Key Points Health and sugar regulations are Coca-Cola's most significant long-term headwind. Currency fluctuations continue to be a recurring drag on reported earnings. Coca-Cola’s reliance on bottlers introduces operational risk. 10 stocks we like better than Coca-Cola › Coca-Cola (NYSE: KO) has established one of the most resilient business models in the consumer goods industry. But even a company with a century of brand strength and global distribution isn't immune to long-term risks. Some are ...

Core Viewpoint - Luckin Coffee Inc. is reportedly in discussions for a $900 million loan to finance a bid for Costa Coffee, which is being sold by Coca Cola, aiming to significantly expand its global presence and challenge Starbucks [2][3][7]. Group 1: Acquisition Potential - Luckin Coffee is considering a bid for Costa Coffee, potentially in partnership with Centurium Capital, which would enhance its global footprint to over 33,000 stores across approximately 50 markets [2][3][4]. - The acquisition would allow Luckin to compete more effectively with Starbucks, which has 40,990 stores worldwide [5][6]. - Costa Coffee has around 4,000 stores in 52 countries, indicating a substantial addition to Luckin's current limited international presence [3][4]. Group 2: Financial Aspects - Luckin is in talks with banks for a $900 million loan to facilitate the acquisition, supported by its strong cash position of 8.57 billion yuan ($1.2 billion) at the end of September, a nearly 50% increase from the previous year [8][7]. - The potential deal values Costa at about 1 billion pounds ($1.3 billion), significantly lower than the 3.9 billion pounds Coca Cola paid for it in 2018 [7]. Group 3: Company Performance - Luckin reported a 50% year-on-year revenue increase to 15.3 billion yuan, with a 37% rise in store count to 29,214 by the end of September [14][18]. - Same-store sales for self-operated stores grew by 14.4% in the third quarter, marking a recovery from previous contractions [15][18]. - Despite revenue growth, Luckin's profit fell by 2.3% to 1.28 billion yuan, with net margins decreasing to 8.4% from 12.9% a year earlier [18]. Group 4: Market Context - Luckin's shares fell 2.1% following news of the potential Costa deal, although the stock is still up 46% for the year [13]. - The company is exploring options for relisting on the Nasdaq, although challenges remain due to its current OTC status following a major accounting scandal [11][12].

Dimitrios Kambouris / Getty Images Entertainment via Getty Images Investors have spent a lifetime trying to decode Warren Buffett's investing philosophy, but the foundation of his approach has long been far easier than most consider, and it's all about staying consistent. The companies Buffett likes to invest in don't focus on hype or short-term cycles. Instead, they survive by delivering products and services people use every day, regardless of market conditions. Quick Read Berkshire Hathaway (BRK.A) ...

Key Takeaways KO's "all-weather" strategy aims to stabilize demand and support earnings in shifting conditions.The approach spans supply-chain resilience, trade tools and broad geographic balance.Refranchising boosts efficiency and cash flow, enabling KO to invest and sustain growth.The Coca-Cola Company’s (KO) “all-weather” strategy is designed to keep its earnings growing steadily, irrespective of economic cycles, weather patterns or shifting consumer trends. This strategy focuses on reducing volatility i ...

Core Insights - A senior executive at Coca-Cola executed a significant insider trade amid stock volatility, selling 139,689 shares at approximately $70.80 each, reducing his ownership to 58,067 shares [1][2][3] - The sale reflects a year-long trend of selling without any reported purchases, raising questions about potential concerns or strategic shifts within the company [2][3] - Despite insider selling, analysts on Wall Street maintain a bullish outlook on Coca-Cola, with a consensus 'Strong Buy' rating and a projected 12-month price target of $79.08, indicating an 11.88% upside from the last closing price [5][7] Insider Trading Details - Manuel Arroyo, Executive Vice President of Coca-Cola's Asia Pacific group, sold shares on November 14, 2025, as part of a pattern of selling over the past year [1][2] - The absence of any purchases during this period is notable, especially given Warren Buffett's significant investment in Coca-Cola, holding around 400 million shares [2][3] Market Sentiment - Analysts express confidence in Coca-Cola's stability and growth prospects, with 14 out of 15 recommending buying the stock [5] - Price expectations among analysts range from a high of $85 to a low of $71, suggesting limited downside risk even in cautious forecasts [7]

LONDON--(BUSINESS WIRE)--Coca-Cola has been recognised as the top FMCG brand in Western Europe for its success in driving conversions, according to NielsenIQ (NIQ)'s Brand Traction Score, a new metric that measures how effectively brands convert their shelf presence into actual consumer purchases. The NIQ Brand Traction Score combines two of NIQ's most powerful data sources: insights from its Consumer Panel, which tracks how frequently shoppers buy a brand, and its Retail Measurement data, whic. ...

Dividend investors usually don’t bother with timing entries, at least not from a technical standpoint. There’s really no need to check things like 7-day indicators, 20, 50 or 200-day moving averages, MACD oscillators, Bollinger Bands, or Commodity Channel Indexes. The best income investors (myself included) tend to focus on the fundamentals, such as whether the stock is cheap or undervalued right now. But, that doesn’t mean that you can’t use technical indicators, becuase sometimes, the best way to start ...

