risks and how such risks are managed; (5) for items measured on both a recurring and nonrecurring basis information regarding the inputs used to develop the fair value measurement; and (6) for items presented in the financial statement for which fair value measurement is elected: (a) information necessary to understand the reasons for the election, (b) discussion of the effect of fair value changes on earnings, (c) a description of [similar groups] items for which the election is made and the relation thereof to the balance sheet, the aggregate carrying value of items included in the balance sheet that are not eligible for the election; (7) all other required (as defined) and desired information.

+ References + Details

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

6.DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

The Company is exposed to foreign currency exchange rate risks related primarily to its foreign business operations. During the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and the year ended December 31, 2017, the Company entered into forward currency exchange contracts with financial institutions to create an economic hedge to specifically manage a portion of the foreign exchange risk exposure associated with certain consolidated subsidiaries’ non-functional currency denominated assets and liabilities. All foreign currency exchange contracts of the Company that were outstanding as of March 31, 2018 have terms of one month or less. The Company does not enter into forward currency exchange contracts for speculation or trading purposes.

The Company has not designated its foreign currency exchange contracts as hedge transactions under ASC 815. Therefore, gains and losses on the Company’s foreign currency exchange contracts are recognized in interest and other income (expense), net, in the condensed consolidated statements of income, and are largely offset by the changes in the fair value of the underlying economically hedged item.

The notional amount and fair value of all outstanding foreign currency derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets consist of the following at:

March 31, 2018
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location

Assets:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive USD/pay GBP	$	33,290	$	139	Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay ZAR	20,255		65		Accounts receivable, net
Receive NOK/pay USD	1,746		4		Accounts receivable, net


Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive USD/pay EUR	$	76,452	$	(85)	Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay AUD	16,909		(73)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay MXN	3,337		(29)		Accrued liabilities
Receive SGD/pay USD	3,296		(15)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay NZD	2,237		(4)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay TRY	5,435		(83)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay BRL	717		(8)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay CLP	2,545		(3)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay COP	3,286		(3)		Accrued liabilities

December 31, 2017
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location

Assets:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive CAD/pay USD	$	4,892	$	61	Accounts receivable, net
Receive SGD/pay USD	223		2		Accounts receivable, net
Receive NOK/pay USD	1,534		18		Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay BRL	1,806		1		Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay COP	2,803		13		Accounts receivable, net


Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive USD/pay GBP	$	31,342	$	(334)	Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay EUR	65,131		(642)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay AUD	17,238		(177)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay ZAR	21,311		(222)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay MXN	7,720		(126)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay NZD	1,826		(18)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay TRY	5,483		(52)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay CLP	1,112		(8)		Accrued liabilities

The net (losses) gains on derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated statements of income were as follows:

		Amount of (loss) gain recognized in income on derivatives
		Three-months ended
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20	Location of (loss) gain recognized in income on derivatives	March 31, 2018		March 31, 2017

Foreign currency exchange contracts	Interest and other income, net	$	(4,659)	$	(5,028)

INVENTORIES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

INVENTORIES

INVENTORIES

7.INVENTORIES

Inventories consist of the following at:

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Raw materials	$	84,594	$	78,834
Finished goods	184,013		176,911

	$	268,607	$	255,745

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

8.PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Property and equipment consist of the following at:

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Land	$	44,260	$	47,373
Leasehold improvements	3,281		3,109
Furniture and fixtures	6,397		6,461
Office and computer equipment	15,191		14,506
Computer software	3,593		3,650
Equipment	156,626		148,434
Buildings	110,978		107,374
Vehicles	39,522		38,179

	379,848		369,086
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(148,649)		(138,810)

	$	231,199	$	230,276

Total depreciation and amortization expense recorded was $10.9 million and $8.2 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

9.GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

The following is a roll-forward of goodwill for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 by reportable segment:

	Monster Energy® Drinks		Strategic Brands		Other		Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643
Acquisitions	-		-		-		-

Balance at March 31, 2018	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643

	Monster Energy® Drinks		Strategic Brands		Other		Total
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643
Acquisitions	-		-		-		-

Balance at March 31, 2017	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643

Intangible assets consist of the following at:

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Amortizing intangibles	$	71,350	$	71,400
Accumulated amortization	(29,425)		(26,383)

	41,925		45,017
Non-amortizing intangibles	994,736		989,068

	$	1,036,661	$	1,034,085

Amortizing intangibles primarily consist of customer relationships. All amortizing intangibles have been assigned an estimated finite useful life and such intangibles are amortized on a straight-line basis over the number of years that approximate their respective useful lives, generally five to seven years. Total amortization expense recorded was $3.1 million and $3.0 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS	3 Months Ended
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS	Mar. 31, 2018
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS	10.DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS In accordance with ASC No. 420 “Exit or Disposal Cost Obligations”, the Company expenses distributor termination costs in the period in which the written notification of termination occurs. The Company incurred termination costs of $7.0 million and $19.9 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Such termination costs have been expensed in full and are included in operating expenses for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017. In the normal course of business, amounts received pursuant to new and/or amended distribution agreements entered into with certain distributors, relating to the costs associated with terminating agreements with the Company’s prior distributors, are accounted for as deferred revenue and are recognized as revenue ratably over the anticipated life of the respective distribution agreement, generally 20 years. Revenue recognized was $11.2 million and $10.0 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	3 Months Ended
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	Mar. 31, 2018
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES	11.COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES The Company had purchase commitments aggregating approximately $56.5 million at March 31, 2018, which represented commitments made by the Company and its subsidiaries to various suppliers of raw materials for the production of its products. These obligations vary in terms, but are generally satisfied within one year. The Company had contractual obligations aggregating approximately $170.2 million at March 31, 2018, which related primarily to sponsorships and other marketing activities. The Company had operating lease commitments aggregating approximately $16.4 million at March 31, 2018, which related primarily to warehouse and office space. In February 2018, the working capital line limit for the Company’s credit facility with HSBC Bank (China) Company Limited, Shanghai Branch was increased from $9.0 million to $15.0 million. Interest on borrowings under the line of credit is based on the People’s Bank of China benchmark lending rates multiplied by 1.10. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had $10.6 million outstanding on this line of credit, including interest, which is included in accounts payable in the condensed consolidated balance sheet. Legal Proceedings Litigation – The Company has been named a defendant in numerous personal injury lawsuits, claiming that the death or other serious injury of the plaintiffs was caused by consumption of Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. The plaintiffs in these lawsuits allege strict product liability, negligence, fraudulent concealment, breach of implied warranties and wrongful death. The Company believes that each complaint is without merit and plans a vigorous defense. The Company also believes that any damages, if awarded, would not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. State Attorney General Inquiry – In July 2012, the Company received a subpoena from the Attorney General for the State of New York in connection with its investigation concerning the Company’s advertising, marketing, promotion, ingredients, usage and sale of its Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. Production of documents pursuant to that subpoena was completed in approximately May 2014. On August 6, 2014, the Attorney General for the State of New York issued a second subpoena seeking additional documents and the deposition of a Company employee. On September 8, 2014, the Company moved to quash the second subpoena in the Supreme Court, New York County. The motion was fully briefed and was argued on March 17, 2015. On January 13, 2017, the Court issued an opinion in which it agreed with certain Company arguments regarding the scope of the subpoena and the Attorney General’s investigation, but denied the motion to quash and granted the Attorney General’s cross-motion to compel compliance. It is unknown what, if any, action the state Attorney General may take against the Company, the relief which may be sought in the event of any such proceeding or whether such proceeding could have a material adverse effect on the Company’s business, financial condition or results of operations. As there has been no activity on this matter for the past eight months, the Company intends to remove it from future reports. Furthermore, from time to time in the normal course of business, the Company is named in other litigation, including consumer class actions, intellectual property litigation and claims from prior distributors. Although it is not possible to predict the ultimate outcome of such litigation, based on the facts known to the Company, management believes that such litigation in the aggregate will likely not have a material adverse effect on the Company’s financial position or results of operations. The Company evaluates, on a quarterly basis, developments in legal proceedings and other matters that could cause an increase or decrease in the amount of the liability that is accrued, if any, or in the amount of any related insurance reimbursements recorded. As of March 31, 2018, the Company’s condensed consolidated balance sheet includes accrued loss contingencies of approximately $1.6 million.

