Coca-Cola(KO) - 2025 Q4 - Annual Report

Sales and Market Performance - The Coca-Cola system sold 33.8 billion unit cases in 2025, a slight increase from 33.7 billion in 2024, with sparkling soft drinks representing 69% of the total volume in both years[35] - Trademark Coca-Cola accounted for 47% of worldwide unit case volume in both 2025 and 2024, while in the U.S., it represented 42% of the unit case volume[35] - In 2025, the U.S. accounted for 16% of the Company's worldwide unit case volume, with 61% of that volume being sparkling soft drinks[35] - The largest markets outside the U.S. for unit case volume were Mexico, China, Brazil, and India, which together accounted for 33% of the worldwide unit case volume[35] - Sales of ready-to-drink beverages are seasonal, with the second and third quarters historically accounting for the highest sales volumes[51] Product and Market Expansion - The Company has entered the alcohol beverage category with products like pre-mixed cocktails and hard seltzers, expanding its portfolio in various markets[29] - The Company provides marketing support and participates in sales of other beverage brands through licenses and joint ventures, such as with Monster Energy[30] - The bottling partners accounted for 44% of total worldwide unit case volume in 2025, with the five largest partners being Coca-Cola FEMSA, CCEP, CCHBC, Arca Continental, and Swire Coca-Cola[36] Competitive Landscape - The commercial beverage industry is highly competitive, with significant players including PepsiCo, Nestlé, and Anheuser-Busch InBev, among others[52] - Key competitive factors include pricing, advertising, product innovation, and digital marketing strategies[53] - The company has a strong network of bottlers and distributors, contributing to its competitive strengths[54] Supply Chain and Ingredients - Water is a critical ingredient in products, and its availability is recognized as a key challenge for the company[56] - The principal nutritive sweetener in the U.S. is high fructose corn syrup (HFCS), which is subject to market price fluctuations[57] - The company sources orange juice primarily from Florida and Brazil, facing challenges from citrus greening disease and adverse weather conditions[59] - The majority of dairy revenues are derived from fairlife, LLC, which sources milk from dairy cooperatives[60] Regulatory and Compliance Issues - The company is subject to various environmental regulations and anticipates additional legal requirements related to sustainability and carbon emissions[72] - Compliance with evolving data protection laws, such as the CCPA and CPRA, is critical for the company's operations[73] Financial Performance and Risks - The company generated $28.8 billion of net operating revenues from operations outside the United States in 2025[378] - The total notional values of foreign currency derivatives were $21,128 million as of December 31, 2025, up from $18,442 million in 2024[380] - A 10% weakening of the U.S. dollar would have resulted in a $609 million decrease in the fair value of foreign currency derivatives that qualified for hedge accounting[380] - The company estimates that a 1 percentage point increase in interest rates would have increased interest expense by $120 million in 2025[382] - The total notional values of commodity derivatives were $535 million as of December 31, 2025, compared to $386 million in 2024[386] - The fair value of commodity derivatives that qualified for hedge accounting resulted in a net unrealized loss of $9 million as of December 31, 2025[386] Workforce and Employee Relations - As of December 31, 2025, the company had approximately 65,900 employees, a decrease from 69,700 in 2024, primarily due to divestiture activities[76] - The company aims to provide competitive compensation packages to attract and retain talent, including base pay and performance-based incentives[84] - Approximately 400 employees in North America were covered by collective bargaining agreements as of December 31, 2025[76] - The company supports employee-led inclusion networks to foster relationships based on common interests or backgrounds[79]