Core Viewpoint - Coca-Cola is currently more appealing to investors compared to Costco, primarily due to its higher dividend yield and better valuation metrics, while Costco offers stronger growth potential in the long term [1]. Dividend Analysis - Coca-Cola offers a dividend yield of nearly 2.9%, significantly higher than Costco's 0.6%, which is below the S&P 500 average [2]. - Coca-Cola has a long history of dividend consistency, having increased its dividend annually for over six decades, qualifying it as a Dividend King, while Costco has only 21 annual dividend hikes [3]. Valuation Metrics - Coca-Cola's price-to-earnings (P/E) and price-to-book (P/B) ratios are below their five-year averages, indicating it is fairly priced to slightly cheap [4]. - In contrast, Costco's P/S, P/E, and P/B ratios are all above their five-year averages, suggesting it appears expensive despite a 15% decline in stock price [5]. Growth Perspective - Costco has demonstrated stronger growth metrics, with revenue growing at an annualized rate of around 9% and earnings expanding at approximately 13% over the past decade [7]. - Coca-Cola's revenue has remained flat over the past decade, with earnings growing at just over 4% annually, indicating limited growth potential [7][8]. Market Performance - Costco's shares are down approximately 15%, marking the seventh drawdown in the past decade, but historical trends suggest a potential rebound [9]. - Coca-Cola's current market cap stands at $306 billion, while Costco's is at $409 billion, reflecting their respective positions in the market [6][9]. Investment Outlook - From a dividend and value investment perspective, Coca-Cola is likely to be more attractive than Costco at this time [10]. - However, for growth investors, Costco presents a more compelling long-term opportunity, albeit at a premium price [11].

Core Insights - The potential sale of Costa Coffee is being evaluated by Coca-Cola, with initial estimates around £1 billion (approximately ¥9.4 billion), significantly lower than Coca-Cola's original acquisition cost of £3.9 billion [2][5] - Various investment firms, including Dajun Capital, KKR, Bain Capital, and TDR Capital, are interested in bidding for Costa, with Bain Capital previously offering around £2 billion [2][5] - Costa Coffee has faced challenges in the competitive Chinese market, leading to a reduction in its store count and a shift in strategy [4][5] Company Overview - Costa Coffee, founded in 1978 and entering China in 2006, is the largest coffee chain in the UK, operating over 4,000 stores globally [3] - The brand has struggled against domestic competitors like Luckin Coffee, which has rapidly expanded and intensified market competition [3][4] Market Dynamics - Since 2020, Costa has been closing stores in China, with only 389 remaining by the end of 2024, down from a projected 1,000 stores [4] - Coca-Cola's acquisition of Costa in 2018 for $5.1 billion did not yield the expected growth, prompting considerations for a sale [5][6] Investment Opportunities - Dajun Capital views the potential acquisition of Costa as a rare opportunity to invest at a discounted price [6] - The successful turnaround of Luckin Coffee, backed by Dajun Capital, positions the firm favorably for further expansion in the coffee sector [8][9] Strategic Considerations - Coca-Cola intends to retain control over Costa's ready-to-drink coffee products while potentially selling the store operations [10] - The competitive landscape in the coffee market necessitates strategic agility from any potential new owner of Costa [11]

Core Viewpoint - The article suggests that new investors should avoid starting with popular AI stocks like Nvidia and Amazon, as their current performance is unsustainable. Instead, it recommends beginning with more stable and understandable companies like Coca-Cola, Alphabet, and Walmart [2]. Group 1: Coca-Cola - Coca-Cola is a leading beverage company with $47 billion in revenue and over $12 billion in net income last year, showcasing its strong market presence and effective marketing strategies [3][6]. - The company has a market capitalization of $306 billion, with a current stock price of $71.14 and a dividend yield of 2.9%, having raised its dividend for 63 consecutive years [6][5]. - Coca-Cola's business model is straightforward, making it easier for new investors to understand its performance and navigate temporary setbacks [5][4]. Group 2: Alphabet - Alphabet, the parent company of Google, operates in various sectors including advertising, cloud computing, and YouTube, with a market cap of $3,335 billion and a current stock price of $276.41 [10][7]. - The company provides clear quarterly performance metrics, allowing investors to easily assess its business health and growth potential [10][9]. - Alphabet is positioned for continued double-digit growth, making it an attractive option for new investors despite being in a volatile tech sector [11][10]. Group 3: Walmart - Walmart is the largest retailer with nearly $700 billion in annual sales, primarily in North America, and is expanding its online presence and advertising revenue [13][12]. - The company has a market cap of $817 billion, with a current stock price of $102.44 and a dividend yield of 0.01% [14][12]. - While Walmart's growth is slower compared to tech companies, its consistent performance and essential product offerings make it a reliable choice for new investors [15][16].