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

12.ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component, after tax, for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 are as follows:

	Currency Translation Losses		Unrealized (Gains) Losses on Available-for- Sale Securities		Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	15,818	$	841	$	16,659
Other comprehensive loss (gain) before reclassifications	(2,723)		(215)		(2,938)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	-		-		-
Net current-period other comprehensive loss (gain)	(2,723)		(215)		(2,938)

Balance at March 31, 2018	$	13,095	$	626	$	13,721

TREASURY STOCK	3 Months Ended
TREASURY STOCK	Mar. 31, 2018
TREASURY STOCK
TREASURY STOCK	13.TREASURY STOCK On February 28, 2017, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a share repurchase program for the purchase of up to $500.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “February 2017 Repurchase Plan”). During the three-months ended March 31, 2018, the Company purchased 4.3 million shares of common stock at an average purchase price of $57.74 per share, for a total amount of $249.9 million (excluding broker commissions), under the February 2017 Repurchase Plan, which exhausted the availability under the February 2017 Repurchase Plan. Such shares are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2018. On February 27, 2018, the Company’s Board of Directors authorized a new share repurchase program for the purchase of up to $250.0 million of the Company’s outstanding common stock (the “February 2018 Repurchase Plan”). As of May 10, 2018, no shares have been repurchased pursuant to the February 2018 Repurchase Plan. During the three-months ended March 31, 2018, 34,303 shares of common stock were purchased from employees in lieu of cash payments for options exercised or withholding taxes due, for a total amount of $2.0 million. While such purchases are considered common stock repurchases, they are not counted as purchases against the Company’s authorized share repurchase programs. Such shares are included in common stock in treasury in the accompanying condensed consolidated balance sheet at March 31, 2018.

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

14.STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

The Company has two stock-based compensation plans under which shares were available for grant at March 31, 2018: the Monster Beverage Corporation 2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan (the “2011 Omnibus Incentive Plan”), including the Monster Beverage Deferred Compensation Plan (the “Deferred Compensation Plan”) as a sub plan thereunder, and the Monster Beverage Corporation 2017 Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “2017 Directors Plan”), including the Monster Beverage Deferred Compensation Plan for Non-Employee Directors (the “Non-Employee Director Deferral Plan”) as a sub plan thereunder.

The Company recorded $13.4 million and $13.1 million of compensation expense relating to outstanding options and restricted stock units during the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

The excess tax benefit for tax deductions from non-qualified stock option exercises, disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options and vesting of restricted stock units for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $2.8 million and $9.4 million, respectively.

Stock Options

Under the Company’s stock-based compensation plans, all stock options granted as of March 31, 2018 were granted at prices based on the fair value of the Company’s common stock on the date of grant. The Company records compensation expense for employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options on the date of grant using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing formula with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company records compensation expense for non-employee stock options based on the estimated fair value of the options as of the earlier of (1) the date at which a commitment for performance by the non-employee to earn the stock option is reached or (2) the date at which the non-employee’s performance is complete, using the Black-Scholes-Merton option pricing formula with the assumptions included in the table below. The Company uses historical data to determine the exercise behavior, volatility and forfeiture rate of the options.

The following weighted-average assumptions were used to estimate the fair value of options granted during:

	Three-Months Ended March 31,
	2018	2017
Dividend yield	0.0%	0.0%
Expected volatility	34.9%	36.6%
Risk-free interest rate	2.8%	2.1%
Expected term	6.0 years	6.1 years

Expected Volatility: The Company uses historical volatility as it provides a reasonable estimate of the expected volatility. Historical volatility is based on the most recent volatility of the stock price over a period of time equivalent to the expected term of the option.

Risk-Free Interest Rate: The risk-free interest rate is based on the U.S. Treasury zero coupon yield curve in effect at the time of grant for the expected term of the option.

Expected Term: The Company’s expected term represents the weighted-average period that the Company’s stock options are expected to be outstanding. The expected term is based on expected time to post-vesting exercise of options by employees. The Company uses historical exercise patterns of previously granted options to derive employee behavioral patterns used to forecast expected exercise patterns.

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to its stock option plans as follows:

Options	Number of Shares (In thousands)	Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (In years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2018	17,819	$	29.62	6.1	$	600,032
Granted 01/01/18 - 03/31/18	2,615	$	58.76
Exercised	(415)	$	15.68
Cancelled or forfeited	(192)	$	43.02

Outstanding at March 31, 2018	19,827	$	33.62	6.4	$	472,160
Vested and expected to vest in the
future at March 31, 2018	18,689	$	32.62	6.3	$	463,173
Exercisable at March 31, 2018	10,834	$	21.99	4.7	$	381,567

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted during the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $22.82 per share and $18.00 per share, respectively. The total intrinsic value of options exercised during the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $18.2 million and $32.4 million, respectively.

Cash received from option exercises under all plans for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was approximately $6.5 million and $13.6 million, respectively.

At March 31, 2018, there was $125.3 million of total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested options granted to employees under the Company’s share-based payment plans. That cost is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 3.2 years.

Restricted Stock Units

The cost of stock-based compensation for restricted stock units is measured based on the closing fair market value of the Company’s common stock at the date of grant. In the event that the Company has the option and intent to settle a restricted stock unit in cash, the award is classified as a liability and revalued at each balance sheet date.

The following table summarizes the Company’s activities with respect to non-vested restricted stock units as follows:

	Number of Shares (in thousands)	Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Non-vested at January 1, 2018	530	$	45.09
Granted 01/01/18- 03/31/18	221	$	58.75
Vested	(255)	$	45.62
Forfeited/cancelled	(6)	$	32.17

Non-vested at March 31, 2018	490	$	51.15

The weighted-average grant-date fair value of restricted stock units granted during the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 was $58.75 per share and $46.27 per share, respectively. As of March 31, 2018, 0.5 million of restricted stock units are expected to vest over their respective terms.

At March 31, 2018, total unrecognized compensation expense relating to non-vested restricted stock units was $23.1 million, which is expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period of 2.1 years.

