CocaCola (NYSE:KO) Stock Price Up 1.2% - Still a Buy?

Key Points

• Coca-Cola shares rose 1.2% to about $89.34 and are reportedly up roughly 29% in 2026, outperforming PepsiCo and the broader consumer-staples sector. Elevated valuation and expectations may make a move toward $100 dependent on continued earnings and business momentum.
• The latest quarter provided fundamental support, with EPS of $0.97 and revenue of $13.37 billion exceeding analyst estimates; revenue grew 6.2% year over year. Management maintained 2026 EPS guidance of $3.27–$3.30, while digital marketing and World Cup initiatives helped drive 5% trademark volume growth.
• Analysts remain broadly bullish, with a consensus “Moderate Buy” rating and an average price target of $95.76. Coca-Cola also offers a $0.53 quarterly dividend, equivalent to a 2.4% yield, though recent insider selling and the stock’s higher valuation are notable considerations.

CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO - Get Free Report)'s share price was up 1.2% during mid-day trading on Monday . The company traded as high as $90.36 and last traded at $89.3440. 13,983,809 shares were traded during trading, a decline of 18% from the average session volume of 16,967,539 shares. The stock had previously closed at $88.29.

More CocaCola News

Here are the key news stories impacting CocaCola this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Coca-Cola is reported to be up approximately 29% in 2026 and has significantly outperformed PepsiCo and the consumer-staples sector. The next potential catalyst is evidence that earnings growth and business momentum can justify a move toward $100, although the higher valuation raises the bar for additional gains. Coca-Cola Stock Is Up 29% in 2026: What Will It Take to Break Through $100?
• Positive Sentiment: Coca-Cola’s digital marketing and World Cup initiatives are supporting demand: Trademark volume rose 5% in the second quarter. The report also points to disciplined marketing and strong brand execution as drivers of broader sales momentum. Coca-Cola's Digital Strategy: Driving Sales or Just Hype?
• Positive Sentiment: The company’s latest reported quarter provides fundamental support for the rally. Coca-Cola exceeded analyst expectations with earnings of $0.97 per share versus $0.93 expected and revenue of $13.37 billion versus $13.17 billion expected; revenue increased 6.2% year over year. Management maintained fiscal 2026 EPS guidance of $3.27 to $3.30.
• Positive Sentiment: Coca-Cola continues to be highlighted as a blue-chip income investment, combining significant 2026 share-price gains with a growing dividend and solid profitability. Its dividend profile and perceived defensive qualities may continue attracting income-oriented investors. Blue-Chip Stocks Are Looking Anything But Boring With Dividends and Big 2026 Gains
• Neutral Sentiment: Coverage comparing Coca-Cola with PepsiCo emphasizes their sharply different five-year stock performance, reinforcing Coca-Cola’s current leadership but also highlighting elevated expectations after its strong run. Coca-Cola vs. Pepsi: Five Years, Two Completely Different Outcomes

Analyst Upgrades and Downgrades

A number of equities analysts recently weighed in on the stock. Wells Fargo & Company boosted their price target on shares of CocaCola from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a research report on Wednesday, July 29th. Bank of America upped their price objective on shares of CocaCola from $90.00 to $95.00 and gave the company a "buy" rating in a report on Friday, July 10th. Barclays raised their price target on shares of CocaCola from $91.00 to $93.00 and gave the stock an "overweight" rating in a report on Thursday, July 30th. Seaport Research Partners set a $95.00 price objective on shares of CocaCola in a report on Friday, August 14th. Finally, HSBC downgraded CocaCola from a "strong-buy" rating to a "hold" rating in a report on Tuesday, July 28th. One equities research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating, fourteen have given a Buy rating and three have given a Hold rating to the company. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, CocaCola has a consensus rating of "Moderate Buy" and an average target price of $95.76.

CocaCola Stock Performance

The firm has a 50 day moving average of $86.64 and a two-hundred day moving average of $81.50. The stock has a market cap of $384.41 billion, a PE ratio of 26.83, a PEG ratio of 3.44 and a beta of 0.34. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 0.97, a current ratio of 1.30 and a quick ratio of 1.12.

