📊 KO Key Takeaways
Is Coca Cola Co (KO) a Good Investment?
Coca-Cola demonstrates exceptional profitability with industry-leading margins (61.6% gross, 28.7% operating, 27.3% net) and strong cash generation ($5.3B FCF), indicating pricing power and operational efficiency. While revenue growth is modest at 1.9% YoY and leverage is elevated at 1.31x debt-to-equity, the company's robust interest coverage (8.3x) and high returns on equity (40.7%) reflect sustainable fundamentals and shareholder value creation.
Coca-Cola shows elite profitability, with very strong gross, operating, and net margins supported by a durable global beverage franchise. Financial health is solid with good liquidity and manageable interest coverage, though leverage remains meaningful and recent top-line and net income growth are modest. Overall, the fundamentals support a favorable view, but the growth profile looks steady rather than high-powered.
Why Buy Coca Cola Co Stock? KO Key Strengths
- Exceptional profitability with 27.3% net margin and 28.7% operating margin, among the highest in beverage industry
- Strong free cash flow generation of $5.3B with 11% FCF margin demonstrating high-quality earnings conversion
- Outstanding returns on equity at 40.7% and ROA of 12.5% indicating efficient capital deployment
- Solid interest coverage ratio of 8.3x provides safety buffer for debt servicing despite elevated leverage
- Significant insider activity with 41 Form 4 filings in 90 days suggesting confidence in company valuation
- Exceptional profitability with 61.6% gross margin, 28.7% operating margin, and 27.3% net margin
- Strong capital efficiency, highlighted by 40.7% ROE and 12.5% ROA
- Healthy balance between liquidity and debt service, with 1.46x current ratio and 8.3x interest coverage
KO Stock Risks: Coca Cola Co Investment Risks
- Elevated debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31x with $42.1B long-term debt creates balance sheet vulnerability and refinancing risk
- Anemic top-line growth of only 1.9% YoY indicates mature market saturation and limited organic expansion opportunities
- Net income essentially flat YoY (-0.2%) while diluted EPS surged 23.6% signals reliance on share buybacks rather than operational growth
- High leverage constrains financial flexibility for acquisitions, dividends, or weathering economic downturns
- Modest capex of $2.1B relative to $7.4B operating cash flow may indicate underinvestment in growth initiatives
- Revenue growth of 1.9% and net income decline of 0.2% suggest limited underlying growth momentum
- Debt remains elevated at 1.31x debt-to-equity with $42.12B in long-term debt
- Operating cash flow and free cash flow are solid but not especially strong relative to net income, so cash conversion should be monitored
Key Metrics to Watch
- Organic revenue growth rate - trending below 2% raises concerns about top-line momentum and market competition
- Debt-to-equity trajectory - watch for deleveraging efforts given elevated 1.31x ratio relative to conservative peers
- Free cash flow conversion and dividend sustainability - critical given high shareholder payout expectations
- Operating margin stability - monitor if pricing power can offset commodity and labor cost inflation
- Capital allocation strategy - assess whether management prioritizes debt reduction vs. shareholder returns
- Organic revenue growth and operating income growth
- Free cash flow generation and debt reduction trend
Coca Cola Co (KO) Financial Metrics & Key Ratios
💡 AI Analyst Insight
Coca Cola Co presents a mixed fundamental picture. Review the detailed metrics above to form your own investment thesis.
KO Profit Margin, ROE & Profitability Analysis
KO vs Consumer Sector: How Coca Cola Co Compares
How Coca Cola Co compares to Consumer sector averages
Sector benchmarks are approximate industry averages. Actual sector performance may vary.
Is Coca Cola Co Stock Overvalued? KO Valuation Analysis 2026
Based on fundamental analysis, Coca Cola Co has mixed fundamental signals relative to the Consumer sector in 2026.
Note: This is a fundamental analysis based on SEC filings. For P/E ratio, price targets, and market-based valuation, consult financial data providers. This is not investment advice.
Coca Cola Co Balance Sheet: KO Debt, Cash & Liquidity
KO Revenue & Earnings Growth: 5-Year Financial Trend
5-Year Trend Summary: Coca Cola Co's revenue has grown significantly by 24% over the 5-year period, indicating strong business expansion. The most recent EPS of $2.47 reflects profitable operations.
