Coca-Cola zvýšila dividendu už 64. rok v řadě a zvedla výhled EPS pro rok 2026 na 9 %. V 1. čtvrtletí tržby vzrostly o 12,07 % na 12,47 mld. USD a EPS 0,86 USD překonal odhady o 5,87 %.
Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO | KO Price Prediction) offers retirement investors a rare combination of reliable income and accelerating growth ahead of its upcoming Q2 earnings report on July 28. The company just raised its dividend for the 64th consecutive year, expanded its operating margin from 32.9% to 35.0%, and raised 2026 EPS guidance from 8% to 9%. Coca-Cola may trade like a sleepy consumer staple, but its latest results show a Dividend King gaining momentum.
Three Reasons the Buy Case Writes Itself The cash machine is accelerating. Q1 2026 delivered $12.47B in revenue, up 12.07% year over year, on 10% organic growth and EPS of $0.86 that beat estimates by 5.87%, the fourth consecutive EPS beat. Free cash flow climbed 131.85% year over year to $1.755B, and management guided to roughly $12.2B of free cash flow for 2026. That covers the $8.8B in dividends paid in 2025 with meaningful room to spare.
Dividend income is durable and growing. Coca-Cola’s quarterly payout rose from $0.51 to $0.53 in 2026, giving a 2.51% dividend yield layered on top of a 45.97% return on equity. Coca-Cola raised the dividend through 2008, 2020, and every macro shock in between.
Management is prioritizing share buybacks too. KO repurchased $477M in Q1 2026 with roughly $5.2B still authorized. Shares are already up 17.67% year to date and 20.71% over one year.
Why Coca-Cola Deserves to Trade at a Premium Coca-Cola’s classic competitor is PepsiCo (NASDAQ:PEP), which offers a fatter 4.24% dividend yield at a cheaper 18 P/E. While Pepsi may look optically cheaper, PepsiCo’s quarterly revenue growth of 6.4% is roughly half of Coca-Cola’s 12.1%, and its 16.8% operating margin is a fraction of KO’s 35.0%.
Keurig Dr Pepper (NASDAQ:KDP) is worse on quality, with the company reporting a 6.31% ROE and quarterly earnings growth of -47.7%. Investors pay a premium for KO because KO is a better business.
KO’s One Weak Spot The bear case for Coca-Cola revolves around input-cost pressure and a 17% decline in Asia Pacific operating income. However, consolidated operating margin still expanded 210 basis points, and North America, EMEA, Latin America, and Bottling Investments all posted double-digit revenue growth in Q1 2026. For retirement portfolios needing rising income backed by a fortress balance sheet, Coca-Cola may be worth a closer look ahead of July 28 Q2 earnings.
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Coca-Cola má 28. července oznámit výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí a trh čeká růst tržeb o 4,2 % na 13,1 miliardy USD a EPS o 5,6 % na 92 centů. Tlak na objemy v Severní Americe a Evropě ale přetrvává.
Key Takeaways Coca-Cola is expected to report Q2'26 revenue and EPS growth, with results due on July 28.KO's all-weather strategy is supported by pricing actions, organic growth and global value share gains.KO faces volume pressure in North America and Europe as value-conscious consumers weigh on demand. The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) is slated to report second-quarter 2026 earnings on July 28, before the opening bell. The company is expected to register year-over-year top- and bottom-line growth when it posts second-quarter numbers.
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for revenues is pegged at $13.1 billion, implying 4.2% growth from the year-ago quarter's reported figure. The consensus estimate for earnings is pegged at 92 cents per share, indicating 5.6% growth from the prior-year quarter’s reported figure. The consensus mark for earnings has been unchanged in the past 30 days.
The Atlanta, GA-based company has been reporting steady earnings, as evidenced by its positive earnings surprise trend in the trailing 12 quarters. Coca-Cola delivered a trailing four-quarter earnings surprise of 4.5%, on average. On the last reported quarter’s earnings call, the company registered an earnings surprise of 6.2%. Given its positive record, the question is, can KO maintain its momentum?
Q2 Earnings Whispers for Coca-ColaOur proven model does not conclusively predict an earnings beat for KO this time around. The combination of a positive Earnings ESP and a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy), 2 (Buy) or 3 (Hold) increases the chances of an earnings beat. You can uncover the best stocks to buy or sell before they are reported with our Earnings ESP Filter.
Coca-Cola currently has a Zacks Rank #3 and an Earnings ESP of 0.00%.
You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank stocks here.
Key Trends in Focus Ahead of KO's Q2 Earnings ReleaseCoca-Cola’s second-quarter 2026 results are expected to reflect the strength of its all-weather strategy and the resilience of its global portfolio. KO’s momentum has been fueled by solid organic revenue growth, effective pricing actions and continued gains in global value share across the non-alcoholic RTD category. The company’s ability to command premium pricing underscores the strength of its brand portfolio and execution discipline. Strategic revenue growth management and affordability initiatives are helping balance pricing with consumer retention.
Our model predicts organic revenue growth of 3.9% and comparable EPS to rise 6.5% year over year to 93 cents for the second quarter.
KO’s ongoing focus on innovation, digital transformation and marketing excellence further sharpens its competitive edge, with breakthrough product launches and culturally resonant campaigns elevating brand relevance. The company’s refreshed marketing model blends digital, live and in-store touchpoints to build stronger, more personalized consumer connections. Margin expansion, driven by productivity gains, easing inflation and disciplined revenue growth management, reinforces its financial durability.
Looking ahead, Coca-Cola expects to maintain strong margin discipline, supported by productivity gains, favorable price/mix dynamics and gradual easing of inflationary pressures. Our model predicts the adjusted operating margin to expand 30 bps year over year to 35% in the second quarter, led by a flat adjusted gross margin rate and a 40-bps improvement in the SG&A expense rate.
For second-quarter 2026, comparable revenues and EPS are expected to include currency tailwinds of 1% and 3%, respectively. Both metrics are also estimated to include a 1% headwind from acquisitions and divestitures.
However, Coca-Cola is expected to have faced notable volume pressure in key markets, reflecting evolving consumer behavior and economic challenges, particularly in North America and Europe. The company is witnessing soft volumes as low-income consumers remain value-conscious amid inflationary pressures. These widespread volume challenges signal waning consumer momentum, particularly in lower-income groups.
While Coca-Cola continues to rely on price/mix gains to support revenues, the persistence of volume softness raises concerns about sustained demand, making recovery efforts in lagging regions even more critical.
Coca-Cola’s Price Performance & ValuationKO shares have risen as much as 17.6% year to date. The stock has outpaced the broader industry and the Consumer Staples sector’s 10.9% and 8.4% growth, respectively. KO stock has also outperformed the S&P 500 index, which has risen 9.5% in the same period.
KO Stock’s YTD Performance
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Coca-Cola stock has outperformed its key competitor, PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) , which has declined 5.4% year to date. Coca-Cola has also outpaced Keurig Dr Pepper Inc.’s (KDP - Free Report) growth of 7.9% but underperformed Monster Beverage Corporation’s (MNST - Free Report) rally of 24.8% in the same period.
From the valuation standpoint, KO trades at a forward 12-month P/E multiple of 24.3X, exceeding the industry average of 19.01X and the S&P 500’s average of 20.85X. Coca-Cola’s valuation appears quite pricey.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
KO undoubtedly commands a high valuation, reflecting its strong market positioning, brand power and long-term growth potential compared with other non-alcoholic beverage companies. However, we believe that its valuation is too stretched at this time.
Investment ThesisCoca-Cola remains a powerhouse in the beverage industry, commanding more than 40% of the global non-alcoholic beverage market. The company’s enduring success is driven by a formidable market presence, world-class marketing capabilities and a relentless focus on innovation. With a portfolio boasting more than 4,700 products and 500 brands, spanning sodas, juices, waters and energy drinks, Coca-Cola continues to reinforce its leadership.
KO’s dominant market share, broad product range and strategic emphasis on innovation and digital transformation position it well for sustained long-term growth. However, short-term headwinds, such as inflationary pressures, global macroeconomic uncertainties and unfavorable currency fluctuations, remain challenges to navigate.
ConclusionCoca-Cola enters its second-quarter earnings release with solid momentum, supported by pricing strength, organic revenue growth, productivity gains and disciplined margin management. Its powerful brand portfolio, innovation pipeline and global reach continue to reinforce long-term resilience. However, persistent volume weakness in North America and Europe, particularly among lower-income consumers, remains a key concern.
The stock’s strong year-to-date rally and premium valuation leave limited room for disappointment. Although Coca-Cola’s fundamentals remain sound, investors may prefer to wait for clearer evidence of volume recovery and sustained earnings momentum before considering fresh exposure at the current valuation levels following earnings.
Coca-Cola Diet Coke cans on display for sale inside a shop in New Delhi, India, April 22, 2026. REUTERS/Bhawika Chhabra/File Photo Purchase Licensing Rights, opens new tab
CompaniesWASHINGTON, July 21 (Reuters) - Hacking gang Anubis claimed credit on Tuesday for an attack on Coca-Cola-owned (KO.N), opens new tab dairy company fairlife, threatening to publish stolen data unless it received an unspecified ransom.