INCOME TAXES

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

INCOME TAXES

INCOME TAXES

15.INCOME TAXES

On December 22, 2017, the President of the United States signed into law the Tax Reform Act. The legislation significantly changes U.S. tax law by, among other things, lowering corporate income tax rates, implementing a territorial tax system and imposing a repatriation tax on deemed repatriated earnings of foreign subsidiaries. The Tax Reform Act permanently reduces the U.S. corporate income tax rate from a maximum of 35% to a flat 21% rate, effective January 1, 2018. The SEC staff issued Staff Accounting Bulletin No. 118 (“SAB 118”) to address the application of U.S. GAAP in situations when a registrant does not have the necessary information available, prepared, or analyzed (including computations) in reasonable detail to complete the accounting for certain income tax effects of the Tax Reform Act. A company may select between one of three scenarios to determine a reasonable estimate for certain income tax effects arising from the Tax Reform Act. Those scenarios are (i) a final estimate which effectively closes the measurement window; (ii) a reasonable estimate leaving the measurement window open for future revisions; and (iii) no estimate as the law is still being analyzed. The Company was able to provide a reasonable estimate for the revaluation of deferred taxes and the effects of the toll charge on undistributed foreign subsidiary earnings and profits (“E&P”). As a result of the reduction in the U.S. corporate income tax rate from 35% to 21% under the Tax Reform Act, the Company revalued its net deferred tax assets at December 31, 2017, resulting in a provisional $39.8 million charge included in the provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2017. The Tax Reform Act also provided for a one-time deemed mandatory repatriation of Post-1986 E&P through the year ended December 31, 2017. As a result, the Company recognized a provisional $2.1 million charge in the provision for income taxes for the year ended December 31, 2017 related to such deemed mandatory repatriation.

The Company has not made additional measurement window adjustments to these items during the three-months ended March 31, 2018. The Company continues to evaluate the various provisions of Tax Reform Act, including, the global intangible low-taxed income (“GILTI”) and the foreign derived intangible income (“FDII”) provisions. The ultimate impact of the Tax Reform Act may differ from these provisional amounts, possibly materially, due to, among other things, additional analysis, changes in interpretations and assumptions the Company has made, additional regulatory guidance that may be issued, as well as any related actions the Company may take. The measurement window begins in the reporting period that includes the enactment date and ends when an entity has obtained, prepared, and analyzed the information needed in order to complete the accounting requirements under ASC Topic 740.

The following is a roll-forward of the Company’s total gross unrecognized tax benefits, not including interest and penalties, for the three-months ended March 31, 2018:

	Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	6,540
Additions for tax positions related to the current year	-
Additions for tax positions related to the prior year	-
Decreases related to settlement with taxing authority	-

Balance at March 31, 2018	$	6,540

The Company recognizes accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits in the provision for income taxes in the Company’s condensed consolidated financial statements. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had approximately $1.4 million in accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits. If the Company were to prevail on all uncertain tax positions, the resultant impact on the Company’s effective tax rate would not be significant. It is expected that any change in the amount of unrecognized tax benefits within the next 12 months will not be significant.

The Company is subject to U.S. federal income tax as well as to income tax in multiple state and foreign jurisdictions.

On October 18, 2016, the IRS began its examination of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended December 31, 2014. On March 27, 2017, the IRS began its examination of the Company’s U.S. federal income tax return for the year ended December 31, 2015.

The Company is in various stages of examination with certain states and certain foreign jurisdictions. The Company’s 2014 through 2017 U.S. federal income tax returns are subject to examination by the IRS. The Company’s state income tax returns are subject to examination for the 2013 through 2017 tax years.

EARNINGS PER SHARE

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

EARNINGS PER SHARE

EARNINGS PER SHARE

16.EARNINGS PER SHARE

A reconciliation of the weighted-average shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per common share computations is presented below (in thousands):

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018	2017
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic	566,000	571,578
Dilutive	8,129	10,454

Diluted	574,129	582,032

For the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, options and awards outstanding totaling 0.7 million shares and 8.0 million shares, respectively, were excluded from the calculations as their effect would have been antidilutive.

SEGMENT INFORMATION

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

SEGMENT INFORMATION

SEGMENT INFORMATION

17.SEGMENT INFORMATION

The Company currently has three operating and reportable segments, (i) Monster Energy® Drinks segment, which is comprised of the Company’s Monster Energy® drinks, Monster Hydro® energy drinks and Mutant® Super Soda drinks, (ii) Strategic Brands segment, which is comprised of the various energy drink brands acquired from TCCC in 2015, and (iii) Other segment, which is comprised of certain products sold by American Fruits & Flavors LLC, a wholly-owned subsidiary of the Company, to independent third-party customers.

The Company’s Monster Energy® Drinks segment primarily generates net operating revenues by selling ready-to-drink packaged drinks primarily to bottlers and full service beverage distributors. In some cases, the Company sells directly to retail grocery and specialty chains, wholesalers, club stores, mass merchandisers, convenience chains, food service customers and the military.

The Company’s Strategic Brands segment primarily generates net operating revenues by selling “concentrates” and/or “beverage bases” to authorized bottling and canning operations. Such bottlers generally combine the concentrates and/or beverage bases with sweeteners, water and other ingredients to produce ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks. The ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks are then sold to other bottlers, full service distributors or retailers, including, retail grocery and specialty chains, wholesalers, club stores, mass merchandisers, convenience chains, food service customers, drug stores and the military. To a lesser extent, the Company’s Strategic Brands segment generates net operating revenues by selling certain ready-to-drink packaged energy drinks to bottlers and full service beverage distributors.

Generally, the Monster Energy® Drinks segment generates higher per case net operating revenues, but lower per case gross profit margins than the Strategic Brands segment.

Corporate and unallocated amounts that do not relate to a reportable segment have been allocated to “Corporate & Unallocated.” No asset information, other than goodwill and other intangible assets, has been provided for in the Company’s reportable segments as management does not measure or allocate such assets on a segment basis.

The net revenues derived from the Company’s reportable segments and other financial information related thereto for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 are as follows:

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Net sales:
Monster Energy® Drinks(1)	$	780,505	$	668,571
Strategic Brands	65,759		68,036
Other	4,657		5,539
Corporate and unallocated	-		-

	$	850,921	$	742,146

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Operating Income:
Monster Energy® Drinks(1) (2)	$	301,702	$	279,431
Strategic Brands	42,602		42,106
Other	971		1,416
Corporate and unallocated	(65,360)		(58,691)

	$	279,915	$	264,262

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Income before tax:
Monster Energy® Drinks(1) (2)	$	301,964	$	279,335
Strategic Brands	42,583		42,094
Other	971		1,416
Corporate and unallocated	(63,798)		(57,925)

	$	281,720	$	264,920

(1)

Includes $11.2 million and $10.0 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue.

(2)

Includes $7.0 million and $19.9 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to distributor termination costs.

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Depreciation and amortization:
Monster Energy® Drinks	$	8,809	$	6,541
Strategic Brands	1,926		1,796
Other	1,159		1,153
Corporate and unallocated	2,097		1,693

	$	13,991	$	11,183

Corporate and unallocated expenses for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 include $43.1 million of payroll costs, of which $13.4 million was attributable to stock-based compensation expenses (see Note 14, “Stock-Based Compensation”), as well as $12.4 million attributable to professional service expenses, including accounting and legal costs, and $9.9 million of other operating expenses. Corporate and unallocated expenses for the three-months ended March 31, 2017 include $37.6 million of payroll costs, of which $13.1 million was attributable to stock-based compensation expenses (see Note 14, “Stock-Based Compensation”), as well as $12.3 million attributable to professional service expenses, including accounting and legal costs, and $8.8 million of other operating expenses.