KO Revenue Growth, EPS Growth & YoY Performance
KO Quarterly Earnings & Performance
| Quarter | Revenue | Net Income | EPS |
|---|---|---|---|
| Q3 2025 | $11.9B | $2.8B | $0.66 |
| Q2 2025 | $12.4B | $2.4B | $0.56 |
| Q1 2025 | $11.1B | $3.2B | $0.74 |
| Q3 2024 | $11.9B | $2.8B | $0.66 |
| Q2 2024 | $12.0B | $2.4B | $0.56 |
| Q1 2024 | $11.0B | $3.1B | $0.72 |
| Q3 2023 | $11.1B | $2.8B | $0.65 |
| Q2 2023 | $11.3B | $1.9B | $0.44 |
Data sourced from SEC EDGAR 10-Q quarterly filings. Figures may represent quarterly or cumulative values.
Coca Cola Co Dividends, Buybacks & Capital Allocation
KO SEC Filings: Latest 10-K & 10-Q Analysis
Access official SEC EDGAR filings for Coca Cola Co (CIK: 0000021344)
📋 Recent SEC Filings
❓ Frequently Asked Questions about KO
What is the AI rating for KO?
Coca Cola Co (KO) has a Combined AI Rating of BUY from Claude (BUY) and ChatGPT (BUY) with 78% combined confidence, based on fundamental analysis of SEC EDGAR filings.
What are KO's key strengths?
Claude: Exceptional profitability with 27.3% net margin and 28.7% operating margin, among the highest in beverage industry. Strong free cash flow generation of $5.3B with 11% FCF margin demonstrating high-quality earnings conversion. ChatGPT: Exceptional profitability with 61.6% gross margin, 28.7% operating margin, and 27.3% net margin. Strong capital efficiency, highlighted by 40.7% ROE and 12.5% ROA.
What are the risks of investing in KO?
Claude: Elevated debt-to-equity ratio of 1.31x with $42.1B long-term debt creates balance sheet vulnerability and refinancing risk. Anemic top-line growth of only 1.9% YoY indicates mature market saturation and limited organic expansion opportunities. ChatGPT: Revenue growth of 1.9% and net income decline of 0.2% suggest limited underlying growth momentum. Debt remains elevated at 1.31x debt-to-equity with $42.12B in long-term debt.
What is KO's revenue and growth?
Coca Cola Co reported revenue of $47.9B.
Does KO pay dividends?
Coca Cola Co pays dividends, with $8,779.0M distributed to shareholders in the trailing twelve months.
Where can I find KO SEC filings?
Official SEC filings for Coca Cola Co (CIK: 0000021344) including 10-K, 10-Q, and 8-K reports are available on SEC EDGAR.
What is KO's EPS?
Coca Cola Co has a diluted EPS of $3.04.
How is the AI analysis conducted?
Two independent AI systems — Claude (Anthropic) and ChatGPT (OpenAI) — analyze SEC EDGAR filings including 10-K annual reports and 10-Q quarterly reports. Each AI evaluates financial health, profitability ratios, balance sheet strength, and growth metrics. The combined rating reflects both perspectives for balanced insights.
Is KO a good stock to buy right now?
Based on our AI fundamental analysis in April 2026, Coca Cola Co has a BUY rating with 78% confidence. The AI analysis suggests favorable fundamentals based on SEC filings. This is not investment advice.
Is KO stock overvalued or undervalued?
Valuation metrics for KO: ROE of 40.7% (sector avg: 18%), net margin of 27.3% (sector avg: 8%). Higher ROE suggests strong returns relative to peers.
Should I buy KO stock in 2026?
Our dual AI analysis gives Coca Cola Co a combined BUY rating for 2026. Revenue is data pending, with profitability above sector average. Always conduct your own research.
What is KO's free cash flow?
Coca Cola Co's operating cash flow is $7.4B, with capital expenditures of $2.1B. FCF margin is 11.0%.
How does KO compare to other Consumer stocks?
Vs Consumer sector averages: Net margin 27.3% (avg: 8%), ROE 40.7% (avg: 18%), current ratio 1.46 (avg: 1.5).
Why is KO's return on equity (ROE) so high?
Coca Cola Co has a return on equity of 40.7%, significantly above the Consumer sector average of 18%. A high ROE indicates the company is efficient at generating profits from shareholder equity. This is supported by a 27.3% net margin.