The group made the claim on its dark web site, saying it had stolen 1 terabyte of data from fairlife.
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Coca-Cola did not immediately respond to a request for comment, and the hackers did not immediately return a message.
Chicago-based fairlife makes dairy products including protein shakes and filtered milk drinks. Coca-Cola said last week that production at fairlife's U.S. facilities was temporarily suspended after a hack.
Anubis is one of many cybercriminal gangs that paralyze their victims' networks until a ransom is paid, a practice that can occasionally have dramatic knock-on effects if critical networks are hit. Hackers typically threaten to publish stolen data in a bid to pressure their victims.
Anubis' operations have a particularly disruptive edge to them, according to an analysis published last year, opens new tab by cybersecurity firm Trend Micro, which cited the group's use of file wiping software.
Reporting by Raphael Satter; Additional reporting by Koyena Das in Bengaluru; Editing by Cynthia Osterman
Our Standards: The Thomson Reuters Trust Principles., opens new tab
Reporter covering cybersecurity, surveillance, and disinformation for Reuters. Work has included investigations into state-sponsored espionage, deepfake-driven propaganda, and mercenary hacking.
Andra AP fonden boosted its stake in shares of CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO – Free Report) by 46.9% in the first quarter, according to the company in its most recent Form 13F filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC). The firm owned 668,784 shares of the company’s stock after purchasing an additional 213,584 shares during the quarter. CocaCola comprises approximately 0.6% of Andra AP fonden’s investment portfolio, making the stock its 20th biggest position. Andra AP fonden’s holdings in CocaCola were worth $50,861,000 as of its most recent SEC filing.
Several other large investors also recently modified their holdings of the stock. Anfield Capital Management LLC boosted its holdings in shares of CocaCola by 438.8% during the fourth quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 361 shares of the company’s stock worth $25,000 after acquiring an additional 294 shares during the period. Louisbourg Investments Inc. bought a new position in CocaCola during the 1st quarter worth $25,000. Headlands Technologies LLC acquired a new stake in shares of CocaCola during the second quarter worth $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. boosted its position in shares of CocaCola by 1,081.8% in the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 390 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after acquiring an additional 357 shares during the period. Finally, Daytona Street Capital LLC bought a new stake in shares of CocaCola in the fourth quarter valued at about $29,000. 70.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors.
Key CocaCola News Here are the key news stories impacting CocaCola this week:
Positive Sentiment: Analysts highlighted Coca-Cola’s pricing power and ability to balance higher prices with affordability and volume growth, suggesting the company can protect margins and sustain durable growth in 2026. Coca-Cola’s Pricing Power: Is it Still Driving Growth in 2026? Positive Sentiment: UBS said Coca-Cola’s growth outlook remains strong ahead of Q2 results, with expectations that the company will deliver solid earnings and keep full-year guidance intact, which could support shares if confirmed. Coca-Cola’s Growth Outlook Remains Strong Ahead of Q2 Results, UBS Says Positive Sentiment: Recent coverage also noted that KO is trading near all-time highs as investors rotate away from more volatile AI names, reinforcing Coca-Cola’s appeal as a stable large-cap holding. 5 Stocks Quietly Trading Near All-Time Highs While Everyone Watches the AI Drama (KO) Neutral Sentiment: Coca-Cola picked bankers for a possible India bottler IPO, which could be a long-term strategic move but does not yet provide enough detail on valuation, timing, or financial impact. Coca-Cola picks bankers for its India bottler IPO Neutral Sentiment: Multiple pieces of analyst and technical commentary are keeping KO in focus before earnings, but they are mostly reiterating existing bullish sentiment rather than revealing a fresh catalyst. Coca-Cola Stock in Focus: A Look at the Earnings, Analyst Activity, Technical Picture Negative Sentiment: Some commentary argues KO is trading at a premium valuation versus peers, which could limit upside if upcoming earnings or guidance fail to exceed expectations. Coca-Cola: Safety Has A Price, But Right Now, It’s A Premium One Insider Transactions at CocaCola In other news, Chairman James Quincey sold 436,296 shares of CocaCola stock in a transaction dated Friday, June 5th. The shares were sold at an average price of $80.13, for a total value of $34,960,398.48. Following the completion of the transaction, the chairman owned 122,833 shares in the company, valued at $9,842,608.29. This trade represents a 78.03% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. The transaction was executed under a pre-arranged Rule 10b5-1 trading plan. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, EVP Nancy Quan sold 31,625 shares of the firm’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Friday, May 15th. The stock was sold at an average price of $80.93, for a total transaction of $2,559,411.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 223,330 shares of the company’s stock, valued at approximately $18,074,096.90. This trade represents a 12.40% decrease in their ownership of the stock. Additional details regarding this sale are available in the official SEC disclosure. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Insiders sold a total of 899,905 shares of company stock worth $71,832,315 in the last quarter. Insiders own 0.90% of the company’s stock.
Analysts Set New Price Targets Several analysts have weighed in on KO shares. Citigroup lifted their price objective on shares of CocaCola from $91.00 to $97.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a research note on Tuesday, July 14th. Morgan Stanley set a $89.00 price target on CocaCola in a research report on Wednesday, June 10th. Sanford C. Bernstein set a $83.00 price objective on CocaCola in a report on Thursday, July 9th. Barclays raised their price target on CocaCola from $85.00 to $89.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research report on Thursday, May 21st. Finally, JPMorgan Chase & Co. boosted their price target on CocaCola from $85.00 to $90.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a research note on Friday, July 10th. Fourteen equities research analysts have rated the stock with a Buy rating and one has given a Hold rating to the stock. According to MarketBeat.com, the company presently has a consensus rating of “Moderate Buy” and a consensus target price of $89.20.
Check Out Our Latest Stock Analysis on CocaCola
CocaCola Price Performance KO stock opened at $82.07 on Tuesday. The company has a market capitalization of $353.09 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.81, a price-to-earnings-growth ratio of 3.26 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.09, a quick ratio of 1.15 and a current ratio of 1.36. CocaCola Company has a 52-week low of $65.35 and a 52-week high of $85.68. The business has a 50-day simple moving average of $81.31 and a two-hundred day simple moving average of $77.77.
CocaCola (NYSE:KO – Get Free Report) last posted its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, April 28th. The company reported $0.86 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping analysts’ consensus estimates of $0.81 by $0.05. The firm had revenue of $12.47 billion for the quarter, compared to the consensus estimate of $12.24 billion. CocaCola had a net margin of 27.80% and a return on equity of 40.55%. The business’s revenue for the quarter was up 11.4% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same period in the previous year, the firm earned $0.73 EPS. CocaCola has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.240-3.270 EPS. Research analysts expect that CocaCola Company will post 3.26 EPS for the current fiscal year.
CocaCola Dividend Announcement The business also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 1st. Investors of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. This represents a $2.12 dividend on an annualized basis and a yield of 2.6%. The ex-dividend date is Tuesday, September 15th. CocaCola’s dividend payout ratio (DPR) is 66.67%.
About CocaCola (Free Report)
The Coca‑Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a global beverage manufacturer, marketer and distributor best known for its flagship Coca‑Cola soda. Headquartered in Atlanta, Georgia, the company develops and sells concentrates, syrups and finished beverages across a broad portfolio of brands. Its product range spans sparkling soft drinks, bottled water, sports drinks, juices, ready‑to‑drink teas and coffees, and other still beverages, marketed under both global and regional brand names.
Coca‑Cola’s brand portfolio includes widely recognized names such as Coca‑Cola, Diet Coke, Coca‑Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite, Fanta, Minute Maid, Powerade and Dasani, and in recent years the company has expanded into the coffee and premium beverage categories through acquisitions such as Costa Coffee.
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Coca-Cola kvůli ransomware útoku dočasně zastavila výrobu Fairlife v USA; akcie v pátek klesly asi o 4 %. Firma uvedla, že kvalita ani bezpečnost produktů nebyly zasaženy.
Coca-Cola (KO +0.69%) disclosed Thursday that a ransomware attack forced it to temporarily suspend U.S. production at Fairlife, its fast-growing dairy business, and the stock fell about 4% on Friday. For dividend investors, this looks like an operational headache -- not a threat to the payout.
Here's what happened. Fairlife identified unauthorized third-party access to portions of its systems, including production-related systems. The company halted U.S. production while it investigates with outside cybersecurity experts, though its Canadian operations continue unaffected. "Product quality and safety have not been impacted," Coca-Cola said in its press release about the incident. The full scope of the attack, the company acknowledged, is not yet known.
Image source: Getty Images.
How big is the hole? Fairlife matters more than a dairy brand might suggest. Its ultra-filtered milk and Core Power protein shakes have grown into a business that generated about $4 billion in retail sales in 2024, making it one of Coca-Cola's biggest growth stories of the past decade.
