There Are 400 Million Reasons Why Warren Buffett Loves This Dividend Stock. Is It a Must-Buy in May?

Core Investment Philosophy - Warren Buffett emphasizes investing in high-quality companies with economic moats, which help defend against competition [1] - Berkshire Hathaway's portfolio exemplifies this philosophy, with a significant stake in Coca-Cola [1] Coca-Cola's Performance - Coca-Cola reported Q1 2025 adjusted revenue of $11.2 billion, flat compared to the previous year, amid concerns of a potential recession [2] - The company sold 2% more unit cases than in Q1 2024, with strong performance in markets like India, China, and Brazil [3] Pricing Power and Brand Loyalty - Coca-Cola demonstrated its pricing power with a positive 5% effect from favorable pricing and mix, despite limited volume expansion potential [4] - The brand's strong customer loyalty contributes to its competitive moat [4] Profitability and Dividends - Coca-Cola achieved a net income margin of 29.9% in Q1 2025, following a 22.6% margin in 2024, indicating a highly profitable operation [5] - The company has raised its quarterly dividend for 63 consecutive years, reflecting its status as a dividend powerhouse [6] Berkshire Hathaway's Income from Coca-Cola - Berkshire's 400 million shares in Coca-Cola generate $204 million in passive income quarterly, totaling $816 million annually [7] - Buffett has maintained his investment since 1988, benefiting from Coca-Cola's reliable income stream [7] Market Performance Expectations - While Coca-Cola provides stability, it is not expected to outperform the market in the long term, having underperformed the S&P 500 over the past five and ten years [8] - The current price-to-earnings ratio is 29.3, close to its highest level in the past year, with projected earnings growth of 6% CAGR from 2024 to 2027 [9] Investment Considerations - The stock offers a dividend yield of 2.82%, appealing primarily to income investors, but is unlikely to provide significant capital appreciation [10]