TCCC, through the TCCC Subsidiaries, accounted for approximately 4% and 34% of the Company’s net sales for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. As part of TCCC’s North America Refranchising initiative (the “North America Refranchising”), the territories of certain TCCC Subsidiaries have been transitioned to certain independent TCCC bottlers/distributors and/or TCCC Related Parties. Accordingly, the Company’s percentage of net sales classified as sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries significantly decreased for three-months ended March 31, 2018. CCBCC Operations, LLC accounted for approximately 14% and 11% of the Company’s net sales for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Coca-Cola European Partners accounted for approximately 10% and 8% of the Company’s net sales for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively. Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling accounted for approximately 13% and 4% of the Company’s net sales for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Net sales to customers outside the United States amounted to $242.1 million and $190.9 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Goodwill and other intangible assets for the Company’s reportable segments as of March 31, 2018 and December 31, 2017 are as follows:

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Goodwill and other intangible assets:
Monster Energy® Drinks	$	1,351,780	$	1,346,648
Strategic Brands	994,161		995,582
Other	22,363		23,498
Corporate and unallocated	-		-

	$	2,368,304	$	2,365,728

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

18.RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

TCCC controls approximately 18% of the voting interests of the Company. The TCCC Subsidiaries, the TCCC Related Parties and the TCCC Independent Bottlers, purchase and distribute certain of the Company’s products in certain domestic and international markets. The Company also pays TCCC a commission based on certain sales within the TCCC distribution network.

TCCC commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries and the TCCC Related Parties, for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 were $11.3 million, and are included as a reduction to net sales. TCCC commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Independent Bottlers for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 were $3.1 million, and are included in operating expenses. TCCC commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries, for the three-months ended March 31, 2017 were $3.6 million, and are included as a reduction to net sales. TCCC commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Related Parties and the TCCC Independent Bottlers, for the three-months ended March 31, 2017 were $7.9 million and are included in operating expenses. Upon adoption of ASC 606, commissions paid to TCCC, based on sales to the TCCC Related Parties, are included as a reduction to net sales. Prior to January 1, 2018, such commissions, based on sales to the TCCC Related Parties, were included in operating expenses.

Net sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $35.0 million and $255.8 million, respectively. As part of the North America Refranchising, the territories of certain TCCC Subsidiaries have been transitioned to certain independent TCCC bottlers/distributors and/or TCCC Related Parties. Accordingly, the Company’s net sales classified as sales to the TCCC Subsidiaries significantly decreased for the three-months ended March 31, 2018.

The Company also purchases concentrates from TCCC which are then sold to certain of the Company’s bottlers/distributors. Concentrate purchases from TCCC were $2.9 million and $5.9 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Certain TCCC Subsidiaries also contract manufacture certain of the Company’s Monster Energy® brand energy drinks. Contract manufacturing expenses were $5.4 million and $2.2 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively.

Accounts receivable, accounts payable and accrued promotional allowances related to the TCCC Subsidiaries are as follows at:

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017

Accounts receivable, net	$	29,044	$	32,607
Accounts payable	$	(25,221)	$	(45,465)
Accrued promotional allowances	$	(7,479)	$	(5,884)

Two directors and officers of the Company and their families are principal owners of a company that provides promotional materials to the Company. Expenses incurred with such company in connection with promotional materials purchased during the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017 were $0.8 million and $0.2 million, respectively.

REVENUE RECOGNITION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

Schedule of disaggregation of revenue by geographical markets

	Three-Months Ended March 31, 2018
Net Sales	U.S. and Canada		EMEA1		Asia Pacific		Latin America and Caribbean		Total
Monster Energy® Drinks	$	588,817	$	110,929	$	47,431	$	33,328	$	780,505
Strategic Brands	39,724		19,313		5,548		1,174		65,759
Other	4,657		-		-		-		4,657

Total Net Sales	$	633,198	$	130,242	$	52,979	$	34,502	$	850,921

1Europe, Middle East and Africa (“EMEA”)

Accounting Standards Update 2014-09

Schedule of impact of adoption of ASC 606

	Three-Months Ended March 31, 2018
	As Reported		Without Adoption of ASC 606		(Decrease) Increase due to Adoption of ASC 606
Net Sales	$	850,921	$	860,861	$	(9,940)	1
Operating Expenses	$	235,342	$	245,282	$	(9,940)	1

1 TCCC Commissions based on sales to the TCCC Related Parties. There were no other identified changes to our revenue recognition policies as a result of the adoption of ASC 606.

INVESTMENTS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

INVESTMENTS

Summary of investments in available-for-sale

March 31, 2018	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position greater than 12 Months
Available-for-sale
Short-term:
Commercial paper	$	42,288	$	-	$	-	$	42,288	$	-	$	-
Municipal securities	441,360		-		508		440,852		508		-
U.S. government agency securities	74,773		-		107		74,666		107		-
Variable rate demand notes	27,416		-		-		27,416		-		-
Long-term:
Municipal securities	527		-		-		527		-		-
U.S. government agency securities	2,973		-		3		2,970		3		-

Total	$	589,337	$	-	$	618	$	588,719	$	618	$	-

December 31, 2017	Amortized Cost		Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		Gross Unrealized Holding Losses		Fair Value		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months		Continuous Unrealized Loss Position greater than 12 Months
Available-for-sale
Short-term:
Commercial paper	$	81,026	$	-	$	-	$	81,026	$	-	$	-
Certificates of deposit	11,869		-		-		11,869		-		-
Municipal securities	469,604		1		740		468,865		740		-
U.S. government agency securities	61,307		-		88		61,219		88		-
Variable rate demand notes	49,954		-		-		49,954		-		-
Long-term:
U.S. government agency securities	2,369		-		3		2,366		3		-

Total	$	676,129	$	1	$	831	$	675,299	$	831	$	-

Summarizes the underlying contractual maturities of the Company's investments

	March 31, 2018				December 31, 2017

	Amortized Cost		Fair Value		Amortized Cost		Fair Value
Less than 1 year:
Commercial paper	$	42,288	$	42,288	$	81,026	$	81,026
Municipal securities	441,360		440,852		469,604		468,865
U.S. government agency securities	74,773		74,666		61,307		61,219
Certificates of deposit	-		-		11,869		11,869
Due 1 -10 years:
Municipal securities	527		527		-		-
U.S. government agency securities	2,973		2,970		2,369		2,366
Variable rate demand notes	6,622		6,622		6,366		6,366
Due 11 - 20 years:
Variable rate demand notes	18,542		18,542		28,377		28,377
Due 21 - 30 years:
Variable rate demand notes	2,252		2,252		15,211		15,211

Total	$	589,337	$	588,719	$	676,129	$	675,299

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES

Schedule of financial assets and liabilities recorded at fair value on a recurring basis

March 31, 2018	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total
Cash	$	394,221	$	-		$	-	$	394,221
Money market funds	39,228		-			-		39,228
Certificates of deposit	-		16,985			-		16,985
Commercial paper	-		60,825			-		60,825
Variable rate demand notes	-		27,416			-		27,416
Municipal securities	-		481,250			-		481,250
U.S. government agency securities	-		80,154			-		80,154
U.S. Treasuries	-		-			-		-
Foreign currency derivatives	-		(95		)	-		(95		)

Total	$	433,449	$	666,535		$	-	$	1,099,984


Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	433,449	$	77,911		$	-	$	511,360
Short-term investments	-		585,222			-		585,222
Accounts receivable, net	-		208			-		208
Investments	-		3,497			-		3,497
Accrued liabilities	-		(303		)	-		(303		)

Total	$	433,449	$	666,535		$	-	$	1,099,984


December 31, 2017	Level 1		Level 2			Level 3		Total

Cash	$	310,885	$	-		$	-	$	310,885
Money market funds	112,848		-			-		112,848
Certificates of deposit	-		15,720			-		15,720
Commercial paper	-		99,903			-		99,903
Variable rate demand notes	-		49,954			-		49,954
Municipal securities	-		529,984			-		529,984
U.S. government agency securities	-		81,230			-		81,230
U.S. Treasuries	-		3,397			-		3,397
Foreign currency derivatives	-		(1,484		)	-		(1,484		)