But scale is the key context here. Coca-Cola generated $12.5 billion of revenue in the first quarter alone. Even if U.S. Fairlife production stays offline for several weeks, the direct hit to Coca-Cola would be a small fraction of one quarter's revenue.
The dividend, meanwhile, rests on a much wider base. Coca-Cola raised its payout for a 64th consecutive year in February, lifting the quarterly dividend about 4% to $0.53 per share, and it paid shareholders $8.8 billion in dividends in 2025. At the current share price, the dividend stock yields about 2.6%. And the company generates the cash to back the payout -- management expects about $12.2 billion of free cash flow this year.
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The business also entered this mess with momentum. First-quarter organic revenue grew 10% year over year, and comparable earnings per share climbed 18% to $0.86.
The real checkpoint comes soon. Coca-Cola reports second-quarter results before the market opens on Tuesday, July 28. Expect management to address the attack directly -- how long production could stay down, what recovery will cost, and any change to the full-year outlook. That last item matters most.
Of course, ransomware is a legitimate operational risk, and shutdowns like this one can drag on longer than companies first expect. A prolonged outage would likely hand market share to rival dairy brands and take some shine off one of Coca-Cola's best growers.
But a six-decade dividend streak doesn't hinge on one brand's production line. Unless the July 28 report reveals damage far beyond what the company has described, the income case for Coca-Cola looks intact -- cyberattack and all.
Coca-Cola v roce 2026 čeká vyrovnanější příspěvek cen a objemů k růstu a potvrdila výhled organického růstu tržeb. Firma zároveň sází na dostupnější balení a cílené ceny, aby udržela poptávku.
Key Takeaways Coca-Cola expects pricing and volume to contribute more evenly to growth throughout 2026.Affordability packs and tailored pricing aim to preserve demand among value-conscious consumers.Revenue growth management and productivity initiatives support margins amid commodity inflation. The Coca-Cola Company's (KO - Free Report) pricing power remains an important growth driver. Still, the company's strategy has clearly evolved from relying primarily on price increases to pursuing a more balanced combination of pricing, affordability and volume growth. Management has emphasized that sustainable top-line expansion depends on maintaining equilibrium between pricing actions and consumer demand rather than maximizing price realization alone.
In the first quarter of 2026, Coca-Cola generated price/mix growth primarily through pricing actions, while offsetting some of that benefit with affordability initiatives and favorable package architecture. Management acknowledged that lower-income consumers continue to face economic pressure and highlighted its focus on offering attractive entry-price packs, multi-serve formats and value offerings across key markets. Rather than sacrificing volumes to protect pricing, Coca-Cola is using sophisticated revenue growth management capabilities to tailor pricing strategies by geography, channel and consumer segment.
Management stressed that pricing remains fully embedded within the company's long-term growth algorithm, but not at the expense of consumer relevance. The company expects pricing and volume to contribute more evenly throughout 2026, with quarterly fluctuations depending on market conditions. This balanced approach reflects Coca-Cola's confidence that its strong brand portfolio, localized execution and digital capabilities allow it to protect margins while preserving demand.
The company also reiterated that its revenue growth management architecture continues to provide a strong foundation for sustaining margins despite commodity inflation. Combined with productivity initiatives and targeted commercial investments, Coca-Cola believes that it can continue navigating macroeconomic uncertainty while maintaining healthy profitability. Management reaffirmed its 2026 organic revenue growth guidance and expressed confidence that balanced pricing, affordability initiatives and consistent volume gains will continue driving durable growth throughout 2026.
Is Pricing Power Driving Growth for PEP & MNST?Like Coca-Cola, pricing power has long been a defining strength for PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) and Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST - Free Report) , but as consumers become more value-conscious in 2026.
PepsiCo's pricing power remains an important contributor to growth, but the company is increasingly relying on a balanced strategy that combines effective net pricing with volume expansion and affordability initiatives. Management highlighted that organic revenue growth benefited from pricing while also emphasizing investments in price-pack architecture, value offerings and portfolio innovation to support demand amid tightening consumer budgets. This shift suggests PepsiCo is prioritizing sustainable, volume-led growth rather than depending solely on price increases to drive performance.
Monster Beverage's pricing power remains an important growth lever, but it is complemented by strong category demand, innovation and disciplined revenue growth management. Management noted that pricing actions implemented in late 2025 are performing as expected, with the resilient energy drink category continuing to support volume and revenue growth. The company also continues evaluating selective pricing opportunities while balancing consumer demand, retailer response and category health.
Zacks Rundown for Coca-ColaKO shares have rallied 16.7% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s growth of 11.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Coca-Cola is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.11X, higher than the industry’s 19.04X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 8.7% and 6.8%, respectively. Earnings estimates for 2026 and 2027 have been unchanged in the past seven days.
Coca-Cola má 28. července zveřejnit výsledky za 2. čtvrtletí; trh očekává EPS 93 centů a tržby 13,15 miliardy USD. Akcie jsou nyní o 0,47 % níže na 81,94 USD.
Coca-Cola stock is trading at depressed levels. Where are KO shares going? Earnings Preview & HistoryCoca-Cola is scheduled to report second-quarter earnings on July 28. The company is expected to report earnings per share of 93 cents along with revenue of $13.15 billion. For the prior quarter, Coca-Cola reported earnings per share of 86 cents, beating the consensus estimate of 81 cents. The company also posted revenue of $12.47 billion, exceeding the consensus estimate of $12.25 billion.
Coca-Cola has beaten EPS estimates in eight consecutive quarters. Over the last four quarters, the company has averaged an EPS surprise of 0.05% and a revenue surprise of 0.01%.
Analyst Consensus & Recent ActionsThe stock carries a Buy rating with an average price target of $89.92. Recent analyst moves include:
UBS: Buy (Raises Target to $98.00) (July 16) Citigroup: Buy (Raises Target to $97.00) (July 14) B of A Securities: Buy (Raises Target to $95.00) (July 10) A Bullish Trend Taking a BreatherCoca-Cola is trading 0.9% below its 20-day SMA ($82.25), a spot that often acts like a "line in the sand" for short-term trend traders when a stock has been grinding higher. At the same time, it’s still 0.5% above the 50-day SMA ($81.06) and 8.4% above the 200-day SMA ($75.17), keeping the bigger-picture uptrend intact.
Momentum is best framed through RSI, which is at 48.38—basically neutral and consistent with a stock that’s digesting gains rather than breaking down. RSI measures how stretched a move is, and a reading near 50 typically signals a market that’s deciding between continuation and consolidation.
The longer-term trend backdrop remains constructive: the 20-day SMA is above the 50-day SMA (bullish), and the 50-day SMA is above the 200-day SMA—confirming the golden cross that occurred in December 2025. That matters because it often keeps "buy-the-dip" interest alive on pullbacks toward intermediate support.
Key Resistance: $84.00 — a clean round-number area near the upper end of the recent range, where rebounds can stall before retesting the $85.68 52-week high Key Support: $76.50 — a nearby floor that lines up with a prior demand zone and sits not far above the 200-day moving-average area ($75–$76) Benzinga Edge RankingsBelow is the Benzinga Edge scorecard for Coca-Cola, highlighting its strengths and weaknesses compared to the broader market:
The Verdict: Coca-Cola’s Benzinga Edge signal reveals a quality-and-growth-leaning profile with decent momentum, but a valuation that leaves less room for error. For longer-term bulls, that often shifts the focus to holding key supports and delivering clean earnings rather than chasing strength into resistance.
Coca-Cola Shares Trade FlatKO Price Action: At the time of publication, Coca-Cola shares are trading 0.47% lower at $81.94, according to data from Benzinga Pro.
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This content was partially produced with the help of AI tools and was reviewed and published by Benzinga editors.
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Coca-Cola při posledním uzavření klesla o 3,96 % na 81,56 USD, tedy výrazně víc než S&P 500, který ztratil 1,01 %. Investoři čekají na hospodářské výsledky 28. července 2026.
In the latest close session, Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) was down 3.96% at $81.56. This change lagged the S&P 500's daily loss of 1.01%. At the same time, the Dow lost 0.77%, and the tech-heavy Nasdaq lost 1.4%.
The world's largest beverage maker's stock has climbed by 6.97% in the past month, exceeding the Consumer Staples sector's gain of 1.62% and the S&P 500's gain of 0.32%.
Market participants will be closely following the financial results of Coca-Cola in its upcoming release. The company plans to announce its earnings on July 28, 2026. It is anticipated that the company will report an EPS of $0.92, marking a 5.75% rise compared to the same quarter of the previous year. In the meantime, our current consensus estimate forecasts the revenue to be $13.05 billion, indicating a 4.15% growth compared to the corresponding quarter of the prior year.
For the full year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates project earnings of $3.26 per share and a revenue of $49.29 billion, demonstrating changes of +8.67% and +2.92%, respectively, from the preceding year.
Investors should also note any recent changes to analyst estimates for Coca-Cola. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Research indicates that these estimate revisions are directly correlated with near-term share price momentum. Investors can capitalize on this by using the Zacks Rank. This model considers these estimate changes and provides a simple, actionable rating system.
