CocaCola (NYSE:KO) Trading Up 2.5% Following Better-Than-Expected Earnings

CocaCola Company (The) (NYSE:KO) shot up 2.5% during trading on Wednesday following a better than expected earnings announcement. The company traded as high as $79.05 and last traded at $78.7020. 22,411,877 shares were traded during trading, an increase of 12% from the average session volume of 19,985,041 shares. The stock had previously closed at $76.81.

The company reported $0.58 earnings per share (EPS) for the quarter, topping the consensus estimate of $0.56 by $0.02. The firm had revenue of $11.80 billion during the quarter, compared to analyst estimates of $12.04 billion. CocaCola had a return on equity of 41.31% and a net margin of 27.34%.The business’s revenue was up 2.2% compared to the same quarter last year. During the same quarter in the prior year, the company earned $0.55 EPS. CocaCola has set its FY 2026 guidance at 3.210-3.240 EPS.

CocaCola News Summary

Here are the key news stories impacting CocaCola this week:

• Positive Sentiment: Multiple brokerages raised price targets or reiterated Buy ratings (UBS to $87, JPMorgan to $83, TD Cowen $85), signaling continued analyst confidence that KO can recover and move higher. UBS Sees Stability in The Coca-Cola Company’s Core Business, Raises PT to $87
• Positive Sentiment: MarketBeat argues the Q4 print and 2026 guide still support durable free cash flow growth, ongoing dividends and steady buybacks — factors that underpin upside over the next 6–12 months. No Rally? Coca-Cola’s Results Still Look Like a Sweet Deal
• Positive Sentiment: Management change: the incoming CEO is pushing faster innovation to tap low‑sugar and weight‑loss beverage trends — a strategic tailwind for long‑term growth and product mix improvement. Coca-Cola’s incoming CEO seeks faster innovation
• Neutral Sentiment: Full Q4 earnings call transcript released — useful for hearing management’s tone on margins, pricing, FX and the one‑off expense that compressed free cash flow in 2025. Read for management commentary on guidance and capital return plans. The Coca-Cola Company Q4 2025 earnings call transcript
• Neutral Sentiment: Roundups and analyst notes (Globe & Mail, MarketBeat) provide context on why many firms remain constructive despite the mixed quarter — helpful for confirming consensus views. From a Dividend King to FinTech, These 3 Large Caps Just Reported
• Negative Sentiment: Revenue missed expectations (quarterly sales below consensus) and the company issued guidance slightly under some analysts’ forecasts; the revenue shortfall and a one‑off expense pressured the stock at the open. These are the main near‑term risks if growth or FX headwinds persist. Asian shares advance after weak US retail data weigh on Wall Street (mentions Coca‑Cola revenue miss)

Wall Street Analyst Weigh In

Several research analysts recently issued reports on the stock. Jefferies Financial Group decreased their price target on shares of CocaCola from $88.00 to $87.00 and set a “buy” rating for the company in a research note on Wednesday. UBS Group upped their price objective on shares of CocaCola from $82.00 to $87.00 and gave the stock a “buy” rating in a report on Wednesday. Barclays lifted their target price on shares of CocaCola from $77.00 to $83.00 and gave the company an “overweight” rating in a report on Thursday. Piper Sandler upped their price target on CocaCola from $80.00 to $81.00 and gave the stock an “overweight” rating in a research note on Wednesday, October 22nd. Finally, Bank of America lifted their price objective on CocaCola from $78.00 to $80.00 and gave the company a “buy” rating in a research note on Friday, November 7th. One research analyst has rated the stock with a Strong Buy rating and sixteen have given a Buy rating to the company’s stock. Based on data from MarketBeat.com, the stock currently has a consensus rating of “Buy” and a consensus price target of $84.19.

Insider Activity at CocaCola

In related news, EVP Nancy Quan sold 31,625 shares of the business’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Monday, November 17th. The shares were sold at an average price of $71.17, for a total value of $2,250,751.25. Following the completion of the transaction, the executive vice president directly owned 223,330 shares in the company, valued at $15,894,396.10. The trade was a 12.40% decrease in their position. The sale was disclosed in a legal filing with the Securities & Exchange Commission, which is available at the SEC website. Also, CEO James Quincey sold 337,824 shares of the company’s stock in a transaction that occurred on Tuesday, February 3rd. The shares were sold at an average price of $77.10, for a total value of $26,046,230.40. Following the completion of the transaction, the chief executive officer directly owned 342,546 shares in the company, valued at $26,410,296.60. This trade represents a 49.65% decrease in their ownership of the stock. The SEC filing for this sale provides additional information. 0.97% of the stock is owned by company insiders.

Institutional Trading of CocaCola

Several large investors have recently modified their holdings of KO. Anfield Capital Management LLC increased its position in shares of CocaCola by 438.8% during the 4th quarter. Anfield Capital Management LLC now owns 361 shares of the company’s stock valued at $25,000 after purchasing an additional 294 shares during the last quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd grew its position in CocaCola by 5,142.9% during the second quarter. Caitong International Asset Management Co. Ltd now owns 367 shares of the company’s stock valued at $26,000 after buying an additional 360 shares during the period. Headlands Technologies LLC bought a new stake in CocaCola during the second quarter valued at approximately $26,000. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. increased its holdings in CocaCola by 1,081.8% during the fourth quarter. Evolution Wealth Management Inc. now owns 390 shares of the company’s stock valued at $27,000 after buying an additional 357 shares during the last quarter. Finally, Marquette Asset Management LLC bought a new position in CocaCola in the third quarter worth approximately $27,000. Institutional investors own 70.26% of the company’s stock.

CocaCola Stock Up 0.5%

The company’s 50-day simple moving average is $71.90 and its two-hundred day simple moving average is $70.01. The firm has a market capitalization of $339.81 billion, a P/E ratio of 25.99, a P/E/G ratio of 4.04 and a beta of 0.36. The company has a debt-to-equity ratio of 1.23, a current ratio of 1.46 and a quick ratio of 1.00.

CocaCola Company Profile

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.