Total	$	423,733	$	778,704		$	-	$	1,202,437


Amounts included in:
Cash and cash equivalents	$	423,733	$	104,889		$	-	$	528,622
Short-term investments	-		672,933			-		672,933
Accounts receivable, net	-		95			-		95
Investments	-		2,366			-		2,366
Accrued liabilities	-		(1,579		)	-		(1,579		)

Total	$	423,733	$	778,704		$	-	$	1,202,437

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES

Schedule of notional amount and fair value of all outstanding foreign currency derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated balance sheets

March 31, 2018
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location

Assets:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive USD/pay GBP	$	33,290	$	139	Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay ZAR	20,255		65		Accounts receivable, net
Receive NOK/pay USD	1,746		4		Accounts receivable, net


Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive USD/pay EUR	$	76,452	$	(85)	Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay AUD	16,909		(73)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay MXN	3,337		(29)		Accrued liabilities
Receive SGD/pay USD	3,296		(15)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay NZD	2,237		(4)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay TRY	5,435		(83)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay BRL	717		(8)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay CLP	2,545		(3)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay COP	3,286		(3)		Accrued liabilities

December 31, 2017
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20	Notional Amount		Fair Value		Balance Sheet Location

Assets:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive CAD/pay USD	$	4,892	$	61	Accounts receivable, net
Receive SGD/pay USD	223		2		Accounts receivable, net
Receive NOK/pay USD	1,534		18		Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay BRL	1,806		1		Accounts receivable, net
Receive USD/pay COP	2,803		13		Accounts receivable, net


Liabilities:
Foreign currency exchange contracts:
Receive USD/pay GBP	$	31,342	$	(334)	Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay EUR	65,131		(642)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay AUD	17,238		(177)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay ZAR	21,311		(222)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay MXN	7,720		(126)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay NZD	1,826		(18)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay TRY	5,483		(52)		Accrued liabilities
Receive USD/pay CLP	1,112		(8)		Accrued liabilities

Schedule of net (losses) gains on derivative instruments in the condensed consolidated statements of income

		Amount of (loss) gain recognized in income on derivatives
		Three-months ended
Derivatives not designated as hedging instruments under FASB ASC 815-20	Location of (loss) gain recognized in income on derivatives	March 31, 2018		March 31, 2017

Foreign currency exchange contracts	Interest and other income, net	$	(4,659)	$	(5,028)

INVENTORIES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

INVENTORIES

Schedule of inventories

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Raw materials	$	84,594	$	78,834
Finished goods	184,013		176,911

	$	268,607	$	255,745

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET

Schedule of property and equipment

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Land	$	44,260	$	47,373
Leasehold improvements	3,281		3,109
Furniture and fixtures	6,397		6,461
Office and computer equipment	15,191		14,506
Computer software	3,593		3,650
Equipment	156,626		148,434
Buildings	110,978		107,374
Vehicles	39,522		38,179

	379,848		369,086
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(148,649)		(138,810)

	$	231,199	$	230,276

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS

Schedule of Goodwill

	Monster Energy® Drinks		Strategic Brands		Other		Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643
Acquisitions	-		-		-		-

Balance at March 31, 2018	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643

	Monster Energy® Drinks		Strategic Brands		Other		Total
Balance at December 31, 2016	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643
Acquisitions	-		-		-		-

Balance at March 31, 2017	$	693,644	$	637,999	$	-	$	1,331,643

Schedule of intangibles

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017
Amortizing intangibles	$	71,350	$	71,400
Accumulated amortization	(29,425)		(26,383)

	41,925		45,017
Non-amortizing intangibles	994,736		989,068

	$	1,036,661	$	1,034,085

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS

Changes in accumulated other comprehensive loss by component, after tax

	Currency Translation Losses		Unrealized (Gains) Losses on Available-for- Sale Securities		Total
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	15,818	$	841	$	16,659
Other comprehensive loss (gain) before reclassifications	(2,723)		(215)		(2,938)
Amounts reclassified from accumulated other comprehensive loss (gain)	-		-		-
Net current-period other comprehensive loss (gain)	(2,723)		(215)		(2,938)

Balance at March 31, 2018	$	13,095	$	626	$	13,721

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION

Schedule of weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted

	Three-Months Ended March 31,
	2018	2017
Dividend yield	0.0%	0.0%
Expected volatility	34.9%	36.6%
Risk-free interest rate	2.8%	2.1%
Expected term	6.0 years	6.1 years

Summary of Company's activities with respect to its stock option plans

Options	Number of Shares (In thousands)	Weighted- Average Exercise Price Per Share		Weighted- Average Remaining Contractual Term (In years)	Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Outstanding at January 1, 2018	17,819	$	29.62	6.1	$	600,032
Granted 01/01/18 - 03/31/18	2,615	$	58.76
Exercised	(415)	$	15.68
Cancelled or forfeited	(192)	$	43.02

Outstanding at March 31, 2018	19,827	$	33.62	6.4	$	472,160
Vested and expected to vest in the
future at March 31, 2018	18,689	$	32.62	6.3	$	463,173
Exercisable at March 31, 2018	10,834	$	21.99	4.7	$	381,567

Summary of Company's activities with respect to non-vested restricted stock units

	Number of Shares (in thousands)	Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Non-vested at January 1, 2018	530	$	45.09
Granted 01/01/18- 03/31/18	221	$	58.75
Vested	(255)	$	45.62
Forfeited/cancelled	(6)	$	32.17

Non-vested at March 31, 2018	490	$	51.15

INCOME TAXES (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

INCOME TAXES

Schedule of roll-forward of the Company's total gross unrecognized tax benefits, not including interest and penalties

	Gross Unrecognized Tax Benefits
Balance at December 31, 2017	$	6,540
Additions for tax positions related to the current year	-
Additions for tax positions related to the prior year	-
Decreases related to settlement with taxing authority	-

Balance at March 31, 2018	$	6,540

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

EARNINGS PER SHARE

Schedule of reconciliation of the weighted average shares used in the basic and diluted earnings per common share computations

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018	2017
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Basic	566,000	571,578
Dilutive	8,129	10,454

Diluted	574,129	582,032

SEGMENT INFORMATION (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

SEGMENT INFORMATION

Schedule of net revenues and other financial information by segment

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Net sales:
Monster Energy® Drinks(1)	$	780,505	$	668,571
Strategic Brands	65,759		68,036
Other	4,657		5,539
Corporate and unallocated	-		-

	$	850,921	$	742,146

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Operating Income:
Monster Energy® Drinks(1) (2)	$	301,702	$	279,431
Strategic Brands	42,602		42,106
Other	971		1,416
Corporate and unallocated	(65,360)		(58,691)

	$	279,915	$	264,262

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Income before tax:
Monster Energy® Drinks(1) (2)	$	301,964	$	279,335
Strategic Brands	42,583		42,094
Other	971		1,416
Corporate and unallocated	(63,798)		(57,925)

	$	281,720	$	264,920

(1)

Includes $11.2 million and $10.0 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to the recognition of deferred revenue.

(2)

Includes $7.0 million and $19.9 million for the three-months ended March 31, 2018 and 2017, respectively, related to distributor termination costs.