The Zacks Rank system, running from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), holds an admirable track record of superior performance, independently audited, with #1 stocks contributing an average annual return of +25% since 1988. Over the last 30 days, the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate has witnessed an unchanged state. Right now, Coca-Cola possesses a Zacks Rank of #3 (Hold).
Digging into valuation, Coca-Cola currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 26.04. This signifies a premium in comparison to the average Forward P/E of 20.46 for its industry.
One should further note that KO currently holds a PEG ratio of 3.39. This metric is used similarly to the famous P/E ratio, but the PEG ratio also takes into account the stock's expected earnings growth rate. As the market closed yesterday, the Beverages - Soft drinks industry was having an average PEG ratio of 2.24.
The Beverages - Soft drinks industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. With its current Zacks Industry Rank of 78, this industry ranks in the top 32% of all industries, numbering over 250.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
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Coca-Cola uvedla, že fairlife čelí neoprávněnému přístupu do části systémů kvůli ransomwarovému útoku a dočasně zastavila výrobu v USA. Kvalita a bezpečnost produktů podle firmy zasaženy nebyly.
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Company today announced that fairlife, LLC, a dairy company owned by Coca-Cola, identified unauthorized access by a third party to a portion of its systems, including its production-related systems, in connection with a ransomware event.
After detecting the issue, the company promptly activated its incident response and business continuity protocols. The company’s investigation and assessment of the impact of the incident is ongoing, with the assistance of outside advisors and cybersecurity experts. The company has also notified law enforcement. The full scope, nature and impacts of the incident are not yet known.
Product quality and safety have not been impacted. However, as a result of the incident, production operations at fairlife in the United States are temporarily suspended. fairlife’s Canada production operations are not currently impacted.
The company is working diligently to complete the investigation and restore the systems and impacted operations.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and Santa Clara. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Forward-Looking Statements
This document includes “forward-looking statements” within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. Generally, the words “believe,” “opportunity,” “ahead,” “expect,” “intend,” “estimate,” “anticipate,” “project,” “will” and similar expressions identify forward-looking statements, which generally are not historical in nature. All statements other than historical facts are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on management’s current beliefs, assumptions, and expectations regarding future events, which in turn are based on information currently available. Such statements may relate to The Coca-Cola Company’s investigation of and remediation efforts related to the cyber incident; the current understanding regarding the extent of the incident; the scope of systems, data or other technology that was accessed by the unauthorized third party and the impacts of the incident; the disruption to business operations; and the impact of the cyber incident on the Company including our financial condition and results of operations, among other matters. We caution you not to place undue reliance on any such forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements do not guarantee future outcomes and involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors discussed in detail in our filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission (“SEC”), including our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended December 31, 2025, and our subsequently filed Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q, which are available from the SEC. The Coca-Cola Company undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by law.
These days, investors have valid concerns about the stock market's valuation. The ongoing artificial intelligence boom also adds fears about possible disruption. It doesn't help that the broader economy is characterized by heightened uncertainty.
This supports the view that it's time for investors to consider opportunities that generate consistent income. If this sounds like the approach you're interested in, look at Coca-Cola (KO 0.76%).
This Dividend King stock yields 2.55%, more than double the yield of the S&P 500 index, and it just raised its dividend for the 64th straight year.
Image source: Getty Images.
Showing a firm commitment to shareholders In February of this year, Coca-Cola's board of directors gave investors a reason to cheer. The business hiked its quarterly dividend payout 4% to $0.53. This is the 64th consecutive year that such a move was made. That shows an incredible commitment to the company's shareholders.
Since the start of 2010, Coca-Cola has returned almost $102 billion to investors via dividend payments. This equals 28% of the current market cap.
If a business is able to build a monster streak like this one, it's a clear sign of its consistency and staying power. Coca-Cola has stood the test of time, operating through numerous periods of uncertainty, including wars, recessions, and technology cycles, only to continue its success. Investors have every reason to be confident that this business will still be dominating the beverage market a century from now.
Coca-Cola's impressive profits also virtually eliminate the risk of the dividend being suspended. In the past decade, the company has reported an average quarterly operating margin of 26.9%. It generates sizable cash flow, giving it the financial horsepower to continue returning capital to shareholders. Not even the black swan event of the pandemic that derailed the global economy in 2020 disrupted Coca-Cola's ability to pay its dividend.
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Set the right expectations You've now decided that adding Coca-Cola to your portfolio is the right move. This is a safe stock to buy and hold. It will certainly provide valuable peace of mind.
However, it's important for investors to set the right expectations. Coca-Cola's shares are unlikely to beat the market over the long term. In the past decade, the beverage giant produced a total return of 152%, meaningfully lagging the S&P 500 index. There's no reason to believe the future will be any different.
That's because Coca-Cola is an extremely mature company. It essentially has universal adoption, as it's in more than 200 countries and territories. This naturally limits growth potential.
Don't be discouraged, though. This is a competitively advantaged, predictable, and highly stable business that dividend investors can own with confidence.
Coca-Cola zvýšila čtvrtletní dividendu o zhruba 4 % na 53 centů na akcii v únoru a letos vyplácí už 64. rokem v řadě více. Akcie jsou jen 3,8 % pod rekordem a obchodují se za téměř 26násobek trailing earnings.
One of Wall Street’s most dependable income stocks has quietly become a market outperformer trading close to a record high.
Its dividend yield is roughly twice that of the broader market, while its payout has increased every year for more than six decades.
The company is Coca-Cola NYSE:KO. Investors have embraced its defensive demand, pricing power and dependable cash returns during an uncertain economic period.
Yet after the shares closed at $82.45 on Wednesday, only 3.8% below their July 7 record, even bullish analysts are divided over how much upside remains.
A 64-year payout streak is only part of the storyCoca-Cola raised its quarterly dividend by about 4% in February, from 51 cents to 53 cents per share.
That marked its 64th consecutive annual increase and lifted the annualised payout to $2.12. At Wednesday’s close, the shares yielded about 2.6%.
The attraction extends beyond income. First-quarter net revenue increased 12% to $12.5 billion, organic revenue advanced 10% and global unit-case volume rose 3%.
Those figures suggest the dividend is being supported by continuing business growth rather than borrowing or financial engineering.
Coca-Cola also enjoys structural advantages few consumer companies can match.
Its brands have global recognition, management can adjust prices and package sizes across markets, and independent bottlers handle much of the capital-intensive production and distribution.
That asset-light structure helps explain why investors have favoured the company during economic uncertainty.
Consumers may postpone expensive purchases, but relatively inexpensive drinks remain accessible, giving Coca-Cola a defensive quality that many cyclical businesses lack.
Citigroup analyst Filippo Falorni delivered the most aggressive recent call on July 14, raising his Coca-Cola price target to $97 from $91 while retaining a Buy rating.
The target implies that Citi believes resilient earnings and brand momentum can justify a further valuation premium.
JPMorgan analyst Andrea Faria Teixeira is also positive, but more measured. She raised her target to $90 from $85 on July 10 and maintained an Overweight rating.
Bank of America analyst Peter Galbo has maintained a Buy rating and a $95 target.
The bank sees the FIFA World Cup as a useful near-term catalyst because the tournament creates repeated beverage-consumption occasions across homes, bars and restaurants, while giving Coca-Cola an unusually broad global marketing platform.
The tournament may support volumes and brand visibility, but it is temporary.
The longer-term case still depends on Coca-Cola protecting demand as consumers become more selective and input costs remain unpredictable.
Coca-Cola now trades at nearly 26 times trailing earnings, a demanding multiple for a mature consumer-staples company.
Its Wednesday's close was also only a few dollars below the record $85.68 reached earlier this month.
Bernstein SocGen provides the clearest cautious counterpoint.
The firm cut its target to $83 from $84 and kept a Market Perform rating, citing an uneven consumer environment, affordability spending, Mexican tax pressures and the possibility that elevated aluminium costs could weigh on bottlers in 2027 and 2028.
The broader analyst picture reinforces that tension.
Twenty-five analysts tracked by Stock Analysis carry an average target of $86.85, implying only about 5% upside, despite an overall Buy consensus.
Coca-Cola reports second-quarter results on July 28. Investors will watch organic sales, volumes, North American demand, commodity costs and World Cup-related commentary.
Coca-Cola mění digitální nástroje v klíčovou součást zapojení zákazníků a propojuje obaly s interaktivními zážitky i daty o nákupním chování. Data zároveň řídí inovace, cílený marketing a lokální kampaně napříč značkami.
Key Takeaways Coca-Cola is making digital capabilities core pillars of its consumer engagement strategy.Connected packaging links interactive experiences with insights, purchases and retailer campaigns.Consumer data guides innovation, targeted marketing and localized campaigns across global brands. The Coca-Cola Company's (KO - Free Report) digital transformation is evolving from a marketing support tool into a core pillar of its consumer engagement strategy. In first-quarter 2026, management repeatedly emphasized that digital capabilities are helping the company become more consumer-centric by delivering greater precision in how it reaches, understands and serves consumers. Rather than relying on broad campaigns, Coca-Cola is using data, personalization and connected experiences to strengthen engagement and encourage repeat purchases.