CocaCola (NYSE:KO - Get Free Report) last released its quarterly earnings data on Tuesday, July 28th. The company reported $0.97 earnings per share for the quarter, topping analysts' consensus estimates of $0.93 by $0.04. CocaCola had a net margin of 28.56% and a return on equity of 39.38%. The company had revenue of $13.37 billion for the quarter, compared to analysts' expectations of $13.17 billion. During the same quarter last year, the company earned $0.87 earnings per share. The firm's revenue for the quarter was up 6.2% on a year-over-year basis. CocaCola has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.270-3.300 EPS. Research analysts predict that CocaCola Company will post 3.29 EPS for the current fiscal year.

CocaCola Announces Dividend

The company also recently disclosed a quarterly dividend, which will be paid on Thursday, October 1st. Shareholders of record on Tuesday, September 15th will be issued a dividend of $0.53 per share. The ex-dividend date of this dividend is Tuesday, September 15th. This represents a $2.12 annualized dividend and a dividend yield of 2.4%. CocaCola's dividend payout ratio (DPR) is presently 63.66%.

Insider Buying and Selling at CocaCola

In other news, CFO John Murphy sold 152,483 shares of CocaCola stock in a transaction dated Friday, July 31st. The stock was sold at an average price of $87.31, for a total transaction of $13,313,290.73. Following the sale, the chief financial officer owned 279,917 shares in the company, valued at approximately $24,439,553.27. The trade was a 35.26% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The transaction was disclosed in a document filed with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is accessible through this link. The sale was made to cover tax withholding obligations related to the vesting of equity awards. Also, insider Sanket Ray sold 9,958 shares of the company's stock in a transaction dated Monday, August 10th. The shares were sold at an average price of $86.50, for a total value of $861,367.00. Following the completion of the sale, the insider directly owned 62,105 shares of the company's stock, valued at approximately $5,372,082.50. This trade represents a 13.82% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. In the last three months, insiders have sold 926,620 shares of company stock valued at $83,075,714. 0.90% of the stock is owned by insiders.

Institutional Investors Weigh In On CocaCola

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of the company. California State Teachers Retirement System increased its holdings in shares of CocaCola by 7,365.2% in the 2nd quarter. California State Teachers Retirement System now owns 487,509,960 shares of the company's stock valued at $39,619,934,000 after acquiring an additional 480,979,487 shares during the period. State Street Corp grew its position in CocaCola by 1.2% during the 4th quarter. State Street Corp now owns 167,850,330 shares of the company's stock worth $11,734,417,000 after purchasing an additional 1,992,327 shares during the last quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC increased its stake in CocaCola by 0.5% in the fourth quarter. Geode Capital Management LLC now owns 89,984,203 shares of the company's stock valued at $6,273,037,000 after purchasing an additional 433,547 shares during the period. Norges Bank acquired a new position in CocaCola in the fourth quarter valued at $3,865,807,000. Finally, Bank of America Corp DE raised its holdings in shares of CocaCola by 4.4% in the second quarter. Bank of America Corp DE now owns 45,958,636 shares of the company's stock valued at $3,735,058,000 after buying an additional 1,939,673 shares during the last quarter. 70.26% of the stock is owned by institutional investors and hedge funds.

CocaCola Company Profile

The Coca-Cola Company NYSE: KO is a global beverage company best known for its Coca-Cola soft drink, which was first introduced in 1886. The company was incorporated in 1892 and has grown into one of the world's largest beverage businesses.

Its portfolio includes sparkling soft drinks such as Coca-Cola, Diet Coke, Coca-Cola Zero Sugar, Sprite and Fanta, along with water, sports drinks, coffee, tea, juice and dairy-based beverages. Other brands associated with the company include Dasani, smartwater, Powerade, Minute Maid, Simply, Costa Coffee, fairlife and Topo Chico.

The Coca-Cola Company primarily develops, owns and markets beverage brands, while relying on a global network of independent bottling partners and distributors to manufacture, package and deliver many of its products.

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