	Three-Months Ended
	March 31,
	2018		2017
Depreciation and amortization:
Monster Energy® Drinks	$	8,809	$	6,541
Strategic Brands	1,926		1,796
Other	1,159		1,153
Corporate and unallocated	2,097		1,693

	$	13,991	$	11,183

Schedule of goodwill and other intangible assets for the Company's reportable segments

	March 31,		December 31,
	2018		2017
Goodwill and other intangible assets:
Monster Energy® Drinks	$	1,351,780	$	1,346,648
Strategic Brands	994,161		995,582
Other	22,363		23,498
Corporate and unallocated	-		-

	$	2,368,304	$	2,365,728

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Tables)

3 Months Ended

Mar. 31, 2018

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS

Schedule of related party transactions

	March 31, 2018		December 31, 2017

Accounts receivable, net	$	29,044	$	32,607
Accounts payable	$	(25,221)	$	(45,465)
Accrued promotional allowances	$	(7,479)	$	(5,884)

RECENT ACCOUNTING PRONOUNCEMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Retained earnings	$ 3,137,691	$ 2,928,226
ASU 2016-16 \| Adjustment
Deferred income tax	(6,600)
Retained earnings	$ 6,600

REVENUE RECOGNITION - Impact of adoption of ASC 606 (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Number of operating segments \| segment	3
Number of reportable segments \| segment	3
Net Sales	$ 850,921
Operating Expenses	235,342	$ 216,612
Without 606 Adoption of ASC 606
Net Sales	860,861
Operating Expenses	245,282
(Decrease) Increase due to Adoption of ASC606
Net Sales	(9,940)
Operating Expenses	$ (9,940)

REVENUE RECOGNITION - Disaggregation of Revenue (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Total Net Sales	$ 850,921
Contract Liabilities
Deferred revenue	372,600	$ 377,600
Deferred revenue recognized in net sales	11,200
U.S. And Canada
Total Net Sales	633,198
EMEA
Total Net Sales	130,242
Asia Pacific
Total Net Sales	52,979
Latin America And Caribbean
Total Net Sales	34,502
Monster Energy Drinks
Total Net Sales	780,505
Monster Energy Drinks \| U.S. And Canada
Total Net Sales	588,817
Monster Energy Drinks \| EMEA
Total Net Sales	110,929
Monster Energy Drinks \| Asia Pacific
Total Net Sales	47,431
Monster Energy Drinks \| Latin America And Caribbean
Total Net Sales	33,328
Strategic Brands
Total Net Sales	65,759
Strategic Brands \| U.S. And Canada
Total Net Sales	39,724
Strategic Brands \| EMEA
Total Net Sales	19,313
Strategic Brands \| Asia Pacific
Total Net Sales	5,548
Strategic Brands \| Latin America And Caribbean
Total Net Sales	1,174
Other
Total Net Sales	4,657
Other \| U.S. And Canada
Total Net Sales	$ 4,657

INVESTMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	$ 589,337	$ 676,129
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		1
Gross Unrealized Holding Losses	618	831
Fair Value	588,719	675,299
Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months	618	831
Short-term \| Commercial paper
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	42,288	81,026
Fair Value	42,288	81,026
Short-term \| Certificates of deposit
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost		11,869
Fair Value		11,869
Short-term \| Municipal securities
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	441,360	469,604
Gross Unrealized Holding Gains		1
Gross Unrealized Holding Losses	508	740
Fair Value	440,852	468,865
Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months	508	740
Short-term \| U.S. government agency securities
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	74,773	61,307
Gross Unrealized Holding Losses	107	88
Fair Value	74,666	61,219
Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months	107	88
Short-term \| Variable rate demand notes
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	27,416	49,954
Fair Value	27,416	49,954
Long-term \| Municipal securities
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	527
Fair Value	527
Long-term \| U.S. government agency securities
Available-for-sale
Amortized Cost	2,973	2,369
Gross Unrealized Holding Losses	3	3
Fair Value	2,970	2,366
Continuous Unrealized Loss Position less than 12 Months	$ 3	$ 3

INVESTMENTS - Maturity Period (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Investments
Amortized Cost	$ 589,337	$ 676,129
Fair Value	588,719	675,299
Commercial paper \| Less than 1 year
Investments
Amortized Cost	42,288	81,026
Fair Value	42,288	81,026
Municipal securities \| Less than 1 year
Investments
Amortized Cost	441,360	469,604
Fair Value	440,852	468,865
Municipal securities \| Due 1 - 10 years
Investments
Amortized Cost	527
Fair Value	527
U.S. government agency securities \| Less than 1 year
Investments
Amortized Cost	74,773	61,307
Fair Value	74,666	61,219
U.S. government agency securities \| Due 1 - 10 years
Investments
Amortized Cost	2,973	2,369
Fair Value	2,970	2,366
Certificates of deposit \| Less than 1 year
Investments
Amortized Cost		11,869
Fair Value		11,869
Variable rate demand notes \| Due 1 - 10 years
Investments
Amortized Cost	6,622	6,366
Fair Value	6,622	6,366
Variable rate demand notes \| Due 11 - 20 years
Investments
Amortized Cost	18,542	28,377
Fair Value	18,542	28,377
Variable rate demand notes \| Due 21 - 30 years
Investments
Amortized Cost	2,252	15,211
Fair Value	$ 2,252	$ 15,211

FAIR VALUE OF CERTAIN FINANCIAL ASSETS AND LIABILITIES - Assets - Recurring Basis (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2016
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Cash and cash equivalents	$ 511,360	$ 528,622	$ 576,337	$ 377,582
Short-term investments	585,222	672,933
Investments	3,497	2,366
Asset transfers between Level 1 and Level 2 measurements	0	0
Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Cash and cash equivalents	511,360	528,622
Short-term investments	585,222	672,933
Accounts receivable, net	208	95
Investments	3,497	2,366
Accrued liabilities	(303)	(1,579)
Assets measured at fair value	1,099,984	1,202,437
Cash	394,221	310,885
Foreign currency derivatives	(95)	(1,484)
Money market funds \| Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	39,228	112,848
Certificates of deposit \| Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	16,985	15,720
Commercial paper \| Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	60,825	99,903
Variable rate demand notes \| Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	27,416	49,954
Municipal securities \| Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	481,250	529,984
U.S. government agency securities \| Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	80,154	81,230
U.S. Treasuries \| Total fair value
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value		3,397
Level 1
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Cash and cash equivalents	433,449	423,733
Assets measured at fair value	433,449	423,733
Cash	394,221	310,885
Level 1 \| Money market funds
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	39,228	112,848
Level 2
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Cash and cash equivalents	77,911	104,889
Short-term investments	585,222	672,933
Accounts receivable, net	208	95
Investments	3,497	2,366
Accrued liabilities	(303)	(1,579)
Assets measured at fair value	666,535	778,704
Foreign currency derivatives	(95)	(1,484)
Level 2 \| Certificates of deposit
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	16,985	15,720
Level 2 \| Commercial paper
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	60,825	99,903
Level 2 \| Variable rate demand notes
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	27,416	49,954
Level 2 \| Municipal securities
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	481,250	529,984
Level 2 \| U.S. government agency securities
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value	$ 80,154	81,230
Level 2 \| U.S. Treasuries
Fair value of certain financial assets and liabilities
Assets measured at fair value		$ 3,397