A key element of this strategy is connected packaging. Through the FIFA World Cup Trophy Tour campaign, consumers can scan Coca-Cola packages to access interactive experiences, games, music, ticket giveaways and personalized content. Beyond driving engagement, these interactions provide valuable consumer insights that help Coca-Cola tailor future campaigns and product offerings more effectively. Management believes that this creates a direct link between brand engagement and purchase behavior while strengthening retailer partnerships through transaction-focused campaigns.
Digital capabilities also complement Coca-Cola's broader "4 I's" framework of insights, innovation, intimacy and integrated execution. Consumer data is shaping product innovation, such as the launch of Coca-Cola Zero Zero in Europe after identifying that many consumers seek caffeine-free beverages during evening occasions. The company is pairing these insights with targeted packaging, pricing and marketing to improve trial and repeat purchases. Similar localized digital campaigns support Sprite, Fuze Tea and regional brands across the global markets.
Importantly, Coca-Cola is embedding digital engagement across its distribution network rather than limiting it to marketing. Management noted that digital tools are helping connect consumers, retailers and bottling partners while improving execution at scale. As Coca-Cola continues integrating personalized experiences with its extensive global reach, its digital investments could deepen consumer relationships, improve campaign effectiveness and create a stronger platform for sustained long-term engagement.
Is Digital Push Driving Growth for PEP & MNST?Digital engagement is becoming a key competitive battleground in the beverage industry, prompting investors to assess whether PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) and Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST - Free Report) are converting technology investments into stronger consumer growth.
PepsiCo is strengthening consumer engagement by combining digital activation with major global partnerships and personalized brand experiences. The company plans to leverage its FIFA, UEFA Champions League and Formula 1 sponsorships to create incremental consumer occasions, while expanding engagement through customized communications tailored to local markets and celebrations. It is also increasing consumer interactions around the 2026 FIFA World Cup, reinforcing digital and experiential marketing as key drivers of brand relevance and long-term growth.
Monster Beverage is using digital transformation primarily to strengthen its commercial and operational capabilities while supporting consumer engagement through expanding e-commerce and innovation. The company reported record monthly sales at a key online retailer in March and said that it is modernizing enterprise platforms, commercial operations and supply chains through its digital transformation initiative, including an SAP S/4HANA upgrade. These efforts aim to enhance execution, improve consumer reach and support long-term growth.
Zacks Rundown for Coca-ColaKO shares have rallied 19.4% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s growth of 12.5%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Coca-Cola is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.69X, higher than the industry’s 19.25X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 8.7% and 6.9%, respectively. Earnings estimates for both 2026 and 2027 have been unchanged in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Coca-Cola currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE:KO) is expected to deliver a solid second quarter performance, with analysts at Jefferies and Bank of America highlighting resilient demand, steady volume trends and the company’s ability to navigate ongoing cost and macroeconomic pressures.
Jefferies analysts wrote that they expect Coca-Cola to report stronger organic sales growth and a modest earnings beat for the quarter, forecasting organic sales growth of 3.9%, above the Street estimate of 3.5%.
The firm expects adjusted earnings per share of $0.94, slightly ahead of consensus of $0.93 and representing 8.5% year-over-year growth.
The analysts wrote that Coca-Cola is likely to reiterate its full-year guidance for 4% to 5% organic sales growth and 8% to 9% earnings per share growth, citing strong visibility into the company’s sales and cost outlook for the remainder of 2026.
Jefferies said investor attention will likely focus on any commentary around potential sales and margin impacts from the ongoing Middle East conflict, particularly within the company’s Europe, Middle East and Africa segment, as well as foreign exchange headwinds.
The firm lowered its second quarter organic sales growth estimate from 5.1% to better reflect concentrate sales timing, now modelling 1.6% growth in concentrate sales while expecting unit case volumes to trail by “a couple points” during the period.
For the full year, Jefferies kept its estimates largely unchanged, forecasting 5% organic sales growth, modest gross margin expansion and earnings per share of $3.28, up 9.2% year over year.
The analysts highlighted Coca-Cola’s core soft drinks portfolio and Fairlife contribution as supporting its longer-term growth outlook, writing that positive volumes, resilient earnings growth and improving returns on invested capital reinforce its view that Coca-Cola remains a quality consumer staples name.
Bank of America analysts also maintained a positive outlook ahead of Coca-Cola’s second quarter earnings report, estimating total company unit case volume growth of 2.0% year over year, broadly in line with Visible Alpha consensus of 2.2%.
The analysts wrote that Coca-Cola continues to benefit from resilient demand, limited inflation exposure due to its asset-light business model and balance sheet flexibility.
Bank of America reiterated its ‘Buy’ rating and raised its price objective to $95 from $90, above current levels of about $83, based on a higher valuation multiple of 27 times estimated 2027 earnings per share.
Bank of America’s regional analysis showed improved expectations in Europe, the Middle East and Africa and Asia Pacific offsetting weaker trends in Latin America. The firm lowered its Latin America unit case volume forecast to 1.4% growth from 2.9%, reflecting softer expectations for Mexico, while raising its EMEA estimate to 2.3% growth from 1.3% and Asia Pacific estimate to 2.9% growth from 2.4%, supported by stronger expectations for Japan.
Coca-Cola will report its Q2 earnings on July 28 before the market opens.
In the latest close session, Coca-Cola (KO - Free Report) was down 1.02% at $82.55. The stock fell short of the S&P 500, which registered a gain of 0.81% for the day. Meanwhile, the Dow gained 0.27%, and the Nasdaq, a tech-heavy index, added 1.3%.
Coming into today, shares of the world's largest beverage maker had lost 0.23% in the past month. In that same time, the Consumer Staples sector gained 3.31%, while the S&P 500 gained 1.13%.
The investment community will be closely monitoring the performance of Coca-Cola in its forthcoming earnings report. The company is scheduled to release its earnings on July 28, 2026. In that report, analysts expect Coca-Cola to post earnings of $0.92 per share. This would mark year-over-year growth of 5.75%. Our most recent consensus estimate is calling for quarterly revenue of $13.05 billion, up 4.15% from the year-ago period.
For the entire fiscal year, the Zacks Consensus Estimates are projecting earnings of $3.26 per share and a revenue of $49.33 billion, representing changes of +8.67% and +3%, respectively, from the prior year.
Investors should also take note of any recent adjustments to analyst estimates for Coca-Cola. Recent revisions tend to reflect the latest near-term business trends. Consequently, upward revisions in estimates express analysts' positivity towards the business operations and its ability to generate profits.
Our research reveals that these estimate alterations are directly linked with the stock price performance in the near future. We developed the Zacks Rank to capitalize on this phenomenon. Our system takes these estimate changes into account and delivers a clear, actionable rating model.
The Zacks Rank system, ranging from #1 (Strong Buy) to #5 (Strong Sell), possesses a remarkable history of outdoing, externally audited, with #1 stocks returning an average annual gain of +25% since 1988. Over the past month, there's been no change in the Zacks Consensus EPS estimate. Coca-Cola currently has a Zacks Rank of #2 (Buy).
Digging into valuation, Coca-Cola currently has a Forward P/E ratio of 25.57. This valuation marks a premium compared to its industry average Forward P/E of 20.33.
We can additionally observe that KO currently boasts a PEG ratio of 3.33. The PEG ratio is akin to the commonly utilized P/E ratio, but this measure also incorporates the company's anticipated earnings growth rate. The Beverages - Soft drinks industry currently had an average PEG ratio of 2.17 as of yesterday's close.
The Beverages - Soft drinks industry is part of the Consumer Staples sector. At present, this industry carries a Zacks Industry Rank of 108, placing it within the top 44% of over 250 industries.
The strength of our individual industry groups is measured by the Zacks Industry Rank, which is calculated based on the average Zacks Rank of the individual stocks within these groups. Our research shows that the top 50% rated industries outperform the bottom half by a factor of 2 to 1.
Be sure to use Zacks.com to monitor all these stock-influencing metrics, and more, throughout the forthcoming trading sessions.
These are bubbly days for Coca-Cola (KO 0.26%). Shares of the pop star hit another all-time high this week. With a carbonated stock chart, this might seem to be the worst time to warm up to the chilly refreshment provider. It's not.
From the syrupy sweet cadence of dividend hikes to what should be another modest earnings beat later this month, Coca-Cola has earned its upticks. With its generational appeal across a broad range of beverage categories, this could be a great month to consider owning a piece of this iconic brand. Let's take a closer look at some of the reasons why Coca-Cola is worth buying, even with the stock trading higher than ever right now.
Image source: Getty Images.
1. It's a recession-resistant winner This is an interesting time to be in the market. Investors woke up on Wednesday to news that the ceasefire in Iran has been called off, sending crude oil prices higher and stock prices -- initially -- lower. The possibility of inflationary-battling rate hikes later this year is starting to feel more like a probability. Consumer sentiment is dragging near a historic multi-year low.
It's against this backdrop that Coca-Cola is often at its best. It's a high-margin business doling out a liquid escape for pocket change. The beverage stock provides a creature comfort at an uncomfortable time for market creatures.
Coca-Cola doesn't deliver monster growth. The stock isn't cheap. However, what it consistently pours out is stability. Its five-year beta of 0.35 implies that Coca-Cola has had a little more than a third of the volatility of the general market over the past several years. Zoom in, and its one-year beta is roughly zero. Coca-Cola marches to its own sugary beat. If you're worried about the market right now, a perpetual low-beta name could be a thirst quencher for your portfolio.
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2. Dividend, we stan Coca-Cola stock is a money machine. All it does is sell high-margin syrup and bottling rights to local distributions that bear the grunt work of production and fulfillment. Its trailing net margin of 27.8% -- meaning that nearly $0.28 of every dollar in revenue makes it to the bottom line after taxes -- is at a 15-year high.
Longtime investors know about the timeless, perpetual growth of Coca-Cola, even if they aren't as avid followers of its financials as you and I. They see it in their quarterly dividend checks, which keep getting higher with every passing year.
Coca-Cola's current yield of 2.5% might not compete with a high-yielding money market fund, but it's almost certain to keep increasing over time. Coca-Cola has delivered 64 consecutive years of hikes, one of just dozens of Dividend King stocks. These aren't tiny hikes, either. Coca-Cola's dividend rate has more than doubled over the past 14 years.
3. And the beats keep coming If you need one final reason to own Coca-Cola this month, you may want to circle July 28 on your calendar. Coca-Cola will announce its second-quarter results that morning. Earnings season is often a time for investors to brace for volatility, but it's already established that Coca-Cola -- while not a risk-free investment -- has historically been less volatile than the market.
Coca-Cola's full-year guidance announced back in April calls for adjusted organic revenue growth of 4% to 5% for all of 2026. Adjusted earnings per share should clock in slightly higher. Analysts see that playing out in the second quarter later this month, with revenue rising 4% to $13.1 billion and adjusted earnings per share climbing 7% to $0.93.
It's a fair bet that the bottom line will come in a couple of pennies above that. Just see how reality has consistently exceeded expectations for more than two years.
The beats on the bottom line have been positive but modest. Its latest quarter's beat of 6% may not seem like a lot, but it's a two-year high. It's just one more way that Coca-Cola is consistent heading into what should be a topsy-turvy earnings season for many investors. Coca-Cola's all-weather appeal and a steady beat of dividend hikes every February and earnings beats every quarter should continue to serve shareholders well.
Coca-Cola letos vzrostla téměř o 20 % a před zveřejněním výsledků za 2. čtvrtletí se obchoduje za 26násobek zisku. Článek varuje, že při této valuaci může být akcie příliš drahá.
Shares of Coca-Cola (KO 1.40%) have been on a tear this year, rising by nearly 20% thus far. The stock hit a new all-time high on Monday as investors continue to load up on the beverage giant.
The stock's valuation is high, and the company reports its second-quarter earnings later this month, on July 28. Is the stock a good buy before it posts its latest numbers, or has it gotten too expensive?
Image source: Getty Images.
The company's growth has been impressive, but it comes with an asterisk Coca-Cola's recent results have been encouraging, with the company's growth rate accelerating and even getting back into double digits. The improved numbers may, however, have set an elevated bar for the beverage company leading into its upcoming earnings report.
While Coca-Cola's net revenue rose by 12% during the first three months of 2026, investors also shouldn't forget that they were down 2% a year earlier. Thus, the company was going up against some soft comparables, which can sometimes paint a bit of a misleading picture as to how well the business is truly doing. However, with the second quarter of 2025 also being an underwhelming period where sales were up by just 1%, it may not be all that surprising if Coca-Cola shows another strong quarter of growth when it posts its latest numbers this month.
The trouble is that Coca-Cola is not what you'd consider to be a top growth stock, yet it has been trading like one of late.
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Coca-Cola's high valuation highlights risks for investors Coca-Cola has a fantastic business, and it generates terrific margins, but that doesn't mean that it's worth paying a big premium for. But with it trading at 26 times its trailing earnings, that's arguably what investors who buy the stock today are doing. This is even higher than the 25 times earnings that the average stock in the S&P 500 trades at.
Another downside of buying the stock at its high is that its dividend yield has fallen to just 2.5%. At that level, there are many other dividend stocks to choose from that may offer comparable yields, have more long-term growth potential, and are more reasonably valued.
There's nothing wrong with Coca-Cola as a business, but the stock is arguably far too expensive to be a good buy at its current levels. And unless the company completely blows past earnings expectations in the current quarter, I wouldn't be surprised to see the stock fall after it posts its latest numbers.
Coca-Cola v 1. čtvrtletí 2026 zvýšila globální objem jednotkových případů o 3 %, přičemž Severní Amerika rostla o 4 %. Vývoj na mezinárodních trzích byl smíšený, zejména v Mexiku, Argentině, Eurasii, na Blízkém východě a v Asii a Tichomoří.
Key Takeaways Coca-Cola posted 3% global unit case volume growth, with every operating segment growing volumes.North America volume rose 4% as Trademark Coca-Cola, Fanta, BODYARMOR and other brands grew.International trends were mixed, with soft Mexico, Argentina, Eurasia, the Middle East and the Asia Pacific. The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) delivered 3% global unit case volume growth in the first quarter of 2026, with every operating segment posting positive volume growth despite an uneven consumer and macroeconomic backdrop. However, the regional performance revealed a notable contrast. North America emerged as one of the strongest contributors, while some international markets continued to face localized pressures, raising the question of whether the company’s domestic momentum can sufficiently offset global softness.
North America reported 4% volume growth, benefiting partly from an easier year-over-year comparison but also from broad-based demand across the beverage portfolio. Trademark Coca-Cola, Fanta, FRESCA, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Dasani, smartwater and Minute Maid all recorded volume growth. Innovation also supported demand through products such as Coca-Cola Cherry Float, Diet Coke Cherry, POWERADE Power Water and the expansion of mini cans into convenience stores. The company gained both volume and value share while growing revenues and profit in the region, underscoring healthy execution beyond favorable comparisons.
Outside North America, the picture was more mixed. Latin America benefited from strong performances in Brazil and Central America, which offset declines in Mexico and Argentina. EMEA delivered overall volume growth, although volumes in Eurasia and the Middle East weakened in March following the onset of regional conflict. The Asia Pacific also posted volume growth across all operating units despite difficult comparisons, but profitability was pressured by commodity inflation in tea and coffee, and inventory cost timing.
Management remains focused on maintaining balanced global growth through affordability initiatives, consumer-centric innovation and localized execution rather than relying on any single geography. North America has provided an important source of strength, but sustained global momentum will likely depend on improving conditions across international markets while preserving the company’s broad-based volume gains.
KO vs. PEP & MNST: How is North America Business Performing?Like Coca-Cola, North America remains one of the most closely watched markets for PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) and Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST - Free Report) , with volume trends offering valuable insight into their competitive positioning.
PepsiCo’s North America business showed encouraging improvement in the first quarter of 2026, but it was not enough to fully offset softer trends across parts of its global portfolio. PepsiCo Foods North America returned to volume growth through affordability investments and innovation, while PepsiCo Beverages North America benefited from acquisitions despite a decline in organic beverage volume. Meanwhile, international markets continued to provide the company’s most consistent growth, extending a long streak of resilient organic revenue gains.
Monster Beverage's North America business delivered a strong start to 2026, with U.S. and Canada net sales rising 15.6% on healthy category demand, innovation and disciplined execution. However, unlike many global peers, Monster Beverage did not face broad international weakness. Instead, every geographic region posted double-digit sales growth, suggesting that North America's momentum complemented rather than offset the company's robust global expansion.
Zacks Rundown for Coca-ColaKO shares have gained 20.3% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s growth of 15.3%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Coca-Cola is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.92X, higher than the industry’s 19.72X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 8.7% and 6.9%, respectively. Earnings estimates for both 2026 and 2027 have been unchanged in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Coca-Cola currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Key Takeaways Coca-Cola gained value share for the 20th straight quarter with 3% volume growth across all segments.KO is driving growth through innovation, localized marketing and expanded retail distribution.Coca-Cola's 4 I's strategy combines insights, innovation, intimacy and execution to build loyalty. The Coca-Cola Company's (KO - Free Report) brand portfolio continues to be a powerful competitive advantage. However, management believes sustained market share gains depend on combining brand equity with consumer-centric execution rather than relying on brand recognition alone. The company extended its streak of overall value share gains to 20 consecutive quarters while delivering 3% volume growth across every operating segment despite a volatile macroeconomic backdrop.