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES - Notional Amount and Fair Value (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Foreign currency exchange contracts \| Maximum
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Term of derivative instrument	1 month
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive CAD/pay USD \| Accounts receivable, net
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Assets		$ 4,892
Fair Value, Assets		61
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive SGD/pay USD \| Accounts receivable, net
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Assets		223
Fair Value, Assets		2
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive SGD/pay USD \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	$ 3,296
Fair Value, Liabilities	(15)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive NOK/pay USD \| Accounts receivable, net
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Assets	1,746	1,534
Fair Value, Assets	4	18
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay BRL \| Accounts receivable, net
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Assets		1,806
Fair Value, Assets		1
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay BRL \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	717
Fair Value, Liabilities	(8)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay CLP \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	2,545	1,112
Fair Value, Liabilities	(3)	(8)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay COP \| Accounts receivable, net
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Assets		2,803
Fair Value, Assets		13
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay COP \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	3,286
Fair Value, Liabilities	(3)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay GBP \| Accounts receivable, net
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Assets	33,290
Fair Value, Assets	139
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay GBP \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities		31,342
Fair Value, Liabilities		(334)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay EUR \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	76,452	65,131
Fair Value, Liabilities	(85)	(642)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay AUD \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	16,909	17,238
Fair Value, Liabilities	(73)	(177)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay ZAR \| Accounts receivable, net
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Assets	20,255
Fair Value, Assets	65
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay ZAR \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities		21,311
Fair Value, Liabilities		(222)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay MXN \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	3,337	7,720
Fair Value, Liabilities	(29)	(126)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay NZD \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	2,237	1,826
Fair Value, Liabilities	(4)	(18)
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Receive USD/pay TRY \| Accrued liabilities
Derivative Instruments and Hedging Activities
Notional amount, Liabilities	5,435	5,483
Fair Value, Liabilities	$ (83)	$ (52)

DERIVATIVE INSTRUMENTS AND HEDGING ACTIVITIES - Nonhedging Designation (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Not designated as hedging instruments \| Foreign currency exchange contracts \| Interest and other income, net
Net (losses) gains on derivative instruments
Amount of (loss) gain recognized in income on derivatives	$ (4,659)	$ (5,028)

INVENTORIES (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
INVENTORIES
Raw materials	$ 84,594	$ 78,834
Finished goods	184,013	176,911
Inventories, net	$ 268,607	$ 255,745

PROPERTY AND EQUIPMENT, NET (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	$ 379,848		$ 369,086
Less: accumulated depreciation and amortization	(148,649)		(138,810)
Property and equipment, net	231,199		230,276
Total depreciation and amortization expense	10,900	$ 8,200
Land
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	44,260		47,373
Leasehold improvements
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	3,281		3,109
Furniture and fixtures
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	6,397		6,461
Office and computer equipment
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	15,191		14,506
Computer software
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	3,593		3,650
Equipment
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	156,626		148,434
Buildings
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	110,978		107,374
Vehicles
Property and equipment, net
Property and equipment, gross	$ 39,522		$ 38,179

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Goodwill (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017	Mar. 31, 2017
Goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	$ 1,331,643	$ 1,331,643	$ 1,331,643
Goodwill, Ending Balance	1,331,643	1,331,643	1,331,643
Monster Energy Drinks
Goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	693,644	693,644	693,644
Goodwill, Ending Balance	693,644	693,644	693,644
Strategic Brands
Goodwill
Goodwill, Beginning Balance	637,999	637,999	637,999
Goodwill, Ending Balance	$ 637,999	$ 637,999	$ 637,999

GOODWILL AND OTHER INTANGIBLE ASSETS - Intangible assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Intangible assets
Amortizing intangibles	$ 71,350		$ 71,400
Accumulated amortization	(29,425)		(26,383)
Amortizing intangibles, net	41,925		45,017
Non-amortizing intangibles	994,736		989,068
Intangible, net	1,036,661		$ 1,034,085
Amortization of in intangible assets	$ 3,100	$ 3,000
Minimum
Intangible assets
Useful life of intangible assets	5 years
Maximum
Intangible assets
Useful life of intangible assets	7 years

DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
DISTRIBUTION AGREEMENTS
Termination costs	$ 7.0	$ 19.9
Distribution agreement (in years)	20 years
Revenue recognized	$ 11.2	$ 10.0

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Purchase Commitments (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Purchase Commitments
Aggregate contractual obligations	$ 170.2
Aggregate operating lease commitments	16.4
Raw materials
Purchase Commitments
Purchase Commitments	$ 56.5
Obligation term ( in years)	1 year

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - Line of Credit Facility (Details) - Line of credit - HSBC China $ in Millions	1 Months Ended
	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)	Feb. 28, 2018 USD ($)
Commitments and Contingencies
Maximum borrowing capacity	$ 9.0		$ 15.0
Accounts payable
Commitments and Contingencies
Amount outstanding		$ 10.6
People's Bank of China
Commitments and Contingencies
Multiplier for calculating effective rate from benchmark rate	1.10

COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES - State Attorney General Inquiry (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
COMMITMENTS AND CONTINGENCIES
Accrued loss contingencies	$ 1.6

ACCUMULATED OTHER COMPREHENSIVE LOSS (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 16,659
Other comprehensive loss (gain) before reclassifications	(2,938)
Net current-period other comprehensive loss (gain)	(2,938)
Balance at the end of the period	13,721
Currency Translation Losses
Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Balance at the beginning of the period	15,818
Other comprehensive loss (gain) before reclassifications	(2,723)
Net current-period other comprehensive loss (gain)	(2,723)
Balance at the end of the period	13,095
Unrealized (Gains) Losses on Available-for-Sale Securities
Components of accumulated other comprehensive loss:
Balance at the beginning of the period	841
Other comprehensive loss (gain) before reclassifications	(215)
Net current-period other comprehensive loss (gain)	(215)
Balance at the end of the period	$ 626

TREASURY STOCK (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, $ in Millions		3 Months Ended
	May 09, 2018	Mar. 31, 2018	Feb. 27, 2018	Feb. 28, 2017
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock
Number of shares repurchased of common stock from employees in lieu of cash or withholding taxes due		34,303
Cash payment for repurchase of common stock from employees in lieu of cash or withholding taxes due		$ 2.0
February 2017 Repurchase Plan
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount				$ 500.0
Common stock repurchased (in shares)		4,300,000
Average purchase price (in dollars per share)		$ 57.74
Price of stock less broker commissions		$ 249.9
February 2018 Repurchase Plan
Equity, Class of Treasury Stock
Stock repurchase program, authorized amount			$ 250.0
Common stock repurchased (in shares)	0

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Plans (Details) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Plans (Details) $ in Millions	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) plan	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Stock-based compensation
Stock-based compensation plans \| plan	2
Compensation expense on share-based plans	$ 13.4	$ 13.1
Stock options
Stock-based compensation
Excess tax benefit realized for tax deductions from non-qualified stock option exercises and disqualifying dispositions of incentive stock options	$ 2.8	$ 9.4

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Fair Value Assumptions (Details) - Stock options - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended		12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017	Dec. 31, 2017
Weighted-average assumptions used to estimate the fair value of options granted
Dividend yield (as a percent)	0.00%	0.00%
Expected volatility (as a percent)	34.90%	36.60%
Risk-free interest rate (as a percent)	2.80%	2.10%
Expected term	6 years	6 years 1 month 6 days
Stock Options, Number of Shares
Balance at the beginning of the period (in shares)	17,819
Granted (in shares)	2,615
Exercised (in shares)	(415)
Cancelled or forfeited (in shares)	(192)
Balance at the end of the period (in shares)	19,827		17,819
Vested and expected to vest in the future at the end of the period (in shares)	18,689
Exercisable at the end of the period (in shares)	10,834
Stock options, Weighted-Average Exercise Price Per Share
Balance at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 29.62
Granted (in dollars per share)	58.76
Exercised (in dollars per share)	15.68
Cancelled or forfeited (in dollars per share)	43.02
Balance at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	33.62		$ 29.62
Vested and expected to vest in the future at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	32.62
Exercisable at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 21.99
Weighted-Average Remaining Contractual Term
Balance at the beginning of the period	6 years 4 months 24 days		6 years 1 month 6 days
Balance at the end of the period	6 years 4 months 24 days		6 years 1 month 6 days
Vested and expected to vest in the future at the end of the period	6 years 3 months 18 days
Exercisable at the end of the period	4 years 8 months 12 days
Aggregate Intrinsic Value
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 600,032
Balance at the end of the period	472,160		$ 600,032
Vested and expected to vest in the future at the end of the period	463,173
Exercisable at the end of the period	$ 381,567