Management highlighted that the company's strategy revolves around strengthening its flagship brands through consumer insights, innovation and localized execution. Trademark Coca-Cola led the industry in North American retail sales growth, supported by innovations such as Coca-Cola Cherry Float, Diet Coke Cherry and expanded mini-can offerings. In Europe, Coca-Cola Zero Zero, featuring zero sugar, zero caffeine and zero calories, generated strong trial and repeat purchases by addressing evening consumption occasions. Sprite and Fuze Tea also posted robust volume growth through localized flavors and marketing campaigns tailored to regional preferences.
Beyond product innovation, Coca-Cola is leveraging digital capabilities and its extensive distribution network to reinforce brand relevance. In the first quarter, the system added more than 600,000 retail outlets, expanded off-shelf displays by double digits and installed over 340,000 cold drink equipment units to improve visibility and capture impulse purchases. Interactive packaging linked to major events such as the FIFA World Cup is also helping deepen consumer engagement while generating data to personalize future marketing efforts.
Management emphasized that its $32 billion brand portfolio, combined with the "4 I's" strategy of insights, innovation, intimacy and integrated execution, is helping recruit new consumers and strengthen loyalty. The company's consistent share gains suggest that Coca-Cola's brand strength remains a critical growth driver, but its continued success increasingly depends on executing locally while leveraging its unmatched global scale.
KO vs PEP & KDP on Brand Strength & Market Share GrowthCoca-Cola's sustained market share gains underscore the strength of its brands, but PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) and Keurig Dr Pepper Inc. (KDP - Free Report) are also leveraging brand investments and innovation to defend and expand their positions.
PepsiCo believes brand strength remains central to sustaining market share growth, supported by investments in innovation, affordability and portfolio refreshes. In the first quarter of 2026, brands such as Gatorade, Propel, Pepsi Zero Sugar, Mountain Dew and Mug Root Beer gained value and volume share, while the company continued restaging iconic brands, expanding functional offerings and increasing consumer engagement. Management said these commercial initiatives are helping improve marketplace performance and strengthen long-term competitive positioning.
Keurig Dr Pepper continues to rely on brand strength, innovation and disciplined execution to expand market share. In the first quarter of 2026, Dr Pepper's core lineup gained share, Canada Dry benefited from successful Fruit Splash innovation, while GHOST, Bloom and Electrolit delivered strong momentum through distribution gains and consumer demand. Management also highlighted increased brand investment, precision marketing and innovation as key drivers supporting sustained growth across its beverage portfolio.
Zacks Rundown for Coca-ColaKO shares have gained 18.2% in the year-to-date period compared with the industry’s growth of 13.7%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, Coca-Cola is trading at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 24.5X, higher than the industry’s 19.44X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings implies year-over-year growth of 8.7% and 6.9%, respectively. Earnings estimates for both 2026 and 2027 have been unchanged in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Coca-Cola currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
The Coca-Cola Company oznámila změnu ve vedení severoamerické divize: Jennifer Mannová od 1. srpna odchází, dočasně ji převezme John Murphy. Mannová ve firmě zůstane do dubna 2027 jako seniorní poradkyně.
ATLANTA--(BUSINESS WIRE)--The Coca-Cola Company today announced that Jennifer Mann will step down from her role as EVP and President, North America Operating Unit effective Aug. 1, at which time John Murphy, President and Chief Financial Officer, will assume responsibility for the North America Operating Unit on an interim basis. Mann will stay with the company through April 2027 as senior advisor to ensure a smooth transition.
A successor for President, North America Operating Unit will be announced at a later date.
Mann began leading the company’s largest operating unit on Jan. 1, 2023, with a focus on accelerating growth as a purpose-driven total beverage company. Under her leadership, the North America Operating Unit has delivered strong revenue and profit growth.
“I am grateful to Jennifer for her tremendous contributions to The Coca-Cola Company as an operator and leader,” said Henrique Braun, CEO. “Her people-first legacy remains in the many high-performing teams she’s led across the Coca‑Cola business.”
About Jennifer Mann
Over her 29-year tenure with The Coca-Cola Company, Mann served in roles of increased responsibility spanning operations and customer leadership. From 2019 until leading North America, Mann was president of Global Ventures, including Costa Coffee and Coca‑Cola’s investment in Monster Beverage Corp. She served as SVP and chief people officer from 2017 until 2019. She was chief of staff for James Quincey, then President and Chief Operating Officer and later CEO, from 2015 to 2018.
From 2012 to 2015 as vice president and general manager of Coca‑Cola Freestyle, Mann accelerated its global expansion across the Coca‑Cola system. Additional prior roles include vice president, Foodservice & On-Premise Strategy and Marketing for Coca‑Cola Refreshments; director, McDonald's Customer & Consumer Operations and director, Good Answer. Mann joined Coca‑Cola in 1997 as a manager in the National Customer Support division of North America.
Mann serves on several board of directors including Verizon Communications, Inc., American Beverage Association, Boys & Girls Clubs of America, Coca‑Cola FEMSA, fairlife LLC, Morehouse College, and Ronald McDonald House Charities.
About The Coca-Cola Company
The Coca-Cola Company (NYSE: KO) is a total beverage company with products sold in more than 200 countries and territories. Our company’s purpose is to refresh the world and make a difference. We sell multiple billion-dollar brands across several beverage categories worldwide. Our portfolio of sparkling soft drink brands includes Coca-Cola, Sprite and Fanta. Our water, sports, coffee and tea brands include Dasani, smartwater, vitaminwater, Topo Chico, BODYARMOR, Powerade, Costa, Georgia, Fuze Tea, Gold Peak and Ayataka. Our juice, value-added dairy and plant-based beverage brands include Minute Maid, Simply, innocent, Del Valle, fairlife and Santa Clara. We’re constantly transforming our portfolio, from reducing sugar in our drinks to bringing innovative new products to market. We seek to positively impact people’s lives, communities and the planet through water replenishment, packaging recycling, sustainable sourcing practices and carbon emissions reductions across our value chain. Together with our bottling partners, we employ more than 700,000 people, helping bring economic opportunity to local communities worldwide. Learn more at www.coca-colacompany.com and follow us on Instagram, Facebook and LinkedIn.
Apple, Coca-Cola a Microsoft dál těží ze silných konkurenčních výhod a jejich dlouhodobý růst zůstává v centru pozornosti investorů. Apple i Microsoft navíc hlásily silné výsledky a Coca-Cola znovu zvýšila dividendu.
June is a natural moment for mid-year reflection. Short-term traders are squaring quarterly books, but long-term investors should be doing something different: stepping back to ask which businesses have already produced multi-decade compounding, and whether the moats that drove those returns are still intact today.
Past performance does not guarantee future returns; however, durable competitive advantages tend to persist, and the three names below have spent decades widening theirs.
Here are three generational compounders that have made patient shareholders rich, and that still look positioned to do it again.
Apple (NASDAQ: AAPL) Apple (NASDAQ:AAPL | AAPL Price Prediction) is the textbook example of a moat that keeps widening. The stock trades around $298 as of June 19, with a market cap of roughly $4.28 trillion. Over the trailing 10 years, shares are up more than 1,185%, and the stock is up 48% over the past year. Apple is also Warren Buffett’s largest equity position, sitting at about 22% of the Berkshire Hathaway portfolio per the Q1 2026 13F.
The bull case is the installed base and the recurring revenue that sits on top of it. In Q2 FY26, Apple reported EPS of $2.01 against a $1.94 estimate, on revenue of $111.18 billion, up 17% year over year. iPhone revenue jumped to $56.99 billion, Services hit $30.98 billion, and the active device base now exceeds 2.5 billion. Management lifted the dividend 4% to $0.27 quarterly and authorized a fresh $100 billion buyback. Analyst consensus is 63% bullish, with an average target of $312.72.
The caveat: valuation is full at 35x trailing earnings, and Apple remains exposed to global trade frictions and supply-chain concentration. A long-term holder is paying a premium for durability, and that premium is real.
Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) Coca-Cola (NYSE:KO) is the dividend-compounder benchmark. The shares trade around $80, up 15% year to date and 75% over the past decade on an adjusted basis. Coca-Cola has been a core Berkshire holding since the late 1980s, and the company just extended its dividend streak to 63-plus consecutive years of annual increases, putting it firmly in Dividend King territory.
The recent fundamentals back up the moat story. In Q1 2026, Coca-Cola posted EPS of $0.86 against an $0.81 estimate on revenue of $12.47 billion, up 12% year over year. Organic revenue grew 10%, unit case volume rose 3%, and Coca-Cola Zero Sugar volume climbed 13% across every geography. Operating margin expanded to 35% from 33%, and free cash flow surged to $1.76 billion. Management raised 2026 guidance to comparable EPS growth of 8% to 9% and free cash flow near $12.2 billion. The current quarterly dividend sits at $0.53, up from $0.51 in 2025.
The risk: a $960 million BODYARMOR trademark impairment last quarter, ongoing IRS tax litigation, and a roughly 4% revenue headwind from divestitures including the pending Coca-Cola Beverages Africa sale. None of those threaten the franchise; they do compress near-term reported growth.