STOCK-BASED COMPENSATION - Equity Awards (Details) - USD ($) $ / shares in Units, shares in Thousands, $ in Millions	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Stock options
Stock-based compensation
Weighted-average grant-date fair value of options granted (in dollars per share)	$ 22.82	$ 18.00
Total intrinsic value of options exercised	$ 18.2	$ 32.4
Cash received from option exercises	6.5	$ 13.6
Total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested shares granted to employees	$ 125.3
Cost expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period	3 years 2 months 12 days
Stock units expected to vest (in shares)	18,689
Restricted stock units
Stock-based compensation
Total unrecognized compensation expense related to non-vested shares granted to employees	$ 23.1
Cost expected to be recognized over a weighted-average period	2 years 1 month 6 days
Stock units expected to vest (in shares)	500
Number of Shares
Non-vested at the beginning of the period (in shares)	530
Granted (in shares)	221
Vested (in shares)	(255)
Forfeited/cancelled (in shares)	(6)
Non-vested at the end of the period (in shares)	490
Weighted Average Grant-Date Fair Value
Non-vested at the beginning of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 45.09
Granted (in dollars per share)	58.75	$ 46.27
Vested (in dollars per share)	45.62
Forfeited/cancelled (in dollars per share)	32.17
Non-vested at the end of the period (in dollars per share)	$ 51.15

INCOME TAXES - Tax Cuts and Jobs Act (Details) - USD ($) $ in Millions	3 Months Ended	12 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
INCOME TAXES
Federal statutory rate (as a percent)	21.00%	35.00%
Provisional charge, revaluated net deferred tax assets		$ 39.8
Provision related to deemed mandatory repatriation		$ 2.1

INCOME TAXES - Unrecognized Tax Benefit Rollforward (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($)
Gross unrecognized tax benefits, roll forward
Balance at the beginning of the period	$ 6,540
Additions for tax positions related to the current year	0
Balance at the end of the period	6,540
Accrued interest and penalties related to unrecognized tax benefits	$ 1,400

EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	3 Months Ended
EARNINGS PER SHARE (Details) - shares shares in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Weighted-average shares outstanding:
Weighted Average Number of Shares Outstanding, Basic	566,000	571,578
Dilutive securities	8,129	10,454
Diluted	574,129	582,032
Options and awards outstanding excluded from the calculations as their effect would have been antidilutive (in shares)	700	8,000

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Net Revenues (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
SEGMENT INFORMATION - Net Revenues (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) segment	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)
Segment information
Number of reportable segments \| segment	3
Number of operating segments \| segment	3
Net Sales	$ 850,921	$ 742,146
Operating income	279,915	264,262
Income before tax	281,720	264,920
Recognition of deferred revenue	11,200	10,000
Corporate and unallocated
Segment information
Operating income	(65,360)	(58,691)
Income before tax	(63,798)	(57,925)
Monster Energy Drinks \| Operating segment
Segment information
Net Sales	780,505	668,571
Operating income	301,702	279,431
Income before tax	301,964	279,335
Recognition of deferred revenue	11,200	10,000
Distribution Agreements Termination Cost	7,000	19,900
Strategic Brands \| Operating segment
Segment information
Net Sales	65,759	68,036
Operating income	42,602	42,106
Income before tax	42,583	42,094
Other \| Operating segment
Segment information
Net Sales	4,657	5,539
Operating income	971	1,416
Income before tax	$ 971	$ 1,416

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Depreciation and Amortization (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment information
Depreciation and amortization	$ 13,991	$ 11,183
Corporate and unallocated
Segment information
Depreciation and amortization	2,097	1,693
Monster Energy Drinks \| Operating segment
Segment information
Depreciation and amortization	8,809	6,541
Strategic Brands \| Operating segment
Segment information
Depreciation and amortization	1,926	1,796
Other \| Operating segment
Segment information
Depreciation and amortization	$ 1,159	$ 1,153

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Expenses (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment information
Operating income	$ 279,915	$ 264,262
Stock-based compensation expense	13,400	13,100
Corporate and unallocated
Segment information
Operating income	(65,360)	(58,691)
Payroll costs	43,100	37,600
Stock-based compensation expense	13,400	13,100
Professional service expenses	12,400	12,300
Other operating expenses	$ 9,900	$ 8,800

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Concentration Risk (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
	Mar. 31, 2018	Mar. 31, 2017
Segment information
Net Sales	$ 850,921	$ 742,146
Outside United States
Segment information
Net Sales	$ 242,100	$ 190,900
TCCC \| Net Sales \| Customer concentration
Segment information
Percentage of net sales	4.00%	34.00%
CCBCC Operations, LLC \| Net Sales \| Customer concentration
Segment information
Percentage of net sales	14.00%	11.00%
Coca-Cola European Partners \| Net Sales \| Customer concentration
Segment information
Percentage of net sales	10.00%	8.00%
Reyes Coca-Cola Bottling \| Net Sales \| Customer concentration
Segment information
Percentage of net sales	13.00%	4.00%

SEGMENT INFORMATION - Goodwill and other intangible assets (Details) - USD ($) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018	Dec. 31, 2017
Segment information
Goodwill and other intangible assets	$ 2,368,304	$ 2,365,728
Monster Energy Drinks \| Operating segment
Segment information
Goodwill and other intangible assets	1,351,780	1,346,648
Strategic Brands \| Operating segment
Segment information
Goodwill and other intangible assets	994,161	995,582
Other \| Operating segment
Segment information
Goodwill and other intangible assets	$ 22,363	$ 23,498

RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) $ in Thousands	3 Months Ended
RELATED PARTY TRANSACTIONS (Details) $ in Thousands	Mar. 31, 2018 USD ($) item	Mar. 31, 2017 USD ($)	Dec. 31, 2017 USD ($)
TCCC
Related party transactions
Voting interest (as a percent)	18.00%
Net sales	$ 35,000	$ 255,800
Purchases from Related Party	2,900	5,900
TCCC Subsidiaries and TCCC Related parties
Related party transactions
Commission expenses	11,300
TCCC Independent Bottlers
Related party transactions
Commission expenses	3,100
TCCC Subsidiaries
Related party transactions
Commission expenses	3,600
Accounts receivable, net	29,044		$ 32,607
Accounts payable	(25,221)		(45,465)
Accrued promotional allowances	(7,479)		$ (5,884)
TCCC Related parties and TCCC Independent Bottlers \| Operating expense
Related party transactions
Commission expenses	$ 7,900
Principal owners
Related party transactions
Number of directors who are principal owners of a company that provides promotional materials \| item	2
Expenses incurred in connection with materials or services provided by a related party	$ 800	200
Monster Energy Drinks \| TCCC Subsidiaries
Related party transactions
Contract manufacturing expenses	$ 5,400	$ 2,200