Microsoft (NASDAQ: MSFT) Microsoft (NASDAQ:MSFT) is the third leg of this stool, and arguably the most interesting today because it has actually pulled back. Shares trade around $379, down 20% year to date and 21% over the past year, even though the 10-year return remains around 660%. Microsoft has compounded enormously since the early 1990s on a split-adjusted basis, and the AI/cloud cycle reads like the next chapter rather than the end of one.
The numbers are doing the talking. In Q3 FY26, Microsoft reported EPS of $4.27 against a $4.07 estimate on revenue of $82.89 billion, up 18% year over year. Intelligent Cloud revenue grew 30% to $34.68 billion, Azure expanded 40%, and the AI business crossed a $37 billion annualized run rate, up 123% year over year. Commercial remaining performance obligations, essentially contracted backlog, hit $627 billion. CEO Satya Nadella framed it bluntly: “Our AI business surpassed an annual revenue run rate of $37 billion, up 123% year-over-year.” Analyst consensus is 95% bullish with a target of $561.39.
The caveat: capital intensity. CapEx ran $30.88 billion in the quarter, up 84% year over year, and the market is openly debating whether AI infrastructure spending will earn an adequate return. That debate is the entire reason the stock is on sale.
What to Watch From Here The thread connecting Apple, Coca-Cola and Microsoft is a competitive position that survives recessions, technology shifts, and management changes. The next decade will test each moat in different ways: Apple against trade and regulatory pressure, Coca-Cola against shifting consumer preferences, Microsoft against the return-on-AI-investment question. For long-term investors thinking past June, those are the right questions to be asking.
Coca-Cola v 1. čtvrtletí zvýšila organické tržby o 10 % díky růstu objemu o 3 % a ceny/mixu o 2 %. Firma zároveň prodloužila sérii zisků z podílu na hodnotě na 20 čtvrtletí.
Key Takeaways Coca-Cola's Q1 organic revenues rose 10%, driven by a 3% unit case volume and 2% price/mix growth.Pricing actions added roughly four points to price/mix, partly offset by unfavorable mix in several markets.Coca-Cola delivered volume growth across all segments and extended value-share gains to 20 quarters. Pricing remains an important growth lever for The Coca-Cola Company (KO - Free Report) , but its revenue story is becoming increasingly balanced between pricing and volume gains. Organic revenues increased 10% in the first quarter of 2026, supported by a 3% rise in unit case volume and 2% price/mix growth. Management noted that pricing actions contributed roughly four percentage points to the price/mix, although this was partly offset by an unfavorable mix across several markets.
The company's ability to sustain pricing reflects the strength of its brands and sophisticated revenue growth management capabilities. Coca-Cola continues to adjust pricing, packaging and promotional strategies based on local market conditions while protecting consumer affordability. Management emphasized that affordability remains a key pillar of the company's growth strategy, particularly for lower-income consumers facing economic pressure. In North America, Coca-Cola expanded affordable single-serve and multi-serve offerings to retain consumers within its franchise rather than sacrificing volume.
Management expects a more balanced growth algorithm throughout 2026, with the volume and price/mix contributing relatively equally to the top-line expansion. While pricing remains embedded in Coca-Cola's strategy, the company is increasingly prioritizing consumer recruitment, market share gains and transaction growth. Management suggested that quarterly fluctuations may occur, but Coca-Cola remains committed to balancing volume growth with pricing initiatives.
The company's confidence is supported by strong brand momentum, innovation and market execution. Coca-Cola delivered volume growth across all operating segments and extended its streak of value-share gains to 20 consecutive quarters. As inflation, geopolitical uncertainty and consumer pressures persist, Coca-Cola's pricing power remains a competitive advantage. However, 2026 appears less about aggressive pricing and more about leveraging pricing alongside affordability, innovation and consumer-centric execution to sustain long-term revenue growth.
KO’s Peers: Is Pricing Power Also Driving Growth at PEP & MNST?Pricing has been a major growth engine for beverage companies in recent years, but as inflation moderates and consumers become more value-conscious, the key question is whether PepsiCo Inc. (PEP - Free Report) and Monster Beverage Corporation (MNST - Free Report) can still rely on pricing actions to drive revenue growth.
PepsiCo's pricing power remains an important contributor to growth in 2026, though the company is increasingly relying on a balanced mix of pricing, affordability initiatives and innovation. In first-quarter 2026, organic revenues rose 2.6%, supported by effective net pricing and modest volume gains, while management highlighted affordability investments and brand restaging efforts as key growth drivers. PepsiCo expects organic revenue growth of 2-4%, suggesting pricing remains a tailwind, but sustainable growth will also depend on volume recovery and continued consumer demand across its beverage and snack portfolios.
Monster Beverage's pricing power continues to support revenue growth in 2026, but it is working alongside strong category demand, innovation and international expansion. Management noted that pricing actions implemented in late 2025 are performing as expected, with modest inflationary pricing helping deliver volume and revenue growth. Pricing also partially offset higher aluminum and freight costs in the quarter. Looking ahead, Monster Beverage remains open to additional pricing opportunities while monitoring consumer resilience and category health, suggesting pricing remains an effective growth lever.
KO’s Price Performance, Valuation & EstimatesShares of Coca-Cola have risen 5.7% in the past three months compared with the industry’s return of 7.8%.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
From a valuation standpoint, KO trades at a forward price-to-earnings ratio of 23.57X compared with the industry’s average of 19.08X.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
The Zacks Consensus Estimate for KO’s 2026 and 2027 earnings per share implies year-over-year growth of 8.7% and 6.9%, respectively. Estimates for the aforesaid years have been unchanged in the past 30 days.
Image Source: Zacks Investment Research
Coca-Cola currently carries a Zacks Rank #2 (Buy). You can see the complete list of today’s Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here.
Coca-Cola and the IRS are heading to court with $20 billion on the line amid a years-long dispute over the beverage company's reporting of profits made in the U.S. and overseas.
The soda giant is taking its case to a federal appeals court in Miami as it looks to resolve a tax liability stemming from how Coca-Cola and its foreign subsidiaries disclosed profits from 2007 to 2009 using an accounting practice known as transfer pricing.
The case centers on an agreement between the company and the IRS from 1996 about how the company would report foreign profits, as Coca-Cola's U.S. corporation licenses its intellectual property – ranging from recipes, brand names and trademarks – to foreign subsidiaries that manufacture concentrates used to make its beverages for foreign markets.
Coca-Cola argues that it structured its operations to comply with the 1996 agreement using a "10-50-50" method that lets foreign suppliers keep 10% of the gross sales, with the U.S. parent company and foreign subsidiary splitting the remaining profits.
COCA-COLA SHUTTING DOWN CALIFORNIA FACILITY AFTER MORE THAN A CENTURY
Coca-Cola argues the IRS backtracked on an agreement it reached with the company in 1996. (Rachel Wolf/Fox News Digital)
"Far from seeking to evade its tax obligations, Coca-Cola carefully structured its operations to adhere to a method that the IRS had repeatedly blessed," the company said in a court filing, per The Wall Street Journal.
The outlet reported that the IRS counters that the 1996 agreement was retroactive to 1987 but didn't apply to future years, and that it only offered protection from penalties for the use of the 10-50-50 method as opposed to immunity.
The IRS said in its own filing that the "combination of two non-promises does not add up to a promise, as Coca-Cola wishes."
COCA-COLA'S YELLOW CAPS ARE BACK – WHAT THEY MEAN AND WHY THEY'RE COMPARED TO MEXICAN COKE
Ticker Security Last Change Change % KO THE COCA-COLA CO. 80.95 +0.65 +0.80% While the company's tax filings from 2007 to 2009 were the focus of the IRS' initial case, Coca-Cola has continued to use the accounting method as the legal dispute has played out.
The IRS prevailed over Coca-Cola in a Tax Court ruling in 2020, which resulted in the company paying $6 billion in taxes and interest as the judge ruled the parent company's deals with foreign subsidiaries were structured improperly to keep profits overseas in lower tax jurisdictions.
COCA-COLA OFFICIALLY ROLLS OUT CANE SUGAR SODA ACROSS US MARKETS FOLLOWING TRUMP'S URGING: REPORT
The IRS argues Coca-Cola's international accounting practices were flawed and not approved. (Kayla Bartkowski/Getty Images)
That money could go back to Coca-Cola with interest if the company prevails with its appeal, though it could face an even larger tax bill if it's defeated in court due to the ongoing use of the tool.
Coca-Cola would owe an estimated $14 billion in taxes and interest for the 2010 through 2025 tax years, bringing the total to $20 billion if it loses its appeal against the IRS.
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The Journal noted that the potential $14 billion liability could cause Coca-Cola to borrow to pay the IRS, as the amount exceeds the cash it has on hand – though analysts have said the company is emphasizing it has the needed liquidity to cover the bill and maintain its dividend for investors.
Coca-Cola declined to comment. FOX Business reached out to the IRS for comment.
